How to Check or Test a Bad Battery

July 2, 2010 - PRLog -- How to Check or Test a Bad Battery

We change out batteries all the time, but never check to see if the batteries are bad or not. Here's a simple way to check your batteries before sending them off for recycling.



Step 1
Whenever working with batteries, you should wear safety googles, use gloves, work in a well ventilated area, and be careful. To check a household battery, you will need a multimeter. An inexpensive multimeter can be purchased for as little as $2, and they typically sell for less than $10. This procedure is good for checking small household batteries, like AA, AAA, C, D, etc. Household batteries that are called heavy duty, alkaline and so forth are good for this test, but lead-acid batteries should not be tested this way. This is not for testing lead batteries like those in a car battery, lawnmower battery, etc.

Step 2
Set the multimeter to its check battery setting, insert the two leads into the multimeter, and turn it on. Test your batteries one-at-a-time. The battery should be marked with a plus sign for the positive end and a minus sign for the negative end. For AA, AAA, C, and D batteries, the bottom of the battery with a flat surface is the negative. The top end of the battery with a dimple is the positive end.

Step 3
Simply hold the black lead of the multimeter on the negative end of the battery. Then, gently touch the red lead to the positive end of the battery. Then, check the voltage readout on the multimeter. It may take a second for the meter to settle into a stable reading.

Step 4
For a battery to be good, the reading should be close to or higher than the battery's rated voltage. For example, AA batteries are 1.5 volts. A new AA battery might show 1.58 volts on your multimeter. The picture shows a AA alkaline battery with only 1.24 volts. That battery needs to be replaced. It's that simple.

Step 5
AAA, AA, C, and D batteries all are 1.5 volts. A 9 volt battery is, well, 9 volts. Nine volt batteries are often found in smoke alarms. The rectangular batteries used in camping lanterns are 6 volts. A link to the wikipedia page with other battery voltages is included in the links section.

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