How to make a Lighter out of a Battery (MacGuyver Style)


how to make a lighter out of a battery
make homemade lighter
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Survival is paramount, and sometimes you will be in an undesirable situation with nothing but what you might have on hand. Something that can help or even create fire for you is an absolute must-have. But let’s say you don’t have any matches, a lighter, or a flint and tinder. You might be out of luck since not everyone has these on their person all the time. But what if you have something like a battery on hand? And if so how to make a lighter out of a battery in an emergency situation becomes very much a possibility.

Make homemade lighter possible with stuff around the house. It may be in fact much easier than you think! you might just have the perfect items stored away around the house to help you make a spark. These special item would be your cell phone, and it has a lot more uses than just calling for help. It also could be your T.V remote batteries or from other various small appliances that need them.

Granted that it has enough charge, the battery can be used for a hail mary emergency firestarter. Even if you happen to have a normal battery, that too can give you a chance if used correctly. All you need is some miscellaneous items and a little luck and you’ve got your own personal battery powered fire starter.

Materials Needed

Fortunately, the materials needed are not very difficult to find. Generally, a simple gum wrapper will suffice, as well as aluminum foil and steel wool. can be used as well. Below the type of item needed to cause a short circuit will be listed under the specific battery type. Since almost all batteries are made up of a lithium-ion cell, there is little distinction between save for charges and uses.

As long as it has a charge and its negative and positive endpoints are intact, there will be no issue. Also, it does not matter what kind of battery it is, unless it has no exposed endpoints it will be sufficient. Although depending on the type of battery such as a 9 volt there will be different setups or the altered use of one of the materials in order to ensure the battery conducts a charge correctly.

Depending on the type of battery, there could be altered uses and procedures into correctly creating a spark or combustion. As long as it has a charge and its negative and positive endpoints are intact there will be no issue. Also, it does not matter what kind of battery it is. Although depending on the type of battery such as a 9 volt there will be different setups or the altered use of one of the materials in order to ensure the battery conducts a charge correctly.

Using Cellphone Batteries

A cell phone battery is a very viable when trying to start a flame. While it might not be recommended to use your battery for this type of use, there will be no long term damaged if used sparingly. Nonetheless, in order to use this battery to create a spark, as you will need a piece of steel wool about rolled in your fingers into it is about 1.5 in length.

After this, ensure that you fold the steel wool until both ends can simultaneously touch the contact points on the top or bottom of your battery. You will want to rub the steel wool slightly on the contact points. This will cause the steel wool to begin to smolder and at this point, it would be wise to put the wool into your tinder. This way of creating a spark is done by creating a short circuit in which the steel wool combusts due to the electrical contact points.

After this, ensure that you fold the steel wool until both ends can simultaneously touch the contact points on the top or bottom of your battery. You will want to rub the steel wool slightly on the contact points. This will cause the steel wool to begin to smolder and at this point, it would be wise to put the wool into your tinder. This way of creating a spark is done by creating a short circuit in which the steel wool combusts due to the electrical contact points.

Using 9-Volt Batteries

These types of batteries are very different in their connective points found at the top of the battery, the negative connector having an octangular shape, while the positive connector is circular. Both of these connectors are also both located on the top of the battery. However, the only effect it may have on its viability is that using aluminum or gum wrapper to create fire is near impossible.

This is due to the fact that the connecting points are too close together and would heat up the moment the two ends touch the connectors it will quickly combust. Not allowing for prolonged use, instead, it will have only one use. This means that only a steel wool and a paper clip could be effectively used.

Using A, AA, AAA Batteries

These type of batteries are known to be very easy to find and are probably the easiest to carry and use on a regular basis. This battery has their connecting points on the top and bottom of their chassis. As these connecting points are so far apart, using steel wool to create a spark might prove difficult.

This type of battery works best with aluminum foil or even a gum wrapper, due to their ability to be malleable. Allowing for you to bend your conductive material much more easily and reach the top and bottom connectors easily. Be sure to keep in mind, this type of battery will cause the combustion or heating up of the middle of whatever aluminum-based material you use. So be sure to quickly move the embers into your tinder!

Final Thoughts

As long as you can create fire, being in the wilderness will be easy. Many forget that fire is always essential no matter the time period. Timeless as the wheel, while it has been steadfast in its creation and use; the ways of creating it have advanced exponentially. Whether it be to cook a meal, light fireworks, or even how to light a cigarette with a battery. It definitely pays to know what you are creating, and how you can make it the most effective.

Although never forget to familiarize yourself with other types of ways in creating fire, as you never know when you might have a stick and some twine instead of steel wool and a battery.

 

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