I saw something on youtube about that. They said the battery pixies clumped together and formed crystal matrices and went to sleep. Goosing the battery with a slightly higher (voltage or amperage?) would wake those lazy pixies up and inspire them to go back to work.
I think he wired two similar batteries in series to get sufficient voltage (or parallel for amperage.) He didn't use a light socket.
However: if anybody tries this and dies, don't come running to me. I am not advising anybody try this at home. Whatever you do with your battery you do at your own peril. I strongly counsel you to seek a properly trained, licensed professional--or else talk your brother-in-law into doing it for you.
“Hey y’all! Watch this!”