Discover that your battery has gone dead when you are in a hurry for work. What a pity! What can you do about this problem?
Maybe your relatives and friends live so far away that they cannot give you a helping hand. Can you recharge your battery? And how to charge a car battery?
The answer is an absolute YES! However, charging a car battery is not always a piece of cake. Wrong methods can adversely reduce the car’s longevity or make your vehicle mess up on the way.
Follow us to recharge your battery with detailed steps.
What To Consider Before Charging A Car Battery
Before reviving your battery, you should check to see whether your car runs into any problems:
Engine Light
If the engine light flashes all night, it may lead to a dead battery.
Some older automotive batteries cannot withstand this long operation and will fail to survive. In this case, you will have to install a new one.
Smell and Leakage
Rotten eggs are not a pleasant smell on your car. This is a sulfur smell from your battery, which is a bad indicator.
It means your battery is leaky and causes dangerous threats. Don’t mistake this odor for the pee smell, which might originate from the AC.
Also, leakage is one of the signs you need to have your car battery replaced. This indicates that the battery is in its final functionality moments, so you’d better not charge ot but buy a new one instead.
Or else, you risk a dead battery while driving, which is drastically hazardous.
Now, let’s learn how to charge car batteries.
How To Charge A Car Battery – Full Instructions From Start To End
Step 1: Wear Proper Safety Gear
Without a shade of doubt, safety is always of utmost importance.
Before charging your battery, don’t forget to wear protective eyeglasses and gloves. This way, you can guard yourself against harmful falling materials or battery fluids.
Working in a well-lit and well-ventilated garage or working space would be better.
Step 2: Determine The Suitable Kind Of Battery
The battery type should be clearly identified for proper charging.
You can check on the battery label or manufacturer’s website. There are two battery types: VRLA batteries or serviceable wet cell batteries.
Each comes with its pros and cons and has different maintenance requirements. Thus, check them to find the best fit for your car.
Step 3: Prepare A Charger
Your charger should work compatible with your battery and serve its purposes. Most chargers can work for any type of battery except Gel Cell ones.
You can also use fast chargers, which offer a jump start. A trickle charger is also a great idea, providing you with a slow yet longer-lasting charge.
Regardless of the chosen type of battery, make sure to follow the charger’s manuals and monitor closely to avoid over-charging.
Step 4: Disconnect And Remove The Battery
For safe repair and maintenance, remember to disconnect the battery. Remove the negative and positive terminals, respectively.
You can also charge the battery without removing it. However, if it is difficult to reach or fit the charging cables, taking them out is recommended.
Step 5: Clean Battery Terminals
Grime or dirt on the terminals curbs the strong connection between the charging cables and the battery. That’s why you should clean them thoroughly.
A wet cloth soaked with baking soda or sandpaper can help you wipe away all rust and grime. For a strong charge, the terminals should be bare metal.
Never use your bare skin to touch the terminals, especially with the presence of white/blue powder on them. It is dried sulfuric acid, which burns your skin on contact.
Besides, check and tighten the battery terminals to ensure later operation.
Step 6: Use A Trickle Or Speed Charger
Remember to place the charger on a stable and flat surface when charging your car. It would be best to avoid placing it onto the battery.
The charger can easily connect two terminals, causing damage to the battery and charger and even triggering a fire.
The charging surface should be well-ventilated, so open your garage windows or doors.
Then connect the two items by attaching the charger’s black cable with the battery’s negative terminal. The red one should be linked to the positive terminal correspondingly.
Mixing two terminals will damage the battery.
Step 7: Set Up The Charger
Modern digital chargers show the existing battery voltage and help you set the final level. Yet, your older models are designed with on and off settings only.
To choose the charging speed, you should opt for speed chargers. This option is more suitable for a dying battery. On the other hand, a battery dead several times will need a slower method.
Step 8: Check The Battery
Make sure that the charger is working on the battery. Digital devices come with a readout to indicate the proper holding status of the battery.
There is also a charging percentage. So when it shows 100%, the battery is full then. If it is in the car, you can hook it up and start the car to check it.
Can You Recharge Dead Car Battery?
YES, you can.
A dead car battery means that it is completely discharged. More specifically, its voltage is below the functional amount. You will likely have a dead one when it falls under 12 volts.
You can recharge your dead car battery at home as long as you have the proper equipment and take the necessary precautions.
One of the easiest methods to revive a dead power is to jump-start your car. It can surely revive in full functionality if you give it a jump start.
You can also revive by driving your vehicle around. Your car battery won’t hold a charge regardless of your effort? We bet it’s time for a new one.
A Quick Recap
Long story short, the best method on how to charge a car battery should depend on its state: how dead it is.
A healthy battery voltage falls between 12.4 to 12.7 volts. On the other hand, lower figures mean your car has run into a problem.
So depending on your car battery’s condition, you should strictly follow our recommended steps for high safety and charging efficiency.