Toolbox: Battery Tester

Help Around the House : Episode ARH-301 -- More Projects »
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When you need a battery, you want to be sure it has enough juice to get the job done. A general-purpose battery tester can check the status of a variety of battery sizes, from a large D-cell down to a small button-type battery. The tester should be easy to operate and easy to read. Read the directions that come with the tester and make sure you have the positive and negative terminals lined up properly.

You can extend the life of your batteries by removing them from any device that will not be used for more than a week and by storing batteries in a cool, dry place. And when it comes time to dispose of a battery, do not toss in the trash but take them to a recycling center.