Who needs a socket for their computer when you have batteries at home? This question must have crossed a tech YouTuber’s mind. In two videos, he investigates the matter.
What did the tinkerer test? In the past, the YouTuber ScuffedBits used batteries as a power supply replacement. However, he could only power his test computer for about 3 minutes in his first video from 26.02.2026.
Now, he experimented again with batteries as a power source for a PC in his video from 12.03.2026 (on YouTube). He was able to operate a computer with a 16-year-old CPU for about 30 minutes using 64 AA household batteries.
After successfully booting, the tinkerer first completed the game “A Short Hike” in a few minutes and then ran a complete Cinebench R15 benchmark, which tested the CPU’s performance.
Finally, the tech enthusiast installed Minecraft and played a full round of party games on the Hypixel server. To conserve battery, he reduced his FPS to 30 and severely limited the game’s visibility.
After over 33 minutes, the computer eventually shut down, and the YouTuber declared the experiment a success.
He is also not the only one who enjoys experimenting with old hardware. Another user proved that one can use AI on a PC from 1997.
Experiment is not for everyone
Can the test be recreated? The tinkerer’s attempt looks simple at first glance, but it requires various equipment in the field of electronics and computers:
- Power cables for the batteries, which the YouTuber claims to have removed from a CAT5e LAN cable.
- Electronic measuring instruments such as a multimeter to measure the correct voltage for the PC.
- Multiple voltage regulators between the batteries and the computer to ensure the computer continuously receives 12 V, which according to ScuffedBits is necessary for smooth operation.
- Soldering iron to connect all power cables, voltage regulators, batteries, and PC together
- An old computer that is no longer needed and can be used for testing purposes.
Additionally, a considerable amount of technical knowledge is required for such an attempt to avoid putting oneself or others in danger. For this reason, we strongly advise against recreating the experiment!
Batteries as a power supply substitute are not without risks
How dangerous is the experiment? Besides the potential damage that may occur to the hardware, it is risky to operate electrical devices with alternative power sources:
- Batteries can be damaged by heat generation and can cause a short circuit or even catch fire. This fire is not always easy to extinguish, and the fumes produced can potentially be toxic (according to WDR).
- The risk of electric shock is also present. Although a single AA battery with about 1.5 V typically does not have enough voltage to seriously injure a person, the situation is different with 64 in use. It becomes dangerous, according to EMF Portal,
an unlimited touch voltage of 50 volts AC or 120 volts DC
.
Besides the fire and shock risk, the hardware used can also be damaged. A simple short circuit can quickly destroy the processor, the motherboard, or the installed RAM completely. Therefore, we expressly recommend not to replicate the experiment, or you might find yourself in a situation like another player: User watches as his graphics card spontaneously catches fire, loses €3,000 in 30 seconds
