How to Make a Battery Holder
A battery holder is a device to conduct electricity from a battery into a circuit. Battery holders are simple devices -- all they need are an electrical terminal to connect to the battery and a pair of wires leading off to the rest of the circuit. The most important thing is to make sure that everything stay in contact. The wires must touch the terminal, and the terminal must touch the ends of the batteries.
Instructions
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1
Decide on how many batteries you want, and what type you should use. C, D and A batteries all produce 1.5 volts of power, but the larger D cell will last longer than the C, which will last longer than the A.
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2
Measure the length and width of your batteries. Cut a strip of cardboard as long as two times the length plus two times the combined width of your batteries plus an extra half inch. For example, if you are using two batteries which are each 3 inches long and 1/2 inch wide, your combined width would be 1 inch (2 x 1/2) and your total length would be 8 1/2 inches (2 x 3 + 2 x 1 + 1/2).
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3
Fold the strip into a rectangle to hold your batteries and tape it together to hold it in shape. Using the example in step 2, you would have a rectangle 2 inches wide and 3 inches long to hold the two batteries side by side. The extra half inch would let you overlap the cardboard slightly to create a stronger connection.
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4
Strip the ends off of two pieces of hookup wire such as the wire in the link below. You want to expose at least 1/2 inch of each end.
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5
Roll a wad of aluminum foil around one of the exposed wire ends. It should be as wide as the battery holder and several layers deep. Make another wad around the other wire.
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6
Attach the wads into the battery holder with some glue.
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7
Make a back for the battery holder. Put glue along the edge of the rectangle and place it down on a piece of cardboard. When the glue dries, cut away excess cardboard. Put in both batteries facing the same way. You now have a holder.
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Tips & Warnings
You may want to put the batteries in before you glue the back onto the holder. This will ensure that the holder has the right shape. Just be careful not to get glue on the batteries.
