HOLY CRAP! I knew about the “quad A” batteries in a 9volt (my mini maglite is running off of ‘em)but this is fantastic! I am doing this on my lunch hour.
heck yea, i head about another hack for smaller batteries on instructables.com, but always wondered where the hack for AA batteries was!!! great find!!! will be trying this one for sure….
This is amazing. When the video started, I thought it was going to be some high tech way of connecting old AA batteries to the 6V and charging them back up or something, ROFL! This is a great find, and I too will be buying several of these 6Vs. Thanks Scott for posting it!
Well…when you buy straight AA batteries you are paying for the brandname…and the outside packaging/user/system protection that is wrapped around it.
That’s not to say that it is magically worth 20x the price though. That’s the corporate world for ya though. As little as possible for as much as possible.
Pretty sure that’s fake. It may vary brand to brand, but doing a couple minutes of surfing, looks like some MAY have 4 AAs, others may have a completely different power source, etc.
I sent this to my sister and she tried it. Apparently the inside of the battery once pried open, released some kind of acid on her hands and she had to be rushed to the hospital. They think she’s going to lose 2 fingers on 1 hand, and her thumb on the other. …just kidding. Someone try this though, I’m dying to know if it’s true.
Okay, now if I could just get the correct comment in the right place then it all would make sense..now wouldn’t it? haha
If this is true…then FREAKIN COOL! Though, it worries me that the cap appears to have no real connections on it other than one (it looks like on pause, but I could be wrong) So where do all the batteries on top connect to and there by give their power to? I may spend the $5 to see if it is true. Though, I am hoping someone else here tries it by the end of the day today! haha =P Thanks Scott, keep up the cool stuff! Fert!
Most of the 6volts contains 4AA batteries. But some of them actually contains 32 aswell.. But the capacity is really crap at the 32AA ones. 32AAtype = 4AAtype in capacity .. sucks..
But beware that many of the 6volt batteries have the AA batteries soldered together…
Just get the rechargable AA’s….I bought about 32 AA Durcel Rechargables….use them from the four Wii-Motes, Various Remotes in the House, Digital Camera, Wall Clocks, and Crest Spinbrush Toothbrush….
Wouldn’t recommend the Toothbrush anymore….battery area isn’t sealed to well….Batteries got damp…leakage occured…Toothbrush dead.
OK guys I have been a loyal EL fan for years and this was something I saw and had to try…. my car was in the shop and I had to walk over there to get it out.. I got the car and went to walmart.. I bought a bunch of things and picked up a lantern battery just to see if this works.. it was like 3.50 so what was the hurt in that.. I get home and…. oh wait.. just to clear things up.. the lantern battery I got was a EVEREADY… (teh suk of batteries) It takes like 5 minutes of sawing at the top of this flippin thing before it comes off slicing my knuckles in the process.. yay! but … wait.. wtf is in here… NOT AA’s! It is 4 Big ol long batteries… GAY! I get bloodly knuckles for nuthin.. booooo… ohh well.. If someone can show me how to post pictures or something I will.. or I can send some pics to whoever is interested..
Mmm. Isn’t it bleedin’ obvious that this is a GAG? I mean, the guy’s hand pops the top off the 6V lantern cell, and there are all these AA cells inside that aren’t connected to anything. How do you suppose the electrons get from the cells to the spring contacts on the top? Quantum tunneling?
God lord. How gullible do you have to be to think this is real?
Ummm… If those were all 1.5 volt AA batteries then that big battery would pack a lot more than 6 volts. Or is my math wrong? 32 x 1.5 = 48 volts. So each battery actually contains less volts than a standard AA, right? I know if a toy requires 6 volts of power and I use 4 AA batteries. That is 6 volts of power in series according to my volt tester.
Have to agree with Jadly here, I too wasted the $5 on one of these things (it was the Eveready brand as well). I saw what looked like the tops of 4 D batteries, welded together. Also discovered a strange smell, and now my tongue tastes like I put a 9volt battery to it.
“Inside a PP3[9volt] there are ordinarily six alkaline or carbon-zinc 1.5 volt (nominal) cells arranged in series. These are either AAAA cells, or special flat, rectangular cells. The exact size of the constituent cells varies from brand to brand — some brands are slightly longer than others — as does the manner in which they are joined together. Some brands use soldered tabs on the battery, others press foil strips against the ends of the cells.”
Tim says: Ummm… If those were all 1.5 volt AA batteries then that big battery would pack a lot more than 6 volts. Or is my math wrong? 32 x 1.5 = 48 volts. So each battery actually contains less volts than a standard AA, right? I know if a toy requires 6 volts of power and I use 4 AA batteries. That is 6 volts of power in series according to my volt tester.
So if you connect 4 sets of 8-parallel AA alkaline batteries (1.5V, 2700mAh) in series, you get a set of 32 batteries that will produce 6V and 21600mAh (not far off of the claimed 26000 for a 6V alkaline lantern).
The battery he cut open was a ‘heavy duty’ battery, which typically is not an alkaline battery. Alkaline batteries have runtimes significantly longer than ‘heavy duty’ batteries. You might save some money, but I bet you’ll be changing batteries far more often. Better advise would be to encourage people to buy a few sets of rechargeable NiMH cells, which can save a lot more money over the long run.
That depends if you connect them parallel or serial. If you connect them serial the voltage goes up, if you connect hem parallel it doesn’t.. So probably 4 x 6 baterries in parallel connected in series.
wouldn’t it be easier to just go to the dollar store or something and buy their cheap batteries? i mean, if you are saying that all batteries are the same, just the label is different, then they should be fine too … however, we all know that cheap batteries don’t last as long as good batteries.
we have the energizer rechargeable batteries, i like the charger because it does AA and AAA in the same charger without any special parts. we had to do something for our wiimotes, they drain batteries!
Don’t worry about the volume that 32 AA batteries occupy and what a 6v lantern battery casing could possibly hold. Don’t worry about pesky voltage problems. Just enjoy…er…getting over. Sticking it to “The Man” and the whole military/industrial/battery complex.
For a bunch more “great” tips that are just as “useful” as this one, visit:
You want another secret? Go to a hospital. For clinical reasons, you can’t use a battery twice. So if a machine needs a battery, as soon as they are done with it they put the batteries in a big box for recycling. Sometimes a single use is 10mins or less. The one near me charges $2 a handful and the money goes towards charity. Imagine 30 9volt or 50 AA for $20
You want a cheap car battery? Go to a lube shop that sells batteries. Ask them if they have any dead batteries you could use for your boat or something. The one my buddy works at has a stack of them until the recycling guy comes. Bribe one of them with $10 or something and they will give you 2. This works really well if you have a battery charger. It’s not as good as a brand new battery, but it works if you feel cheep.
I should also note, that sometimes if you buy a beater car and just change the battery, you can sell the car for more than you bought it for. i.e., buy the car for $500 sell it for $800 3 days later after you wash it change the battery and throw a can of engine restore into it.
Personally, I like to pay extra money and get the Energizer Lithium AA batteries. They last FOREVER in my digital camera and Wii Remotes. And they’re a little lighter weight-wise. The added cost is worth not having to switch batteries as often.
HOLY CRAP! I knew about the “quad A” batteries in a 9volt (my mini maglite is running off of ‘em)but this is fantastic! I am doing this on my lunch hour.
heck yea, i head about another hack for smaller batteries on instructables.com, but always wondered where the hack for AA batteries was!!! great find!!! will be trying this one for sure….
This is amazing. When the video started, I thought it was going to be some high tech way of connecting old AA batteries to the 6V and charging them back up or something, ROFL! This is a great find, and I too will be buying several of these 6Vs. Thanks Scott for posting it!
Does anyone know if this is true. I don’t know if I would trust anything from a site called http://www.gagfilms.com
Mighty useful for the Wii owners and their Wiimote problems.
Rechargeables will save you more
Well…when you buy straight AA batteries you are paying for the brandname…and the outside packaging/user/system protection that is wrapped around it.
That’s not to say that it is magically worth 20x the price though. That’s the corporate world for ya though. As little as possible for as much as possible.
Yea, I’m also wondering a bout the validity of this. For only 5$ though, I may actually go and test it out myself.
Pretty sure that’s fake. It may vary brand to brand, but doing a couple minutes of surfing, looks like some MAY have 4 AAs, others may have a completely different power source, etc.
I sent this to my sister and she tried it. Apparently the inside of the battery once pried open, released some kind of acid on her hands and she had to be rushed to the hospital. They think she’s going to lose 2 fingers on 1 hand, and her thumb on the other.
…just kidding. Someone try this though, I’m dying to know if it’s true.
been doing this for like 5 years now. works fine…they arent name brand but work just as well just not for as long…
great for remotes and flash lights…not so great for things that use a more contunious charge as it deminishes the life cycle considerable…
Also they make rechargable laterns also which is just a bunch of AA rechargables.
Okay, now if I could just get the correct comment in the right place then it all would make sense..now wouldn’t it? haha
If this is true…then FREAKIN COOL! Though, it worries me that the cap appears to have no real connections on it other than one (it looks like on pause, but I could be wrong) So where do all the batteries on top connect to and there by give their power to? I may spend the $5 to see if it is true. Though, I am hoping someone else here tries it by the end of the day today! haha =P Thanks Scott, keep up the cool stuff! Fert!
Most of the 6volts contains 4AA batteries.
But some of them actually contains 32 aswell..
But the capacity is really crap at the 32AA ones. 32AAtype = 4AAtype in capacity .. sucks..
But beware that many of the 6volt batteries have the AA batteries soldered together…
Just get the rechargable AA’s….I bought about 32 AA Durcel Rechargables….use them from the four Wii-Motes, Various Remotes in the House, Digital Camera, Wall Clocks, and Crest Spinbrush Toothbrush….
Wouldn’t recommend the Toothbrush anymore….battery area isn’t sealed to well….Batteries got damp…leakage occured…Toothbrush dead.
OK guys I have been a loyal EL fan for years and this was something I saw and had to try…. my car was in the shop and I had to walk over there to get it out.. I got the car and went to walmart.. I bought a bunch of things and picked up a lantern battery just to see if this works.. it was like 3.50 so what was the hurt in that.. I get home and…. oh wait.. just to clear things up.. the lantern battery I got was a EVEREADY… (teh suk of batteries) It takes like 5 minutes of sawing at the top of this flippin thing before it comes off slicing my knuckles in the process.. yay! but … wait.. wtf is in here… NOT AA’s! It is 4 Big ol long batteries… GAY! I get bloodly knuckles for nuthin.. booooo… ohh well.. If someone can show me how to post pictures or something I will.. or I can send some pics to whoever is interested..
JAD
I’ll have to try it too… maybe the brand matters.
AA batteries (and AAA and D and C batteries) are all 1.5V.
32 of those things =/= one 6V how exactly?
Anyway, I save money by working in a photolab and taking th ebatteries from disposable cameras. You’d be surprised how much life is left in those.
Mmm. Isn’t it bleedin’ obvious that this is a GAG? I mean, the guy’s hand pops the top off the 6V lantern cell, and there are all these AA cells inside that aren’t connected to anything. How do you suppose the electrons get from the cells to the spring contacts on the top? Quantum tunneling?
God lord. How gullible do you have to be to think this is real?
Just went to Walmart to buy a 6V battery. It’s a gag…
There are no AA batteries inside a 6V lantern battery.
Ummm… If those were all 1.5 volt AA batteries then that big battery would pack a lot more than 6 volts. Or is my math wrong? 32 x 1.5 = 48 volts. So each battery actually contains less volts than a standard AA, right? I know if a toy requires 6 volts of power and I use 4 AA batteries. That is 6 volts of power in series according to my volt tester.
Have to agree with Jadly here, I too wasted the $5 on one of these things (it was the Eveready brand as well). I saw what looked like the tops of 4 D batteries, welded together. Also discovered a strange smell, and now my tongue tastes like I put a 9volt battery to it.
“Inside a PP3[9volt] there are ordinarily six alkaline or carbon-zinc 1.5 volt (nominal) cells arranged in series. These are either AAAA cells, or special flat, rectangular cells. The exact size of the constituent cells varies from brand to brand — some brands are slightly longer than others — as does the manner in which they are joined together. Some brands use soldered tabs on the battery, others press foil strips against the ends of the cells.”
hid the best part :O
~~wisebread.com/the-40-hidden-inside-a-12v-battery~~
Tim says:
Ummm… If those were all 1.5 volt AA batteries then that big battery would pack a lot more than 6 volts. Or is my math wrong? 32 x 1.5 = 48 volts. So each battery actually contains less volts than a standard AA, right? I know if a toy requires 6 volts of power and I use 4 AA batteries. That is 6 volts of power in series according to my volt tester.
No, your math is right… if they are all connected in series. Connecting them in parallel (see link: http://www.batteryuniversity.com/partone-24.htm ) instead increases the amperage.
So if you connect 4 sets of 8-parallel AA alkaline batteries (1.5V, 2700mAh) in series, you get a set of 32 batteries that will produce 6V and 21600mAh (not far off of the claimed 26000 for a 6V alkaline lantern).
The battery he cut open was a ‘heavy duty’ battery, which typically is not an alkaline battery. Alkaline batteries have runtimes significantly longer than ‘heavy duty’ batteries. You might save some money, but I bet you’ll be changing batteries far more often.
Better advise would be to encourage people to buy a few sets of rechargeable NiMH cells, which can save a lot more money over the long run.
Hey Tim,
That depends if you connect them parallel or serial. If you connect them serial the voltage goes up, if you connect hem parallel it doesn’t.. So probably 4 x 6 baterries in parallel connected in series.
Hey everyone,
If you like this type of tip you will LOVE this site because it has EXACTLY the same type of tips:
http://www.marksinfinitesolutions.com/
wouldn’t it be easier to just go to the dollar store or something and buy their cheap batteries? i mean, if you are saying that all batteries are the same, just the label is different, then they should be fine too … however, we all know that cheap batteries don’t last as long as good batteries.
we have the energizer rechargeable batteries, i like the charger because it does AA and AAA in the same charger without any special parts. we had to do something for our wiimotes, they drain batteries!
Don’t worry about the volume that 32 AA batteries occupy and what a 6v lantern battery casing could possibly hold. Don’t worry about pesky voltage problems. Just enjoy…er…getting over. Sticking it to “The Man” and the whole military/industrial/battery complex.
For a bunch more “great” tips that are just as “useful” as this one, visit:
http://www.marksinfinitesolutions.com/tutorials/
The “tips” there are made by the same group.
http://break.com/index/lantern-battery-trick-fails.html
FAKE
You want another secret? Go to a hospital. For clinical reasons, you can’t use a battery twice. So if a machine needs a battery, as soon as they are done with it they put the batteries in a big box for recycling. Sometimes a single use is 10mins or less. The one near me charges $2 a handful and the money goes towards charity. Imagine 30 9volt or 50 AA for $20
You want a cheap car battery? Go to a lube shop that sells batteries. Ask them if they have any dead batteries you could use for your boat or something. The one my buddy works at has a stack of them until the recycling guy comes. Bribe one of them with $10 or something and they will give you 2. This works really well if you have a battery charger. It’s not as good as a brand new battery, but it works if you feel cheep.
I should also note, that sometimes if you buy a beater car and just change the battery, you can sell the car for more than you bought it for. i.e., buy the car for $500 sell it for $800 3 days later after you wash it change the battery and throw a can of engine restore into it.
Personally, I like to pay extra money and get the Energizer Lithium AA batteries. They last FOREVER in my digital camera and Wii Remotes. And they’re a little lighter weight-wise. The added cost is worth not having to switch batteries as often.