How to Charge a Car Battery with a Charger
Getting stuck with a dead battery can be a huge hassle. And you might have noticed that this seems more likely to occur during the winter months. Learn how you can start a car with a battery charger, the signs that your battery is dying, and some solutions to solving a dead car battery in a hurry.
Signs You Need to Charge Your Battery
Age
Much like you need to get an oil change every 5,000 to 7,500 miles or change your car air filter, it’s also important to change out your car battery. Most car batteries should be replaced every three years. While your car battery might last up to five years or more, it will become increasingly less reliable and could cause other issues.
Dim Lights
Your car battery works to keep parts of your car working, even when it’s off. This includes dashboard lights. Typically, dashboard lights turn on when you open the door to your car or turn the key halfway in the ignition. When you do this, if you notice that your lights are a bit dimmer than usual, your car battery may be going out.
Corrosion
Notice a white, powdery substance around your left or right battery terminal? This substance may also have a bluish or greenish tint depending on the type of sulfuric acid in the battery and could be a sign of corrosion. Corrosion is a result of hydrogen gas being released by the sulfuric acid in car batteries. This gas reacts to the atmosphere and other elements under your hood, resulting in a type of corrosion that can interfere with your car’s ability to connect with the battery.
How to Charge a Car Battery with a Charger
Using a battery charger is one way to replenish the life of your car battery. There are a few different models to consider, but they work in a similar way. Just be sure to check your model for the specifics. If you’ve ever had to jump start your car before, some of this will seem familiar.
Step 1: Disconnect
Most car battery chargers use the electricity supply from your house to get a charge. Make sure the unit is disconnected from the wall and any other device before you prepare to use it on your car.
Step 2: Select terminals
Your car battery has a positive and negative terminal. They might be readily accessible or located under protective caps, in which case you should remove the caps first. The trick is to remember which color is which. Think of it like this: if there was a blackout during your favorite television program, that would be a pretty negative experience. So black is negative. That leaves red to be positive.
When working with battery terminals, make sure you never allow a metal piece to touch both terminals at the same time. This is extremely dangerous and could cause injury. Now, attach the red clamp to the positive terminal and the black clamp to the negative one.
Step 3: Reconnect
With your car attached to the charger, plug the charger back in and turn it on. There is usually some signal to indicate that your battery is now charging.
FAQs about Battery Chargers
Can I leave a car battery charger on overnight?
Some car battery chargers have an automatic switch-off. This is useful if you want to leave the charger working overnight, because it will save you electricity. It should be safe, however, to leave any charger connected to a battery overnight. But you shouldn’t leave it connected for more than 24 hours.
Can you start a car with a battery charger?
You can use a battery charger to get your car running again, but to jump start your car on the spot without an outlet, you’ll need a different solution. You could purchase an automotive jump starter that is attached to its own battery, or you might consider a jump starter that’s powered by an ultracapacitor. With an ultracapacitor, there’s no risk of fire or explosion from an outside battery source. And they’re better for colder areas where frigid temperatures can affect the performance of batteries.
How do you know if your car battery is fully charged?
Car battery chargers that plug into the wall should have some type of indicator that alerts you when the charging is complete. You can determine what that indicator is on your model by referring to the manual.
How long should I run my battery after a jump start?
After jump starting your car, you should keep it running for at least 30 minutes to allow the generator in your car to recharge your battery more completely.
Avoid the hassle of a dead car battery by monitoring for signs of a dying battery and keeping a battery charger or jump starter on hand. You should also always keep a pair of jumper cables in your car in case of emergency or if you need to lend a helping hand.
Product Compliance and Suitability
The product statements contained in this guide are intended for general informational purposes only. Such product statements do not constitute a product recommendation or representation as to the appropriateness, accuracy, completeness, correctness or currentness of the information provided. Information provided in this guide does not replace the use by you of any manufacturer instructions, technical product manual, or other professional resource or adviser available to you. Always read, understand and follow all manufacturer instructions.
