You never know when it might come in handy to know how to power up a light bulb with a battery. If the electricity goes out in the middle of a storm, you can produce light by removing the light bulbs from the lamps in your house and hooking them up to batteries. You can even create your own impromptu flashlights. Even if you never need the skill, learning how to power a light bulb with a power tool replacement battery is an interesting and easy scientific experiment.
Use the correct bulb. Standard light bulbs are designed for roughly 120 volts of electricity, which is the amount put out by most electrical outlets, but considerably more than the average battery, which puts out only about 1 1/2 volts. Small bulbs, like flashlight bulbs, are made to power up with only 3 volts, or the equivalent in two AA batteries. Car bulbs also run on less volts than a regular light bulb. Most car bulbs can be lighted with 12 volts, which is the equivalent of one 9-volt battery and two AA batteries. Use the smallest bulb that you can for the most effective light.
Prepare your connecting wires. You will need two metal wires to make the connection between the battery or batteries and the light bulb. You can use a wire, such as an old speaker wire. Cut the wire into two pieces and strip the covering away from each end, being careful not to cut the wiring. You can also use either two paper clips or two pieces of aluminum foil. If you use the paper clips, uncoil them so that they are straight. If you use foil, roll two pieces into thin wire-like strips.
Link your batteries. If you are going to be powering a 3-volt bulb with two 1 1/2 volt batteries, you must first connect the two batteries to each other. To connect the batteries, place the positive terminal, or the end with the nub, of one battery against the negative terminal, or the flat end, of the other. Tape the batteries together with electrical tape, making sure they remain touching.
Connect the wires, paper clips or foil to the battery or cordless drill batteries. One wire should connect to the positive battery terminal, the other to the negative battery terminal. The actual metal of the wire must touch the terminal. Use electrical tape to hold the end of the wires into place.
Attach both wires from the battery to the light bulb. The metal tips of the wire must touch the metal base of the light bulb. The bulb should light up as soon as both wires are touching the base. You can use electrical tape to hold the wires in place.
The light bulb will get hot just as it does in a lamp. Don't hold it in your hand or leave it lying on surface that can be damaged by heat. If you want to leave your bulb burning, place it in a candleholder or a fireproof glass.
Use the correct bulb. Standard light bulbs are designed for roughly 120 volts of electricity, which is the amount put out by most electrical outlets, but considerably more than the average battery, which puts out only about 1 1/2 volts. Small bulbs, like flashlight bulbs, are made to power up with only 3 volts, or the equivalent in two AA batteries. Car bulbs also run on less volts than a regular light bulb. Most car bulbs can be lighted with 12 volts, which is the equivalent of one 9-volt battery and two AA batteries. Use the smallest bulb that you can for the most effective light.
Prepare your connecting wires. You will need two metal wires to make the connection between the battery or batteries and the light bulb. You can use a wire, such as an old speaker wire. Cut the wire into two pieces and strip the covering away from each end, being careful not to cut the wiring. You can also use either two paper clips or two pieces of aluminum foil. If you use the paper clips, uncoil them so that they are straight. If you use foil, roll two pieces into thin wire-like strips.
Link your batteries. If you are going to be powering a 3-volt bulb with two 1 1/2 volt batteries, you must first connect the two batteries to each other. To connect the batteries, place the positive terminal, or the end with the nub, of one battery against the negative terminal, or the flat end, of the other. Tape the batteries together with electrical tape, making sure they remain touching.
Connect the wires, paper clips or foil to the battery or cordless drill batteries. One wire should connect to the positive battery terminal, the other to the negative battery terminal. The actual metal of the wire must touch the terminal. Use electrical tape to hold the end of the wires into place.
Attach both wires from the battery to the light bulb. The metal tips of the wire must touch the metal base of the light bulb. The bulb should light up as soon as both wires are touching the base. You can use electrical tape to hold the wires in place.
The light bulb will get hot just as it does in a lamp. Don't hold it in your hand or leave it lying on surface that can be damaged by heat. If you want to leave your bulb burning, place it in a candleholder or a fireproof glass.