A couple days ago, a homemade extension cord ceased functioning. So, obvious first step before taking it apart, was a quick continuity test (resistance) with the voltmeter.
But it didn’t work — the needle’s movement was almost imperceptible.
I don’t know when or where I got this voltmeter, but it was decades ago at least. And for the first time in all those years, a thought occurred to me: in order to measure resistance, it must have a power source. I swear, I had never thought of that before.
It took all of thirty seconds to discover and remove the battery cover, and sure enough, on the bottom of the AA battery was its expiration date. Usually they’re guaranteed to retain 80% of their charge 10 years from manufacture. This one only died after 27 years and four months….can’t complain!
