# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461/61 "2011-12-21T00:16:01Z")
> [@I\_Made\_French\_Toast\_For\_You](#): > > Please, what does it feel/taste like? A brief tingle. As for taste, they don’t call it the copper-top battery for nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461/62 "2011-12-21T00:50:47Z")
I haven’t. I don’t think I will either. ---
**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 21, 2011, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461/63 "2011-12-21T02:14:34Z")
> [@Kenm](#): > > A brief tingle. As for taste, they don’t call it the copper-top battery for nothing. A combination of shock and biting aluminum foil. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461/64 "2011-12-21T03:18:43Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > An odd effect I always wanted to know about if I’m the only one who experiences it, but never really found a way to bring it up in casual conversation: besides the tingle and metallic taste, it makes me salivate, quite a lot. In fact, reading this thread, the vivid memory of the feel and taste has been having the same effect… This is my experience exactly. I can’t explain it but just thinking about placing a charged 9-volt battery on my tongue is causing uncontrollable salivation as I type this…actually as soon as I began to read this thread, and I haven’t placed one on my tongue in a very long time. When I was younger, licking a 9-volt battery was “the way” to see if it was still good. Everyone I knew did it for the same reason. For me, it’s a borderline unpleasant / pleasant sensation. My first gleaking experience was caused by licking a fully-charged 9-volt battery. ETA: I just realized that those who have never done this may be thinking that the we are (or were) licking the battery itself. No, no. It’s the placing of the metal positive and negative leads simultaneously on one’s tongue that causes the sensation. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461/65 "2011-12-21T14:01:58Z")
I’ve been electrocuted, slightly. I was in India once, put my hand on a wire that wasn’t quite connected - it had all been stripped - and received a jolt. It wasn’t pleasant. I don’t mind being in the minority and “everyone’s doing it” is not a reason to do it. I feel like everybody’s mom. “If everybody was jumping off a cliff, would you, too?” :smack: Sorry, I think this is an experience I can live without. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461/66 "2011-12-21T15:24:33Z")
Tip: don’t try it with a car battery. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461/67 "2011-12-21T16:16:26Z")
Just last night as a matter of fact. I’m wrapping Christmas presents and always try to include the batteries needed. It had been sitting in the drawer for a while so I needed to test it. . . It’s one of those pieces of knowledge that is so old I don’t know where Iearned it. You know, “Righty tighty, lefty loosey” and “Here’s how to test a 9 volt.” :: shrug :: ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461/68 "2011-12-21T16:39:31Z")
> [@Martian Bigfoot](#): > > Tip: don’t try it with a car battery. anyone with a tongue long enough to touch both terminals should be doing other things with their tongue. ---
**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 21, 2011, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461/69 "2011-12-21T19:35:27Z")
> [@Martian Bigfoot](#): > > Tip: don’t try it with a car battery. We’ve discussed this in GQ before. Apparently (according to people with letters after their names) it is safe to connect a car battery to your tongue. Frankly, I want to try it sometime. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461/70 "2011-12-21T19:44:27Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > Apparently (according to people with letters after their names) it is safe to connect a car battery to your tongue. Never trust a man named Gregory Johnsonmtfvonawtopih. Never. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461/71 "2011-12-21T21:15:42Z")
i just replaced a 9V in a remote thermometer sensor. mmm… metallically. ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461/72 "2011-12-22T03:26:43Z")
But it really doesn’t tell you how MUCH of a charge is left, right? Just that there’s enough to tingle your tongue? it’s not like there’s an indicator to say 75%, 50%, 25%, like on my battery tester. ---
**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 22, 2011, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461/73 "2011-12-22T03:33:14Z")
IME, it tells you Very good Mostly good Mostly dead Dead ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461/74 "2011-12-22T06:45:21Z")
> [@kittenblue](#): > > But it really doesn’t tell you how MUCH of a charge is left, right? Just that there’s enough to tingle your tongue? it’s not like there’s an indicator to say 75%, 50%, 25%, like on my battery tester. Lick enough 9-volt batteries in your life and you can approximate how much of a charge is left. I can definitely differentiate between one with a full charge, a low charge, and obviously no charge. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461/75 "2011-12-22T14:38:43Z")
> [@Martian Bigfoot](#): > > Tip: don’t try it with a car battery. Won’t hurt you; it’s only 12.6 V. ---
**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 22, 2011, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461/76 "2011-12-22T15:35:29Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > Won’t hurt you; it’s only 12.6 V. Nonetheless, 25mA through the heart will kill you, according to my undergrad Instrumentation class. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461/77 "2011-12-22T16:08:16Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Nonetheless, 25mA through the heart will kill you, according to my undergrad Instrumentation class. Right. But generally speaking, unless the skin is broken, that level of current won’t flow through you if you come in contact with 12 V. ---
**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 22, 2011, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461/78 "2011-12-22T16:48:43Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > Right. But generally speaking, unless the skin is broken, that level of current won’t flow through you if you come in contact with 12 V. I’d hate to cut my tongue on the positive battery terminal while the car and I were grounded. Unlikely, but things are gong well for me now. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mdcastle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@Mdcastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdcastle)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461/79 "2011-12-24T01:11:58Z")
Ancedote I heard on the web. Two kids are playing in the attic and find grandpa’s old radio. It doesn’t work, so one of them decided to test the battery with his tongue. Turns out it was a 90 volt “B” battery. When he woke up with his friend shaking him on the other side of the room he concluded the battery was fine. ---
**Author:** ![Terraplane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Terraplane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terraplane)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2011, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461/80 "2011-12-25T04:16:14Z")
> [@kittenblue](#): > > But it really doesn’t tell you how MUCH of a charge is left, right? Just that there’s enough to tingle your tongue? it’s not like there’s an indicator to say 75%, 50%, 25%, like on my battery tester. Others have said it but I figured I’d join the chorus. You can get a pretty good idea of how much is left in the thing. If it’s fresh you get the full experience. If it’s dead you mostly just get the metallic taste without much else. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-licked-a-9-volt-battery/606461.md?page=5)