AAA batteries are used in low-drain electronic devices like watches, remotes, toys, etc. A battery is usually considered dead when it cannot power the device. Although, the same battery might be able to power a device with a lower drain. So, how can you tell if an AAA battery is dead?
There are several ways to check how much life a AAA battery has left in it. Some involve tools like voltmeter, multimeter and some methods are more basic. We will go through all of them in detail.
In this post, I have covered not only how to check the remaining battery life but also different ways to charge them. Once you reach the end, you will have actionable knowledge on how to check a AAA battery.
How Can You Tell If an AAA Battery Is Dead?
When a battery’s voltage falls to zero, it is considered dead. However, a battery is considered “dead” when it no longer powers or runs the device in which it is installed. That battery may appear to be “dead,” but if it is placed in another device with a lower or lower power need, it may be able to operate again. Here is how to check if a battery is really dead.
- Drop Test:
- Make sure the positive side of the battery is facing up.
- Place the battery on a firm, solid surface to discharge it.
- A new battery will fall into place without bouncing. It may roll over onto its side, but it will not spring back to its feet. Before tumbling over, an aged battery may bounce up numerous times.
- Measure Volt: You can also measure the voltage with a voltmeter.
Comparison Chart
| Battery type | Normal voltage | Rated Capacity | Voltage cut-off | Rated load | Discharge rate |
| 9V | 9 volts | 570 mAh | 4.8 volts | 620 Ohm | 0.025 |
| AAA | 1.5 volts | 1150 mAh | 0.8 volts | 75 Ohm | 0.017 |
| AA | 1.5 volts | 2870 mAh | 0.8 volts | 75 Ohm | 0.007 |
| C | 1.5 volts | 7800 mAh | 0.8 volts | 39 Ohm | 0.005 |
| D | 1.5 volts | 17000 mAh | 0.8 volts | 39 Ohm | 0.0022 |
How Do You Revive A Battery That Won’t Charge?
- Any complete metal barbecue clamp would suffice. Make sure it’s completely clean and dry.
- Replace the dead battery with a new one of the same type. Make sure the negative components are in excellent touch by placing them one against the other.
- The clamp should be used to keep the positive ends together for around 30 seconds. That’s all; you should now be able to charge and use your battery as usual.
This might not work with every battery, and there’s no way to know how many times you can do it before throwing it away.
Can You Recharge A Triple-A Battery?
Back in the day, AAA batteries were rechargeable.
Simple electrical gadgets at home, such as remote controls, wall clocks, radios, flashlights, and the like, are powered by dry cell-like AAA batteries.
As a result, when rechargeable batteries were available, more individuals switched to them.
An AAA battery may be charged in two ways. One is to use the charger that came with it, and the other is to find other ways to charge the cells even if you don’t have one.
To charge without a battery charger you could try using lemon juice or putting it in a fridge.
How long should AAA batteries last?
Many brands have a “good till” date stamped on them, and it is manufacturer-specific at the very least.
Whatever it is, you may greatly prolong its shelf life by freezing it – after securely covering it to avoid heating. They won’t operate properly if they’re cold.
So, cover them up until they warm up again to avoid condensation.
Do not put them on your radio or anything else when they are cold for the same reason. Preserving in such a way could extend battery life up to 10 years.
Do AAA batteries expire?
It is different for each battery with different chemical composition. Depending on the storage environment they can last from 5 to 10 years.
If frozen, they can last for years. This is not the case for alkali batteries, nor for higher-tech batteries, because the technique of storing charge differs from that of a carbon/zinc cell.
So, what about modern batteries such as Eveready and Duracell? It’s best to keep them in a cool, dry place.
The Energizer AA batteries have a 10-year shelf life (assuming they aren’t used). As a result, expect the competitors to give comparable life guarantees.
Bottom Line
how can you tell if an AAA battery is dead? There many more than a few methods to check if a AAA battery has died. Some of them are accurate and some are not.
My advice is to measure it with tools like a multimeter, voltmeter if possible. Because they will give you an accurate reading. If that is not possible then you can try other manual methods.
