How to charge your car battery?

If you have a car, then you must know that the battery is an important component and that it requires frequent checkups or else may be stuck in the middle of the road waiting for a mechanic to come rescue you. Your car battery needs charging from time to time, and although this may sound like a daunting task, it is as easy as charging your phone. This article is going to provide a step-by-step guide on how you can charge your car battery without the help of a professional and save lots of money and time.

 

Process of charging a car battery 

 

Necessary equipment

Determine what type of battery it is (lead-acid or AGM) and then find a suitable charger. While finding the charger, keep in mind the voltage and capacity of the battery. Ask a professional if you are not sure of the charger. 

 

Safety precautions

There are some safety precautions that need to be followed.

• Always park your car on a flat surface.
• Apply the parking brake and turn off the ignition and remove the keys too.

 

Locate the battery

The first step is to find out the location of the battery. If you have difficulty doing so, you can refer to the car manual.

 

Disconnect the battery

While it is not compulsory to disconnect the battery, it is recommended that you should disconnect it from the car before charging.

First, you should disconnect the negative cable (denoted by a black minus sign) and then disconnect the positive cable (denoted by a red plus sign). 

 

Set the charger

Connect the positive terminal of the battery to the positive terminal of the charger and do the same with the negative terminal. Customise the voltage and amperage according to your battery. Read the user’s manual if you are unsure of the setting. 

 

Start charging

Now that you have customised the settings, you can plug in the charger and switch it on. The charger will indicate when it starts functioning.

 

Monitor the charging

• Just turning the switch on does not finish the job; you should also regularly check whether everything is functioning well. 
• Some modern chargers have indicators which tell us when the charging is complete. Do not overcharge your battery. 
• Make sure there are no signs of sparks or weird sounds, or overheating. If you see any of these, immediately stop charging. 

 

Complete the charging process

Once the battery has been fully charged, immediately switch off the charger and unplug it from the battery to ensure that there is no overcharging, as it can damage the battery. 

 

Disconnect the charger’s cables

Now carefully remove the cables the same way you attached them, i.e. remove the negative cable (black cable) first and then remove the positive cable (red cable). Do not touch the bare metal ends of the cables, as it can be hazardous. 

 

Reinstall the battery

Now you can put your car battery back in its place. Batteries are usually heavy, so you can take extra help to avoid dropping and damaging them. Place it in its place and carefully connect the cables. First, connect the positive cable to the positive terminal and then the negative. Secure the cables with a tool but do not over-tighten them. 

 

Test the battery

Now that you have successfully charged and installed the battery in its place, run a test to ensure everything works just as fine. Keep a check on all the electrical components, such as lights, air conditioners, etc.

 

FAQs

How do I know if my car battery needs charging?

Your car's inefficiency generally denotes that it needs charging.

Can I use any charger to charge my car battery?

No, you cannot just use any charger. Read the car’s manual to find out the type of charger the battery needs.

What if I overcharge my battery?

Overcharging may damage the battery, so it is important for you to ensure that you do not overcharge.

How frequently should a car battery be charged?

Every two weeks, you should recharge your car's battery.

Can I charge a frozen battery?

It is unsafe to charge a frozen battery. The battery should be at room temperature before charging.

 

Got any questions or point of view on our article? We would love to hear from you. Write to our Editor-in-Chief Jhumur Ghosh at jhumur.ghosh1@housing.com