What is the best way to accurately test battery strength remaining in many AA or AAA batteries?

Answer 1

Michael B's answer is absolutely correct; however, I doubt most people have a multimeter in their tool kit.

Here's an alternate way that should be do-able by most people:

Take the bulb out of a one- or two- cell flashlight. Wrap the end of a short piece of bare copper wire (about 6 inches long) around the metal body of the bulb. This will be your "tester".

Get a NEW battery. Place the bottom silvery tip of the flashlight bulb against one end of the battery. Take the other end of the wire and hold it against the other end of the battery. Notice how brightly the bulb shines with the new battery.

Now do the same thing with a used battery. Note the difference in brightness. If the bulb lights fairly bright compared to the unused battery, the used one is pretty good. If it glows dimly, the battery is fairly well used. If the bulb does not light at all or barely shows an orange glow, the battery is pretty much useless.

Do not leave the bulb attached to the battery you are testing any longer than it takes to check brightness. Bulbs are a fairly hefty drain on batteries, and will weaken it even further if you do more than a few seconds of testing.

This test will work for all 1.5 volt Carbon-zinc or alkaline batteries (AAA, AA, C and D). It will not give you any idea how much charge is left in a NiCd or NiMh rechargeable battery, as the voltage on those batteries remain constant until they go dead; the bulb will shine brightly or not at all. (Same holds true for using a multimeter. Rechargeable batteries will show GOOD even if they are about to go dead).

Answer 2

Battery Strength Tester

Answer 3

The only way to test a battery is to apply a load to it and measure the voltage. Most digital multimeters have a setting for load testing of 9 volt and 1.5 volt batteries.

Answer 4

a battery tester and a volt ohm meter can check the battery,the tester is cheap,the volt ohm meter is not,the peak voltage should be 1.5volts on the AAA type and the AA type as well,just get fresh batteries and see if this is in fact the problem.you can make a simple tester with some wire and a flashlight bulb,one end on the rim of the bulb and one on the tip with the wire and correspondingly to each end of the battery.take the battery to a store (electric supply or electrical department) and ask the salesman for help.He might have a tester for you to use.