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Check If a Battery Is Dead in 5 Seconds — No Multimeter Needed

Drop an AA or AAA battery from 5–10 cm onto a hard surface: if it bounces noticeably, it's likely dead. If it stays put, it's still charged.

Check If a Battery Is Dead in 5 Seconds — No Multimeter Needed\n\n## How to do it

  1. Hold the battery upright — positive end up.
  2. Drop it from about 5–10 cm onto a hard, flat surface (table, tile).
  3. Read the result:
    • 🟢 Stays upright / barely tips → likely full.
    • 🔴 Bounces noticeably → likely dead.

Why it works

As an alkaline battery discharges, its internal chemistry changes: the gel-like paste solidifies (partly due to zinc oxide forming). A full battery absorbs the impact — a dead one bounces back.

Good to know

  • Works reliably with alkaline batteries (AA, AAA). Lithium and rechargeable cells behave differently.
  • This is a quick check — for critical devices, use a multimeter.
  • When in doubt: test several batteries side by side and compare.
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