9V battery is sizzling

[happymango]

My brother and I are working on an LED project, and the 9V battery starts getting super hot and sizzling right after we hook it up. The resistors are stock/preinstalled, so I think we messed up the wiring.
I read online that wiring the switch in parallel with the battery could cause a short circuit. Is that right? If so, how do we fix it? I'm worried we're going to melt the battery!

 

[Circuitsmith]

I totally freaked out when I first hooked up LEDs too. Yeah putting a switch like that across the battery makes a direct short. Just put the switch on the plus side of the wire and you should be good.

 

[Tovaren]

I blew up a 9V battery the same way when I started messing around with LEDs. The thing is, the switch is wired wrong and cuts everything out, which fries the battery. Easy fix put the switch on the plus side of the wire so the power goes through the LEDs and not straight across the battery. I learned this the hard way, but it’s a super easy thing to fix.

 

[barfle]

Same thing from me. A switch from + to - will short the battery and it will definitely heat up and maybe catch on fire (depending on the battery).

 

[Alan]

Great advice all around. It’s a typical beginner mistake with wiring. Appreciate you sharing those lessons from your experience.