Imagine you’re lounging on the couch flipping channels when the remote suddenly goes dead. The simplest solution would be to grab some fresh AA batteries, but there’s one problem: The box of AAs is completely empty.
While you could go to the store and buy new ones, putting on pants and driving several miles may seem like too much effort in the moment, especially if you planned to spend the evening relaxing. Instead, here’s a quick replacement for those dead AA batteries that works perfectly when you’re in a pinch.
AAA Is A-OK
If you’re out of AA batteries but have plenty of AAAs lying around, you’re in luck. Despite their smaller size, AAAs have the same voltage as AAs, meaning they can temporarily power a device that normally requires the larger size. The only issue is getting the AAA battery to fit snugly, as it’s too small on its own. Fortunately, you can easily MacGyver together a solution, and all you’ll need is a bit of aluminum foil.
Only attempt this hack on low-power devices, such as remotes or clocks. Follow the directions closely; if you accidentally position the foil to connect the positive and negative ends, you risk creating a short circuit that could cause the device to overheat or even start a fire.
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Since aluminum conducts electricity, it can be wedged between the battery and the negative terminal (the metal contact point, often a spring, at the battery slot’s negative side) to supply power to the device. Take a little bit of foil, roll it into a ball, and then press it into the gap between the flat, negative end of the AAA battery and the terminal slot. Finally, put the cover back on, and the electrical current should start flowing once more.
A Short-Term Solution
Just keep in mind that this is not a permanent fix — the smaller AAA batteries will drain faster than their AA counterparts. However, this trick will solve your problem for a couple of hours, allowing you to keep watching TV on the couch for now and worry about going to the store for new batteries tomorrow.
This hack is also useful if you find yourself far from any available batteries, such as when you’re camping. If the AAs in your flashlight die, just take a AAA battery out of a less crucial device, grab some aluminum foil from the campsite, and get your flashlight working again.
