5 Simple Ways to Recharge AA Batteries Without a Charger

AA batteries help power devices such as cameras and clocks. However, they tend to run out of charge when you least expect it, derailing the functioning of such devices. What can you do if you do not have a charger with you? Well, there are several techniques that you can use to recharge your AA batteries, even without a charger.

But before, anything else you need to confirm from their box if the batteries are rechargeable. Most AA batteries are made to be used up only once and discarded when their charge runs out.

Ways to Recharge Your AA Batteries Without a Charger

1. Warm the Batteries

AA batteries spring back to life when you warm them for some unknown reason. You can do this by placing them between your palms and rubbing them, just as you would when trying to warm your hands. Alternatively, you can put them in a warm pocket or beneath your garments - as long as they will be in touch with your skin. Leave them for around 20 minutes.

Even though this method will not get your batteries working for long, they can still serve you for one last time.

2. Immerse in Lemon Juice

Lemon juice can activate an AA’s battery electrons, giving it a huge chunk of its energy back. All you need to do is immerse the battery in pure lemon juice for an hour. Take it out and pat it dry using a clean towel. The battery should be ready for use.

3. Gently BiteTthem On the Sides.

This is an old trick that still works wonders to date. For the battery to function, manganese dioxide (one of the primary reagents) is emersed in a dense electrolyte. When the battery runs out of charge, gently pressing its sides enables any remains of the manganese dioxide to react with the electrolyte. The consequent charge can serve you for one or two days more.

4. Use Your Cellphone Battery

Yes, you read that right! You can use your cellphones’ battery to charge an AA battery. However, this will depend on whether it is removable. If it is, remove it and get some metal wires.

If you have several AA batteries, connect them ‘in serie’ You should then attach them to the cell phone battery, connecting the batteries' negative side to the cellphone battery's negative connector. Do the same for the positive sides. This process may take some time, so it is best to hold the wires in place using tape.

The batteries should be charged in a couple of hours or so. The charge should be sufficient to take you through a day or two.

5. DIY Charger

You can create a DIY charger if you have a benchtop power supply. Set the maximum current and maximum voltage to what your battery can withstand. You should then hook up your battery and give it about 30 minutes. Disconnect the batteries and check to see if they work. If not, you can hook them up again and give them about 20 minutes more.

Conclusion

In the absence of a charger, the above methods will suffice. However, ensure to charge the batteries correctly; otherwise, the batteries may overcharge and leak, explode, or burst into flames.