LED's in the store often come with a button you can push to see how it works. If you buy one with that set up, you will find a wire, a switch, and a battery.
Cut the wires where they lead to the LED line and strip them now you can check all your LED's with this little unit. So get one from the back of the rack that many others have not pushed to see what it does, many do not work because the battery did not last.
You can use a 12v big battery with those spring things on top and just run wires to them to see them flash too. most of these have resistors already built in so you can just run a low volt battery to it.
This is one time where the words "you get what you pay for" to include a little gift.
Ron