Hooking up car battery charger

Charging a dead car battery seems simple, but it takes a little know-how to do the job safely. Some batteries are easily accessible; however, some are under or in the fender, and some may even be in the trunk or under the seat, depending on the hooking up car battery charger and model of your vehicle. It is very easy to get a good shock if the battery does have some juice. Before getting started, be sure you have all the tools for the job on hand.

Our car experts choose every product we feature. We may earn money from the links on this page. This article was updated in November with new products and information. You drove home last night and everything was fine with your vehicle, but this morning, you have a dead battery. You need to get your car going again—of course.

Hooking up car battery charger

We are so spoiled by our phones and household electronics. We just plug in our phones, Nintendo Switch or electric toothbrushes whenever their batteries get low. Most devices in your life and their batteries have electronics programmed with charging instructions. For instance, your phone battery has a thin strip of electronics. They chat about voltage, amperage rates and float charge times. Once your battery starts the engine, the alternator charges it while you drive. The alternator does enough to maintain a car battery through a normal battery lifetime of years. However, you may need to charge your car battery. Take off any jewelry, put on gloves and put on safety glasses. Charging your car battery will warm it up. If it gets too hot, the water inside the battery evaporates. In turn, the liquid inside gets more acidic. The solution is to charge your battery slowly. You want to raise its charge without raising its temperature. Recharging your battery can add months to its lifespan.

Compare the diameters of the battery posts. Another device you might find sold beside a battery charger is a jump-starter.

Learning how to charge a car battery is a critical skill for any driver, ensuring that your vehicle remains reliable and ready to hit the road at a moment's notice. Whether you're dealing with a dead battery or just performing routine maintenance, understanding the correct and safe way to charge a battery is essential. Fortunately, we've got you covered. In this article, we'll walk you through the process of charging a car battery step-by-step. Even if you're a beginner, you'll be confidently charging car batteries like a pro in no time!

Last Updated: February 6, Fact Checked. This article was co-authored by Duston Maynes. Duston specializes in leading a team that handles a variety of automotive repairs including replacing spark plugs, front and rear brake pads, fuel pumps, car batteries, alternators, timing belts, and starter motors. RepairSmith offers in-home services to provide car owners convenient and complete auto repair everywhere. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed , times. When jumpstarting a car you essentially give the dead battery just enough boost to start the engine and then rely on the alternator to charge the battery the rest of the way. When using a battery charger, you allow the battery to charge all the way before it will be used again. Please enter its make, model, and year below so that we can add support for it.

Hooking up car battery charger

Charging a dead car battery seems simple, but it takes a little know-how to do the job safely. Some batteries are easily accessible; however, some are under or in the fender, and some may even be in the trunk or under the seat, depending on the make and model of your vehicle. It is very easy to get a good shock if the battery does have some juice. Before getting started, be sure you have all the tools for the job on hand. Ensure all electronics and lights are off and your car is securely parked. Follow the instructions for your particular charger. Basic instructions for how to use a battery charger include:. When the timer sounds, or the readings say your charge is complete, turn off and unplug your charger. R emove the positive cable first and then the negative.

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Higher output amperage will usually charge your vehicle's battery in anywhere from one to six hours, depending on the state of charge. The longer you charge it, the more strength the charger can put in the car battery. Then, connect the battery charger clip for the grounded post to this cable. We're glad this was helpful. There will be a manual with your battery charger that provides details for the appropriate use of the charger. Take off any rings, bracelets, wristwatches, necklaces, or other personal metal jewelry before you work with a battery and battery charger. You May Also Like. Another option is to swing by your trusty local mechanic for a battery test. The lead turns into lead sulfate while the liquid mixture becomes mostly water. But how? A Family of Driven Brands. No, you cannot recharge a totally dead battery to percent.

First time charging a weak or dead car battery? Given the amount of voltage these things pack, you could be forgiven for feeling daunted.

Begin the charging process. Once a selection is made, you set it and forget it. Literally, the parts that held electricity harden. If the battery was at 50 percent when it sulfated, then it might only charge up to 50 percent and then stop. Other vehicles have their batteries in the trunk. Bob Cook Jun 17, To charge a car battery. Select a charge setting low or high. Use an automatic battery charger that adjusts its charging voltage for the fastest charge. Watch Next. Another device you might find sold beside a battery charger is a jump-starter.