Simple LED AA Battery Tester
by jessejwk in Circuits > Electronics
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Simple LED AA Battery Tester
![IMG_0963.2.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FVS/N987/GD0R1CZZ/FVSN987GD0R1CZZ.jpg&filename=IMG_0963.2.jpg)
![IMG_0962.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FQA/T2KU/GD0R1D1J/FQAT2KUGD0R1D1J.jpg&filename=IMG_0962.JPG)
![IMG_0964.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F00/LMLB/GD0R1D1D/F00LMLBGD0R1D1D.jpg&filename=IMG_0964.JPG)
We use a lot of rechargeable batteries at home, and I can never tell which ones work and which ones need to be recharged, and finding out is a pain because very few things run on just one battery, etc, etc.
So, I made something to test single batteries. It's crude and it's ugly, but it does exactly what I want it to, it works, and it cost me almost nothing. This one just does AAs, simply because I only had a single AA battery holder on hand and I mainly use those anyway. It can easily be adapted for different kinds of batteries, or more than one at once.
Here's how it works: You put a battery into a little battery clip, and if it works, an LED lights up. For that reason, it's going into the LED contest (*crosses fingers*).
(I made this without thinking to photograph it, so I'll recreate it with some diagrams and new photos.)
So, I made something to test single batteries. It's crude and it's ugly, but it does exactly what I want it to, it works, and it cost me almost nothing. This one just does AAs, simply because I only had a single AA battery holder on hand and I mainly use those anyway. It can easily be adapted for different kinds of batteries, or more than one at once.
Here's how it works: You put a battery into a little battery clip, and if it works, an LED lights up. For that reason, it's going into the LED contest (*crosses fingers*).
(I made this without thinking to photograph it, so I'll recreate it with some diagrams and new photos.)
Materials
![IMG_0969.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FU7/9PTQ/GD0R1D3F/FU79PTQGD0R1D3F.jpg&filename=IMG_0969.JPG)
1 LED (any color)
1 NPN Transistor
1 Old AC adapter (preferably a lower voltage than the one I used)
Resistors in accordance with the voltage and current of your adapter (I used 2x 180Ω)
1 single AA batter holder (or other kinds, or more than one kind, just single battery holders)
A container of some sort (I used a flowerpot and some rubber rings)
1 NPN Transistor
1 Old AC adapter (preferably a lower voltage than the one I used)
Resistors in accordance with the voltage and current of your adapter (I used 2x 180Ω)
1 single AA batter holder (or other kinds, or more than one kind, just single battery holders)
A container of some sort (I used a flowerpot and some rubber rings)
The Circuit
![Battery Tester.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FUF/VCV8/GD2JK8KD/FUFVCV8GD2JK8KD.jpg&filename=Battery Tester.jpg)
Because 1.5V is not enough to power an LED on its own, the whole circuit runs off of an old charger (AC adapter). The one I used provides 12V at 1A, which is a little high for this application, but it's all I had.
Set Up and Solder
![Solder.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FOU/BKLN/GD0R1D5R/FOUBKLNGD0R1D5R.jpg&filename=Solder.jpg)
You may want to set up the circuit on a solderless breadboard first to test it. Solder all the parts together, insulating with heat-shrink tubing. Use this diagram and the schematic for help
Finishing Up
![IMG_0960.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FZB/LYOI/GD0R1CZ5/FZBLYOIGD0R1CZ5.jpg&filename=IMG_0960.JPG)
The only thing left to do is put this thing in a container. I used an ugly old flowerpot. You can think of something more elegant.