Empty 1 x AA battery holder with a spring at one end and red and black wire leads

AA Battery Holder with Wire Leads

1 x AA
$1.45 NZD
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Empty 1 x AA battery holder with a spring at one end and red and black wire leads
  • Empty 1 x AA battery holder with a spring at one end and red and black wire leads
  • Inside of the AA holder from above, showing the spring, flat contact and moulded + and - marks
  • Flat underside of the 1 x AA battery holder with a slot and a hole at each end
  • 1 x AA battery holder dimensions: approx. 58 x 17 x 15mm, leads approx. 120mm
AA Battery Holder with Wire Leads
SKU: BH-AA-1S

AA Battery Holder with Wire Leads

$1.45 NZD
Cells1 x AA
Order before 12:00pm for same-day dispatch Dispatch 7 days a week, excluding public holidays

NZ Post: 1-2 days urban · 2-4 days rural

Shipping from $5.99 urban / $9.99 rural, or free pick-up in Te Awamutu.

Buy more, pay less Prices shown are per unit. Add enough of this item and the lower rate applies on its own at checkout. There is no code to enter and you do not need to buy a pack. Choosing a tier here just sets the quantity for you. Larger quantities go out in the same bag, so packing, handling and postage cost us less per unit. We pass that saving straight on to you, so you can buy more for less.

Easy 30-day returns · 12-month warranty

Add $50.00 for Free Urban delivery ($88.00 for Rural)
Urban $50 Rural $88

A battery holder gives a loose AA cell two wires you can connect to a circuit. This one holds a single AA in an open black tray, with a spring at the negative end and a flat contact at the positive end. A red (+) and a black (-) lead are already attached, so there is nothing to solder at the holder itself. One cell gives 1.5V from an alkaline AA, or about 1.2V from a rechargeable one.

You can use it to run a 1.5V to 3V toy motor, to light a 1.5V torch bulb in a school circuit, or to replace a broken battery compartment in a wall clock. One AA is not enough to light most LEDs or to run an Arduino or ESP32 by itself, and the FAQs below show what to add for those. The leads are thin flexible wire, about 120mm long with bare ends, which you twist or solder onto your circuit or clamp in a screw terminal. The tray has no cover and no switch, and its flat base sticks down well with double-sided foam tape.

Specifications

Holds1 x AA cell, not included
Voltage1.5V with an alkaline AA, about 1.2V with a NiMH rechargeable
LeadsRed (+) and black (-), approx. 120mm, bare ends
ContactsCoil spring (-) and flat contact (+)
Polarity marks+ and - moulded inside the tray
BodyOpen black plastic tray, no cover or switch
SizeApprox. 58 x 17 x 15mm (L x W x H)
WeightApprox. 6g without a cell
In the box1 holder with leads, no battery

Wiring & getting started

  1. Connect the leads first

    Red is positive and black is negative. Join each lead to your circuit before a cell goes in. Twist the bare end round the terminal or wire it joins, or solder it for a lasting joint.

  2. Fit the cell

    The flat end of the AA goes against the spring and the button end goes against the flat contact, matching the + and - moulded in the tray. Push the flat end into the spring first, then press the cell down until it sits under the two side lips.

  3. Check it works

    A motor or bulb should run straight away. A multimeter across the two leads reads about 1.5V with a new alkaline cell. If nothing happens, press the cell towards the flat contact and turn it a little, then check that both joints are tight.

  4. Add a switch (optional)

    To turn your circuit off you take the cell out. If you would rather flick a switch, wire one into the red lead, such as our MTS-102 mini toggle switch.

Note: Keep the two bare lead ends apart whenever a cell is fitted. If they touch, the cell is shorted and gets hot enough to soften the tray. Take the cell out, or tape one end, before you put the holder away.

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the questions buyers ask most.

Will one AA light an LED?
Not by itself. One AA gives 1.5V, a red LED needs about 2V, and a white or blue LED needs about 3V. Two of these holders joined in a row give 3V: connect the red lead of one to the black lead of the other and use the two leads left over. That lights a white or blue LED directly. A red, yellow or green LED on 3V also needs a resistor of about 100 ohms in line with it.
Can it power an Arduino or ESP32?
Not by itself. Those boards need 3.3V or 5V, and one AA gives 1.5V. To run one from a single cell you need a step-up (boost) converter made for one-cell input, one that starts from about 1V, wired between the holder and the board.
Can I use rechargeable AA cells?
Yes. NiMH rechargeable AAs fit, and some are a little fatter than alkaline cells, so they sit more snugly. They give about 1.2V, not 1.5V, so a motor turns slightly slower. The holder does not charge them, so take the cell out and put it in its charger.
The power cuts out when the holder is bumped. How do I fix it?
The cell is held only by the spring, so a tray that flexes or a cell that shifts can break the contact for a moment. Stick the base down flat to something rigid with double-sided foam tape so the tray cannot bend. If it still cuts out, take the cell out, pull the spring out by a millimetre or two so it presses harder, and wipe both contacts clean.
Can I push the leads into a breadboard?
Not reliably as they come. The bare ends are fine stranded wire, which bends before it goes into the hole. Coat each end with a little solder so it becomes a stiff pin, or solder each lead to a male header pin, and it will push in and stay put.
Is it easy to solder the leads?
Yes. Twist the bare strands, hold the iron on the joint for two or three seconds, and feed in the solder. Longer than that and the red or black insulation starts to shrink back from the heat.

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Why Buy from NZN

Useful parts, fair prices and someone local to help.

I'm Lukas, an engineering student and maker based in Te Awamutu. NZN grew out of a CNC build that dragged on for months because every missing cable, bolt or electronic part meant another overseas order. I started the shop so Kiwi makers can spend more time building and less time waiting for the next parcel.

More about NZN Electronics

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