Batteries are an item that you will probably already have in your set of camping gear.
But did you know that they can also be used to light a fire?
If you ever run out of matches in the wilderness or just want to try a new method of making a fire, check out these 3 ways to start a fire with a battery.
Warning: some of these methods will create instant intense heat or even fire. For that reason, make sure you don’t carry the items needed together. Keep them separate inside of your pack!
Camping tip: as always when using any fire making methods, make sure you use dry tinder. These methods aren’t very effective if your tinder is wet!
1. 9V Battery & Steel Wool Creates INSTANT Sparks
Besides matches or a lighter, using a 9 volt battery and steel wool together is probably one of the easiest ways to create embers for your fire.
You’ll need steel wool that is rated #0 or finer, with #0000 working the best, and a 9 volt battery.
To create the spark, simply take a piece of steel wool and scrape it across the terminals of the battery.
The result will be instant embers, so have your tinder ready!
2. Using A Gum Wrapper And A AA Battery To Create Fire
AA batteries are used for quite a few things in camping gear.
Headlamps, flashlights, lanterns and even items like a portable radio will use AA batteries.
If you are planning to use a AA battery to help start your campfire, all you need is a foil gum wrapper (a piece of tin foil also works).
To create a small flame with these materials, fold up the gum wrapper long ways.
Then tear out a half circle piece in the middle of the wrapper to form a small point where the flame will be created.
For the final step, touch and hold one end of your gum wrapper to each of the battery terminals.
A flame will light in the middle of the wrapper shortly after the connection is made.
Gather your tinder and have it ready as the flame won’t last very long.
This can be done multiple times per battery, so it’s not a bad idea to have a few pieces of tin foil or gum wrappers ready in case the first one doesn’t light your tinder.
3. Lighting A Fire With A Paperclip
This method is very similar to using tin foil and a AA battery but with an extra step.
You’ll need a paperclip, a battery (AA, AAA, C, or D batteries work), and a knife.
To get started, cut off the plastic sleeve of the battery near the negative terminal (the one without the bump on the end).
On most batteries, there will be an indent on the negative side of the battery that will help you to know where to cut the sleeve.
Once the sleeve is cut and peeled away you’ll be able to see where the battery connects to the negative terminal.
Next, stick your knife in the middle of the two pieces and pry open the end of the battery just enough so the end of your paperclip can fit inside.
Place one end of your paperclip inside the battery and press firmly on the negative terminal to hold it in place.
Then take the other end of your paperclip and touch it to the positive terminal.
Once you’ve done this you should be able to touch the paperclip to your tinder to light it.
Be careful with this method as the paperclip can be very hot.
In Case Of Emergency: Your Cell Phone Battery Can Light A Fire
I don’t recommend this method, mainly because I have an iPhone (ever try to take apart an iPhone?).
But also because if I was in an emergency situation I would want to make sure I didn’t mess my phone up in case I got to where I could contact someone.
So I would recommend trying the methods above or these alternative fire making methods before this.
This method works the same as the steel wool and 9V battery method, with your cell phone battery replacing the 9V.
Simply remove your phone battery and touch a piece of steel wool to both terminals at once to create a spark.
Simple as that.
We Hope We’ve Added Some Fire Making Methods To Your Kit
Having a firemaking method such as matches or a lighter is a blessing to have out in the wilderness.
However, you may not have known that you’ve had these methods for lighting fires in your kit already.
Knowing how to make a fire is crucial to survival out in the wilderness, and we hope we’ve added some more methods to your survival kit!
Were there any methods we missed that should be added to this article?
Let us know!