Extract 32 AA Batteries from 1 Six-Volt Lantern Battery

The latest "take part one battery to yield many more smaller batteries" trick is up on Lifehacker, showing how to get 32 AA batteries from a single 6-volt lantern cell. What I'm wondering is how much charge is in each of those batteries compared to a brand name AA cell like Duracell. If anyone gives this a shot—be careful!—and wants to throw a voltmeter on some of the AAs, that would be swell. [Lifehacker]

[#1 posted by Vinnie, September 19, 2007 10:12 AM]

Ok, so I really want to try this, but am I going to get a face-full of acid? Has anyone actually tried this?

[#2 posted by Tubman, September 19, 2007 12:16 PM]

Thanks to Google, it looks like running the numbers on this can be kept in the realm of Gedanken Experiments, which means I don't need to get off my fat ass.

According to Energizer's data sheet, firstly, it's pretty clear that 32 AA batteries will fit neatly into a lantern battery (the ANSI 915A or 908A), so it's unlikely to be a hoax, as has been mooted elsewhere. Secondly, the relative capacities show that alkaline lantern battery AAs hold roughly a third of the charge of regular alkaline AAs. Obviously the numbers might be different for other brands, but I bet it's not by much.

[#3 posted by Anonymous, September 19, 2007 6:16 PM]

showing how to get 32 AA batteries from a single 6-volt lantern cell.

Of course, it's actually 32 AA cells from a single 6-volt lantern battery. Normally I wouldn't be a pedant about the distinction, but in this case it's actually significant :)

[#4 posted by Anonymous, September 19, 2007 8:23 PM]

Note that the lantern battery was a 'Heavy Duty' battery. This is not the same battery chemistry as 'Alkaline' batteries. 'Heavy Duty' batteries are usually zinc chloride, which was cutting edge somewhere around 1960.

You'll find that an alkaline lantern battery will run you about 10 bucks. Still not bad for 32 AAs.

If those cells are bare, watch those metal sides, the plastic coating on consumer batteries isn't there just to look pretty. If jam them all together all you'll have is a small hot plate.

[#5 posted by Anonymous, September 19, 2007 9:49 PM]

Save the environment and buy some rechargables!

[#6 posted by Anonymous, September 19, 2007 10:44 PM]

i was inspired by this video (and a young toddler who's toys virtually eat AA batteries) and tried it. I purchased an Eveready branded battery (it was cheap - about $4). upon opening, i discovered four long batteries about the diameter of a D battery. i guess i'll have to try another brand, apparently Energizer.

[#7 posted by Jewels Vern, September 19, 2007 11:31 PM]

Batteries have always been made that way, but usually they are not the pretty sort of cells seen in the example. Most often they are made specifically to be packed in a lantern battery and won't fit well in another device. It depends on the brand.

[#8 posted by Joel Johnson, September 20, 2007 5:00 AM]

Ha. I guess you're right, Anonymous! I tend to use "cell" and "battery" interchangeably, which is sloppy. Informed!

[#9 posted by Daniel Rutter, September 20, 2007 5:32 AM]

upon opening, i discovered four long batteries about the diameter of a D battery.

Those are "F" sized cells. I think you'll find that all alkaline lantern batteries contain them.

I wouldn't be surprised if some carbon-zinc ("super heavy duty") lantern batteries had F cells inside them as well.

[#10 posted by Tubman, September 20, 2007 6:55 AM]

@#6: Apparently you can use those to make an arc carbon lamp.

[#11 posted by bigskyguy, September 20, 2007 1:43 PM]

Upon opening a Duracell six volt, four D cells were found. No bargain there.

[#12 posted by Anonymous, September 21, 2007 8:17 PM]

Like the guy above said, invest in rechargeables. Depending on the brand, range of sizes, and chemical composition of the batteries, you're looking at between a $25-$60 initial outlay for a kit that will keep you from sending spent corrosive trash into landfills for years.

[#13 posted by the.arctic, September 23, 2007 8:08 AM]

This video is fake. This is a 6v Walgreen's battery with the label obscured. I bought the same one last night to test this out despite the video seeming a bit weird. Please add a note to the original post that this is not a possible hack. http://www.flickr.com/photos/58088303@N00/1427218268/in/photostream/

[#14 posted by Anonymous, September 25, 2007 1:31 PM]

Ditto what The.Arctic said (and the folks on Snopes' message board, et al) -- the video is a fake.

[#15 posted by Anonymous, September 27, 2007 9:32 PM]

Last time I checked, common household batteries from AAA to D are 1.5 volt each.
32 AA's would yield a 48 volt lantern battery not 6v. Go figure.

[#16 posted by Anonymous, September 28, 2007 10:08 PM]

except that in circuits, the total voltage depends not only on the number of cells but the arrangement. many of the cells are in parallel to provide longer life (thats what is different between aa-d bateries, the power inside)

[#17 posted by Anonymous, September 30, 2007 7:04 PM]

I bought an Energizer 6v alkaline lantern battery for $8 and took it apart. As someone else said there were four oblong cells, not a bunch of AA.

[#18 posted by Anonymous, October 1, 2007 7:54 PM]

EverReady 6V has the same type of plastic case as one in Vid. It is sealed at the top (solid molded). Had to cut it apart with a cutting wheel on a Dremel tool. Inside were four long batts, not 32 AAs. So...

[#19 posted by Anonymous, November 4, 2007 1:26 AM]

Confirmed as of about 3 minutes ago. Energizer battery has 4 of those goofy looking D cell type batteries. :(

Now, what can I do with those? :)

[#20 posted by Anonymous, November 4, 2007 11:34 AM]

> Now, what can I do with those? :)

Get a lantern :)

[#21 posted by Anonymous, April 4, 2008 7:07 AM]

"Last time I checked, common household batteries from AAA to D are 1.5 volt each.
32 AA's would yield a 48 volt lantern battery not 6v. Go figure."

Not necessarily. Four 1.5V batteries in series gives you 6v, and 8 parallel groups of 4 batteries in series gives you 6V with 32 batteries.

Check again.

This is BS simply for the fact it makes no sense from a manufacturing standpoint to put 32 separate batteries in a case when the same thing can be achieved easier and more cost effectively with larger cells.

[#22 posted by Anonymous, April 23, 2008 12:38 PM]

A stack of two AA batteries is slightly taller than the casing of a 6V lantern battery. The 32 AAs will not fit inside.

[#23 posted by Anonymous, September 11, 2008 9:28 PM]

Just buy some regular AAs ya fucking cheapskates

[#24 posted by Anonymous, March 5, 2009 10:39 AM]

I know for a fact that these are filled with four D-cell batteries. I took one apart when I was a kid. And today I just took apart a Duracell 6 volt and there are four Duracell "D" batteries inside with a cardboard spacer on the bottom. Perhaps off brands use AA but I have not seen one. At any rate, you will not find one that is a single cell filled with acid.

[#25 posted by Anonymous, March 30, 2009 11:17 AM]

This is a scam.. go to snopes.com and you will see

[#26 posted by Anonymous, May 11, 2009 8:27 PM]

WRONG... if you try the exact one from the video, the 'Walgreens Heavy Duty' battery, it is filled with random batteries, including many AAs.