Auto Problems how to Charge a Car Battery
Do you need to learn how to charge a car battery? Knowing how to do so is a necessity for all drivers, not an option. Why? Because car batteries fail when you least expect it. There is nothing quite as frustrating as hopping into your car, turning the key in the ignition and hearing that dreaded sound: rrrrrr-clunk. A dead battery!
There are numerous reasons why a car battery will go flat. It could be old, the alternator may not be charging it, the car lights may have been left on or the car has not been driven for a while. This is why car owners should invest in a battery charger for their car: they are easy to use, relatively cheap and will save you money. They are much cheaper than paying for break down cover.
To use a battery charger, you will need a wrench — preferably an adjustable one. Approximately eight hours for the battery to charge and perhaps some distilled or de-ionized water. If you are hoping to use a battery charger, you will need to disconnect both the red and black battery terminals with your wrench. Ensure that you do this where there is plenty of ventilation. Also ensure that you are well away from naked flames or sparks. To use the battery charger check the labels on the battery in order to see if you need to remove any of the cell caps while you are charging the battery.
You may have a battery which is a sealed unit and do not have cell caps. If your battery does have cell caps, they will be sitting on the top of the battery. They normally sit beneath a press-on strip. Some are circular caps, somewhat like soda bottle caps. These are for individual opening. You will now need to remove the press-on strip or the cell caps prior to connecting the battery charger. Removing these allows any gases that may be created during battery charging to escape. It also stops the gases from building up within the battery itself. Now you can see the reasoning in charging a battery in a well-ventilated area.
Ensure that the metal plates (the cells within the battery) are covered with electrolyte. Electrolyte is simply an acid and distilled water mixture that sits inside the battery. If the cells are not covered by electrolyte liquid, they will become damaged and lead to a useless battery. Once you have removed the caps, grab a small flashlight so that you can look down into these cells. Your battery should have a fill level. Ensuring that there is enough electrolyte within the battery cells will save you the expense of a new battery.
If you plan on leaving the battery on the car while charging, disconnect the black (negative) wire and the red (positive) wire from the battery with your wrench. Prior to doing anything else, check the manufacturer’s instructions that came with your battery charger. Now connect the black charger clip to the charger clip. The negative is the one marked (-) connect the red clip to the positive terminal (+). Plug the battery charger into the mains and switch it to the on position.
Leave the battery to charge overnight if possible or as long as the instructions say. Your battery should be fully charged by morning. Switch the charger off, unplug, remove the charger clips and refit either the cell strips or caps. If your car battery keeps dying on you there is something wrong with either the alternator or the battery. Check your car battery regularly to avoid the frustration and inconvenience of a flat battery.
Your car should be charging your battery while it is running. If your car battery consistently dies the alternator may be failing to produce electricity. If your car is a manual you can usually push start it. Once it gets going drive the car for at least half an hour in order to recharge the battery. But turn off the radio, lights etc, all things you don’t need if it is daylight. This will help conserve battery power.
