Abstract: The invention is a battery with power output terminals on opposite ends of a battery and a power output terminal on the side wall of the battery that has the same polarity as one of the end power output terminals. The presence of the side terminal is indicative of a battery characteristic and allow a battery operated device requiring that characteristic to selectively use the battery when designed to use the side terminal and opposite polarity end terminal to provide energy to operate the device. Because the battery also has opposite polarity end terminals, the battery can be used in devices designed to use batteries of the same dimensions and having the same nominal voltage, whether or not they possess the characteristic associated with the presence the side terminal. The location of the side terminal can also be indicative of additional battery characteristics, allowing the selective use of batteries in devices based on various device requirements.

Abstract: An electrical appliance such as a battery charger includes a main body portion and a movable body portion. The apparatus includes a first cavity for receiving batteries. The movable body portion opens to expose a second cavity for receiving batteries. Each of the cavities includes battery receiving regions or bays. Each bay selectively receives a first battery having a relatively larger radial dimension or a plurality of batteries having a relatively smaller radial dimension. The bays can receive various battery sizes, such as AAA, AA, C, and D size batteries. One or more of the bays can receive a generally rectangular 9 volt battery.