Test Batteries With a Multitester
Updated: Jun. 30, 2017Find out fast if a household battery is still good
Not sure about your smoke alarm battery? Wondering about the mystery batteries in your kitchen drawer? Check them with a multitester to find out instantly if they still have juice.
Testing procedure
Multitesters have many uses, and one of the handiest is testing common household batteries. A weak or dead smoke alarm battery in a fire, or a dim flashlight bulb during a blackout, can be downright dangerous. Pull out that multitester and check those vital batteries so they're ready when you need them.
Insert the black probe into the (-) terminal, and the red probe into the (+) terminal. Rotate the voltage selector switch until it points to the voltage you're testing, and then test batteries as shown in Photos 1 and 2.
Originally Published: June 20, 2017