It must have happened with many of us that we were all excited and set to go somewhere in the car but our beloved car was refusing to start. The indicators in the car were showing that the battery has died away and then it comes to our mind that we have no clue about charging a car battery. The situation becomes even worse if you are standing in an isolated or unknown place. There are many reasons because of which the battery weakens or dies away. For example, if you have forgotten to switch off the lights of your car, after a few hours, the battery will start weakening. Sometimes, due to extreme cold weather also the car’s battery dies. At that time, you should take the car battery inside for few hours, so that it comes under a controlled temperature. It is very important to keep on using your car; if the car has not been driven in a long time, the battery has not got a chance to recharge itself and eventually, it will die. Also, you should make sure that you keep on getting your batteries tested from time to time so that you do not have to face any adverse situation. The battery also goes flat if the alternator is not charged.
Though charging a battery is a risky affair, if done properly it can save time and money. Buying car battery chargers at home can be a lot cheaper than getting it recharged from the market every time. Once you have bought the charger, make sure that it is compatible or of the same wavelength as the battery. You should always read the battery charger’s manual before starting the charger. At all times, you should be careful that kids and pets are not near the area where you are charging the battery. Also, keep your car away from any inflammatory objects. As you are charging the battery, the cell caps should be intact.
While charging a car battery, always connect the red cable (positive) with the positive side of the charger and black cable (negative) with the negative side. It is recommended that the battery should be recharged in a well lit and ventilated area. A good way to increase the life of the battery is by using a trickle charger. They are comparatively cheaper and they can cool down the battery in reasonable time. One important precaution to be kept in mind while recharging is that the car’s ignition should be turned off as it may cause an accident.
When you are charging a car battery, keeping a close eye on the battery meter is extremely essential. You should not overcharge. Though charging a battery takes couple of hours it is recommended that the charger should be removed as soon as possible as the sign of ‘fully charged’ comes up. Battery charging also differs according to the type of the battery. If it is open cell type then one needs to unlock the cells. If you have a sealed battery then the work is simpler; all you need is to use the charger if it exhibits black or green.
Before learning about charging a car battery, you should know that the life span of a good battery is 3-4 years. Sometimes, corrosion also leads to early damage of the battery. The people living near sea areas or where the moisture content in air is high need to be extra careful because of corrosion. You should always keep your tool kit ready. Tools like pliers, screw drivers are of great importance if you are charging the battery yourself. For your protection, you should always wear gloves, goggles and protective clothing. The first and the foremost step is to clean and remove all the dirt from all the parts of the battery. You can take the help of wire brush which helps in removing dirt or powdery substance.
Once you have made all the efforts required for charging the car battery, you can check that your efforts have been successful or not by igniting the car engine. But before that all the cables should be removed from the charger. If the car starts immediately, all your hard work has paid off. If it does not, either the battery has died or there are some other issues. And that means it is time to call a professional.