The Great Coin Cell Caper
1. Understanding the Coin Cell Basics
So, you're staring at two tiny, shiny discs and wondering if you can swap them out like Legos. The question at hand: "Can I use CR2016 instead of CR2032?" It's a common conundrum, and the short answer is... maybe. Let's dive a bit deeper to figure out your situation. At their heart, both CR2016 and CR2032 are lithium coin cell batteries, those little powerhouses that keep everything from your car key fob to your fancy watch ticking. They both deliver 3V, but their dimensions and energy capacities set them apart.
CR2016 is 20mm in diameter and 1.6mm thick, while CR2032 is also 20mm in diameter but a more substantial 3.2mm thick. That seemingly small difference in thickness makes a big difference. The CR2032, being thicker, naturally has a higher capacity and will generally last longer in any given device. It's like the difference between a regular cup of coffee and a double shot — both will give you a caffeine boost, but one will keep you going longer. This difference also gives a clue to answer "Can I use CR2016 instead of CR2032?".
Think of these batteries like shoes. You wouldn't try squeezing your foot into a shoe that's clearly too small, would you? Well, maybe you would for a really great sale, but you'd probably regret it later. Similarly, forcing a CR2016 into a slot designed for a CR2032 isn't a great idea. It might not make proper contact, and even if it does, it might wiggle around and cause intermittent power issues. It's just asking for trouble.
Now, the voltage is the same. So, theoretically, it could power the device. But the whole point of that device using that specific battery size is to allow it to work in a certain time period. You need to ask yourself, if you're trying to take a short cut because you're in a hurry, is it worth doing it? Think about the possibility of damaging the device you're trying to power, and always consider the battery capacity before switching to a different battery to begin with.
