An Alternative to Testing Batteries with Your Tongue
Have you every been looking for a 9V battery and you find random batteries lying around in a drawer somewhere. Most of the time, they’re right next to the package of brand new package of 9V batteries. For some reason, you feel inclined to use the loose batteries first before opening up the new package…just to see if they’re still good.
So before taking the time to add them to the toy or device, you use the old-school tongue testing method. If it gives you a little shock, the battery has some charge left in it.
We’ve all done the tongue test before, unless you’re a big ole chicken, they you probably asked one of your kids to do the tongue test for you.
So here are a few alternatives to testing the 9V batteries with your tongue, and testing 1.5V batteries as well.
Methods for Testing Your Batteries
First Method
Apparently, when the alkaline in your 1.5V batteries, such as a AA battery, is all used up, it creates gas inside your battery. So what you can do, if you find a stack full of batteries, is give them the drop test. You don’t have to drop them but a few inches from the table surface, standing with the positive end up. A battery that is fully charged will make a solid thump and most like stay standing up. Batteries which are all used up will bounce several times and fall over, making a muffled sound.
Second Method
It’s always nice to have one of these around the house anyway, but the second testing method is the more obvious and proven alternative to mild shock, is owning a multimeter, such as this one from MeterTeck. Besides just testing batteries, you can use it to troubleshoot electrical problems in your home, your children’s toys, your vehicles or ATV’s, or even use for commercial electrician applications. It’s designed to test and measure AC and DC voltage, resistance and DC current. This multimeter from MeterTeck is a good one to get, even if you’re a beginner at using one. It’s light weight, inexpensive, has a digital display with a backlight and comes with an extra set of testing cables.
So instead of teaching your kids the bad habit of putting batteries in their mouth, you can make them think you’re a skilled electrician.
(I received the multimeter in exchange for an honest review)