A Screwy AAA Battery

[Roy Long]

I have an oddball single AAA 1 1/2-volt Energizer alkaline battery that measures 3024 millivolts on my multimeter. (The decimal for some reason isn't there)
I have checked other triple A batteries, and they read normal around 1.5 volt.
Question please: Why would it do that?
Thank you.
Roy Long

 

[berkeman]

Welcome to PF.

Is it maybe an AC reading instead of DC? It sounds like you meter is autoranging? I don't know what could cause an AAA alkaline battery to generate an AC voltage -- maybe a bad/intermittant internal connection?

 

[Roy Long]

Welcome to PF.

Is it maybe an AC reading instead of DC? It sounds like you meter is autoranging? I don't know what could cause an AAA alkaline battery to generate an AC voltage -- maybe a bad/intermittant internal connection?

Thank you. I've checked those things. Internal problems would show up on other batteries I checked for reference I would think.

 

[berkeman]

So it is reading 3024mVdc? What if you take the meter off of autorange and force a DC and then an AC range? What meter is it?

 

[russ_watters]

Do other batteries read normally?

 

[Roy Long]

Ok. I'll try that. Yes. it is mVdc.
It's an IDeal 61-340 meter. (Old I know)
OK. Problem solved. I rearranged it and it's reading 302.4 millivolts DC.
That was it.
Thank you!

 

[berkeman]

Ah, okay, that makes more sense. That battery goes in the Recycle Pile!

 

[Roy Long]

Yes. Thank you!