"Dottie" wrote in message
...
I live in Florida and have accumulated a large collection of batteries
for use in case of power outages. The expiration date on most of them
say 2012 to 2013. Is there a device I can get to test these - without
having to take them all out of the package and put them in a flash
light or something . I need to feel safe and sure that they are in
good working order and would feel a lot better if I could test them.
Asked in the hardware and auto section of Walmart and they didn't
carry them ... hadn't seen them.... I just assumed there was such a
thing. I know there used to be. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

You have to touch the contacts to check them. You may be able to find a
voltmeter with sharp probes to push through the package to hit the top and
bottom. Personally, I've never found a battery that died before its time so
I never bothered checking them. The other day I replace a AAA battery that
has been in use for a thermometer LCD readout and the date was 2006.

I'd wait until 2013 and check them at that time, or use them up if possible.