How To Check Your Batteries

So how do you know when your batteries are "done." A battery which is not fully charged will cause whatever device it's in to function poorly, if at all. Unfortunately, you can't guess how much voltage is in a battery, you really have to measure it. The easiest way to do this is to use a battery checker. Radio Shack sells a really cheap one (RS#22-093) for five bucks. Their best (RS#22-090) sells for $15.

You might want to consider investing in an inexpensive multimeter. A multimeter is a small test device, usually with two test probes and a multi-function switch which allows it to measure electrical current and electronic devices and components. Multimeters not only measure AC and DC voltage, but current and resistance as well. Sophisticated multimeters can cost hundreds of dollars but small, simple ones sell for about $15. Analog meters, those which have a needle that swings from left to right along a curved, printed scale, are harder to read than digital meters which show exact measurements via an LCD display. Radio Shack's cheapest digital multimeter (RS#22-179) sells for $25 but it's sometimes on sale for as low as $15. This is an excellent, basic tool to have and know how to use for any budding street techie. With a little practice, you can learn to troubleshoot your own electrical problems. Radio Shack also sells a small book called Using Your Meter (RS#62-2039, $7) which serves as an excellent introduction on how to use a multimeter.

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