How to charge a car battery?

Most drivers, regardless of whether they care about car maintenance or not, will encounter a dead battery at some point. Calling a maintenance service and taking the car to a repair shop can be time consuming and costly, and may not be the best option for everyone. You can save time and money if you learn how to properly charge a car battery by performing a few simple actions with the battery in advance, which will be discussed today.

WARNING:Car batteries can be dangerous and can damage your car if handled incorrectly. Please be careful when handling the vehicle and always refer to the vehicle manufacturer's manual.

Step 1: Prepare the car battery

The first step in learning how to charge a car battery is its preparation. You need to determine if the battery needs to be removed from the tray or if it can be charged as is.

Technically everyonecar batteriesyou can charge it without removing it, but before charging it won't hurt to clean the battery quickly.

Turn off the car electronics

After preparing the car battery for charging, it is necessary to turn off the car engine. Then turn off the entire electrical system of the car, including the interior lights andmultimedia device. Make sure all power is off before proceeding with the next step in the charging process.

Step 2: Disconnect the negative and positive cables

Be sure to first disconnect the negative and then the positive cable from the battery terminals. Otherwise, you may cause a short circuit or damage the car battery.

Negative cable- almost always black with the symbol "-".Positive cableis usually red with a "+". To disconnect each cable, you may first need to remove the plastic caps that are sometimes placed on the terminals of a car battery.

For most car batteries it is necessary to use10 mm socket wrench, to loosen the negative cable, while trying to keep it away from the positive cable, as charge can transfer between the two sources. Finally, repeat the process with the positive cable and terminal, trying to keep them separate from each other.

Step 3: Clean the battery terminals

Before charging the car battery, it is important to clean the car battery terminals. We recommend using a brush for cleaning the terminals, which is similar in shape and appearance to a toothbrush (it can also be used in the absence of the first one). The terminal cleaning brush is used to clean the battery terminals from corrosive debris and chemicals.

A terminal cleaning brush is best used in conjunction with a commercial battery cleaning solution, but a mixture of baking soda and water will be just as effective at neutralizing the acid, preventing corrosion, and preventing any possible malfunctions. We recommend a ratio of one cup of distilled water to one tablespoon of baking soda.

Step 4: Connect the car battery charger

If you've followed the steps above, you're now ready to connectchargerto your car battery to charge your car battery at home. The following instructions are suitable for most car chargers, but if your charger has specific operating instructions, please follow them.

• Make sure the car charger is switched off.
• Connect the positive cable to the positive terminal first, then connect the negative cable to the negative terminal in the same order.
• Turn on the car charger and set the charging speed to the lowest possible level.
• If the charger is equipped with a timer, set it to the appropriate time period. If the charger is not equipped with a timer and you do not know how long to charge the car battery, refer to the owner's manual or search for information on the Internet to avoid possible overcharging.

Disconnecting the charger for the car battery

To complete the charging process of the car battery, turn off the charger before touching anything else. After turning off the charger, simply disconnect the positive cable first, then the negative cable.

Do not forget to replace the cables on the terminals of the car battery. And again, don't forget to connect the positive cable before the negative. If you have completely removed the car battery, now is the time to install it back into the mount.

Step 5: Checking the car battery

To properly test a car battery, you should not drive for several days after charging. This is due to the fact that the alternator charges the battery while the car is moving. However, this part of the process is not absolutely necessary as we understand that many drivers need their cars on a daily basis.

If you still decide to check the car battery, we recommend using a car multimeter and doing the following:

• Connect the battery tester. Connect the red cable to the positive pole of the battery and the black cable to the negative pole. Then turn on the car multimeter.
• Check the battery voltage. To do this, you need to know that the voltage of most car batteries is 12.0 volts. A fully charged battery should read 12.6 volts or higher, with 12.4 volts starting your car and 12.0 volts or lower requiring additional charging. You can use a voltmeter for this step, but you will need a multimeter later in the process.
• Check the cold start amps. Cold crank amperes (CCA) help determine the condition of a car battery. Every car battery has a CCA rating that can be checked using the multimeter's CCA mode to compare to the battery's CCA rating.
• Perform the engine start test. After setting the multimeter to the start test mode, start the car. After that, the device should show the lowest voltage that the car battery can support when the starter is running. Healthy batteries usually maintain between 9.0 and 10.0 volts.
• Perform a charging test. Last but not least, put the multimeter into charge test mode while the car is still running. The readings of working car batteries are usually between 14.2 and 14.5 volts. Anything below this range indicates that the alternator or part of your vehicle's charging system needs to be checked.

Our team also recommends using a battery booster to keep it fully charged. These smart devices can be left on and connected to the car battery without worrying about recharging.

Why do I need to know how to charge a car battery?

Car batteries- fastidious devices, but they are absolutely necessary, since they are the main source of energy that ensures the operation and movement of your car. Even if you buy a new car that has been standing for at least a few months after assembly, it's just luck if you get a good battery. Knowing how to charge your car battery can get you back on the road with enough power to get you home, or a full charge for weeks ahead.

Experts recommend regularly maintaining batteries in working condition to extend their life. To do this, you can ask someone to start the car if it is not used for a long time. You can also check the terminals for corrosion and quickly clean them with a brush, as well as use terminal grease or dielectric. However, you need to be careful, because working with car batteries can be dangerous.

How to charge a car battery? - FAQ

What are the types of car battery chargers?

There are two types of chargers:

• standard car chargers;
• starting and charging devices.

Smart chargers such as Battery Tender andCTEK MXTS series, can be useful in situations where the car battery has discharged after a long period of non-use. The charger will help charge the battery and return the car to working condition.

How to charge a dead car battery?

1. Preparecar battery.
2. Disconnect the negative and positive cables.
3. Clean the battery terminals.
4. Connect the car battery charger.
5. Test your car battery.

Can the launcher be used as a charger?

No, the launcher cannot be used as acharger. This is because jump starters are designed to provide a momentary, yet powerful surge of electricity to jump-start a car battery. Once the battery is started, the alternator takes over the battery charging process.

Is it possible to simply charge a planted battery?

To charge a dead battery, you can either use a car battery charger or connect jumper cables to a working car battery to charge the dead battery. If you have an old battery that has been used for more than three years, it may be time to get a new one from an auto parts store.

When charging a car battery, which terminal should be connected first?

When charging a car battery, you must first connect to the positive terminal. Then connect the negative terminal. If you connect to the wrong terminals, you can damage the car battery or even blow it up.