How to Create a Battery Tester

Testing a battery is a matter of completing a simple circuit. You can use it for testing a battery or for further understanding of how a circuit works. Because of its simplicity, it is ideal for demonstrating how electricity is produced. After this experiment, you just may be curious to move on to more complex circuits.

Supplies needed:

• Small light bulb


• Light bulb socket with screws in base


• Insulated alligator clip leads


• Battery holder

1. Gather the materials you will need. If the socket does not have screws in the base, the experiment will not work.

2.Take note of which are the positive and negative terminals. Place one end of an alligator clip on the positive terminal on the battery holders. Clip the other end of the clip on to the screw on the light bulb socket. Place one end of an alligator clip on the negative terminal on the battery holder and the other end on the screw in the socket.

3. Screw the light bulb in the socket securely.

4. Put the battery in the battery holder. You want to make sure that the positive and negative terminals are in contact with the battery holder. If not, the circuit will not be complete.

5. Look at the light, to see if the circuit is complete. If the circuit is complete, the light will come on. The current flowing through the circuit is what gives power to the light. If the light does not come on, the circuit may be incomplete. Make sure the all the materials are placed correctly.