A QUICK BATTERY HOLDER -- for electrical experiments

This is a quick way to hold wires to the terminals of a AAA or a AA battery for electrical experiments. Two modified clothespins are mounted to a 3/4" thick wood spacer. The clothespin springs maintain pressure on the battery terminals.

Two holes in each of the clothespins allow for attachment of the wires.

I just nailed the clothespins to the wood with 3/4" finishing nails. You could also use a little glue if you wish.

Step 1 MODIFY THE CLOTHESPINS

Slide one half of the clothespin sideways out from under the spring that holds it. Cut the end off one of the halves. Make sure that when the battery is in place, the terminals of the battery will make contact with and be held by the contact points on either side of the holder.

If you don't have a tiny drill bit to make the holes with, you can just drive in and pull out a 3/4" finishing nail. If the wood splits, it may still work. If it splits badly, try another clothespin. Sometimes they don't split.

Comments

[grithms]

graet londs

[5STARGBLOOD]

Any one have any suggestions on were to get goo wire for this all my wires suck

[JavaNut13]

Brilliant idea!

[Thinkenstein]

Thanks.

[Grathio]

Excellent idea! I'm going to make several. As soon as I figure out what I did with my old clothes pins.

[Thinkenstein]

I wish I knew where to get the clothespins that used to be available, the ones with the really strong springs. All the ones I have found in recent years are wimps.

[Dr. dB]

...when lawyers design clothespins....

[GENIUS!!]

I LOVE MAKING THINGS SO RIGHT NOW IM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT SOMTHING I CAN MAKE JUST BY USING ONE BATTERY THANKS ALOT :)

[GENIUS!!]

PLUS TO GET THOSE STRONG CLOTHEPINS JUST TRY UR LOCAL $1 STORE NEAR U

[Thinkenstein]

Thanks for the suggestion. Maybe somebody still makes them.

[capn_midnight]

I've always used a couple of coins strapped to the terminals with a rubber band. The coins provide surface area to pin the wire to the battery, and the rubber band provides the tension. Very compact, and no gluing or nailing necessary.

[Thinkenstein]

That's a very good idea, and one easy to improvise quite often. It definitely makes the solution pocket-size.

[wobbler]

Putting heading in caps in design terms is fine. It's called "adding weight" and it allows you to discern the importance of infromation and to give a page structure. Sheesh, some people don't recognise good design when they see it! Oh yes, before I forget, great idea by the way.

[Thinkenstein]

Thanks, wobbler. I have some sign painting and advertising background. I'm also learning to tone things down some in group music making. I've been too loud before. There is a balance. I think the thing is to catch the viewer's attention without offending him. I was thinking of mixing caps and small letters, perhaps more artistically in future instructables. It's an idea to play with, anyway.

[depotdevoid]

That's a very simple solution for a somewhat vexing problem, I like it!

[Thinkenstein]

Glad you do. I hope to come up with a solution for multiple batteries soon.

[mawktheone]

very clever. I like it

[Thinkenstein]

Thanks.

[osgeld]

Brilliant!

[Thinkenstein]

Thanks.

[stone3408]

Great use of materials. This is one of those that goes under the so simple I should have thought of that. Good job.

[Thinkenstein]

Thanks.

[CarpetGnome]

Amazing! I wish I had heard of this idea sooner!

[Thinkenstein]

I wish it had occurred to me sooner. I would have avoided awkward wrestling with them in the past.

[leevonk]

nice, I had used electrical tape and rubber bands in the past but doesn't really work too well.

[Thinkenstein]

Glad you like the idea. For me, batteries always seemed to evade capture, and need a hand to hold everything in place on the terminals.

[Phil B]

Very clever!

[Thinkenstein]

Thanks.