# Have you ever licked a 9-volt battery? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 16, 2011, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461 "2011-12-16T22:51:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461/41 "2011-12-19T16:37:27Z")
let’s set up a date and time for a doper global lick, preferably with a fresh battery but any 9V will do. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461/42 "2011-12-19T16:39:45Z")
I’ve done it, but now I’m compelled to make sure I teach this to my 7 year-old son. ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461/43 "2011-12-19T17:07:44Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > I’ve done it, but now I’m compelled to make sure I teach this to my 7 year-old son. I can’t wait until I have a son and get to teach him about all the \*interesting \*things of the world. Don’t forget to show him how to take a big whiff out of a bottle of Ammonia. My dad taught me that one. It’s the smell of…discovery. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461/44 "2011-12-19T17:13:31Z")
We just replaced the batteries in the smoke detectors. I tried to convince my 8 year old to stick his tongue on the new batteries but he refused. Of course, he has a brother who will lick/eat anything at all but he’s only a year old and that… well, it probably wouldn’t be right. Hmm… ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461/45 "2011-12-19T17:30:37Z")
I do it all the time. I use 9 volts in all my guitar pedals, and I replace them pretty frequently. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461/46 "2011-12-19T17:53:24Z")
I used to do it all the time. I had a little radio that ran on 9-volts that I listened to a lot, and I belonged to the ‘free battery’ club at Radio Shack, so I could run it for free! Those Radio Shack batteries must not have been much good, because I don’t remember ever getting _that_ much of a shock out of them, more like a strong tingle. I sure remember that feeling well. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461/47 "2011-12-19T18:04:58Z")
> [@I\_Made\_French\_Toast\_For\_You](#): > > I think it’s hilarious that, according to the results, licking 9-volt batteries is very much a guy thing to do. It makes me think there’s something else going on here (i.e. it must somehow make your dick feel good). > > I swear to god, if you people are withholding some crucial information from me, I’ll be very pissed. Really? Licking a battery specifically to get zapped by it _doesn’t_ strike you as a stereotypically guy thing to do? ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461/48 "2011-12-19T18:21:33Z")
> [@Prelude\_to\_Fascination](#): > > Yep, although it’s been many years. The strange thing is, that I can taste it and feel it now–a powerful memory. Ditto that! I can feel that weird, tingly, acid sensation on my tongue right now. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461/49 "2011-12-19T19:26:29Z")
I think I have, but I’m not sure. ---
**Author:** ![Chopper9760](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@Chopper9760](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chopper9760)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461/50 "2011-12-19T19:37:36Z")
I remember my dad telling me not to do it in a way that implied not doing it would make me a total wuss. So of course I did it. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461/51 "2011-12-19T19:46:24Z")
Sure. Lots. There are people who haven’t? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461/52 "2011-12-19T21:26:31Z")
I’ve done it, but never on a good battery. I don’t think I would even try it now, as I am now much more adverse to unpleasant situations. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461/53 "2011-12-20T14:51:01Z")
I haven’t, even though I’ve heard of it, and I won’t. What the hell would be the point? ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461/54 "2011-12-20T18:07:07Z")
Mmmmm… 9 volts… ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461/55 "2011-12-20T18:09:33Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I haven’t, even though I’ve heard of it, and I won’t. What the hell would be the point? To see if it has any kick. ''Gee, I wonder if this small appliance or smoke alarm has gone to heck or whether this here 9-volt battery is dead." ::lick battery terminals:: “Mmmm… that is the tasty goodness and mild zap of electric current; seems fine to me” ::investigates further the demise of the smoke detector:: ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461/56 "2011-12-20T19:16:35Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I haven’t, even though I’ve heard of it, and I won’t. What the hell would be the point? It’s fun and tells you how much juice is left in the battery. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461/57 "2011-12-20T19:28:24Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I haven’t, even though I’ve heard of it, and I won’t. What the hell would be the point? so you won’t be in the minority. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461/58 "2011-12-20T20:46:57Z")
Wow, it’s like being in a club. People that haven’t tried it have no idea and probably can’t imagine it even if it’s described really well. People that have tried it all know exactly what the experience is like, and there seems to be no disagreement about it. It’s been years for me, and I can recall it with remarkable accuracy. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461/59 "2011-12-20T20:55:02Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Wow, it’s like being in a club. The IFMVM (1) club. 1. I Forgot My VoltMeter. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461/60 "2011-12-20T22:00:57Z")
the other fun (read: hilariously unsafe) thing to do is take advantage of the terminal design and string a bunch of 9 volts together in series. [Pretty sparks.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2fD-hYVLxE) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461.md?page=4)