Tadiran TL-4902/T 3.6V 1/2 AA 1.2Ah lithium battery with tabs

Battery type and target use

The Tadiran TL-4902/T is a 3.6V 1/2 AA lithium thionyl chloride cell rated at 1.2 Ah. It is built for low-current devices that must run for years without maintenance such as utility meters, alarm sensors or remote data loggers. The spot-welded tabs allow direct soldering to a PCB for permanent installation. Its 10-year shelf life and wide temperature rating suit industrial and outdoor deployments.

Who should choose this and who should not

Engineers specifying primary power for long-life, low-drain circuits will match the 20 mA continuous and 50 mA pulse limits. Buyers needing rechargeable cells or higher sustained current for motors, radios or bright LEDs cannot use this chemistry. The non-rechargeable design also rules out applications that expect cycling or routine top-ups from solar or mains sources.

What the tabs and chemistry change

Pre-attached tabs remove the need for battery holders and speed up automated assembly while ensuring a vibration-proof connection. The lithium thionyl chloride chemistry delivers a stable voltage across most of the discharge curve and loses less than 1% capacity per year in storage. Its inorganic electrolyte is non-flammable at ambient temperature and resists humid environments down to -60°C.