How to charge a car battery correctly Automatic translate

Almost every car enthusiast has found himself in an unpleasant situation when he needs to drive urgently, but the battery is so discharged that he cannot start the engine. This problem becomes especially relevant in winter: it is enough to leave the car in the cold for several days for the battery to practically exhaust its charge.

First of all, you should check the age of the battery. If it is already more than 4 years old, then most likely the most reasonable decision would be to buy a new one by contacting a large, reliable company.

“Lighting up” from another battery in such a situation is reasonable only if there is a long trip ahead, and the battery will be able to restore its charge during the ride. If you only need to travel a few kilometers, then it is better to connect the battery to an external charger.

Step 1. Select a charger

The modern market offers a huge range of battery chargers: from inexpensive Chinese devices that require constant human control, to automated and expensive devices from world-famous corporations. To ensure that the result does not disappoint, you should pay attention to the following points:

1. Charging circuit : if the charger operates with direct current , overheating of the electrolyte is possible, which negatively affects the overall service life of the battery. A constant charging voltage does not allow the operation to be completed, so by the end of the charging cycle the current will definitely begin to drop. Hybrid models solve both problems, but are much more expensive.
2. Device type : experts recognize the transformer charger as the most reliable, while the pulse charger is much lighter and has more compact dimensions.
3. Power : Traditionally, charging is plugged into a power outlet, and power is supplied to the battery through wires with clamps. But manufacturers offer another method, in which they charge the battery through a cigarette lighter powered by a battery. Moreover, such charging and starting devices can operate both from the mains and from the cigarette lighter of another car. Moreover, some developers supply the charger with its own battery.
4. Power : experts recommend choosing a charger so that the maximum charge current is equal to 10% of the battery capacity. So, with a battery capacity of 60 Ah, the charging current is 6 A.

Step 2. Remove the battery

If the outlet is within easy reach, then there is no need to remove the battery from the car. The main thing is to remove all wires (plus and minus). If the extension cord is missing or the battery is supposed to be charged at home, you need to unscrew all the fasteners, disconnect the battery and carefully remove it from under the hood. Please note: all work on the battery is carried out with the engine turned off !

You should protect the battery from shock, and also try to avoid contact of the battery surface with textiles, leather and other materials that can be damaged by acid. It is recommended to use special gloves to protect your hands.

The battery is very sensitive to temperature changes, so no active measures should be taken to warm it up suddenly (for example, some car enthusiasts bring the battery from the street in winter and put it in hot water). This can lead to damage to the integrity of the plates.

Another important point is the purity of the electrolyte. A dirty battery should be carefully wiped with a cloth soaked in a solution of soda ash or ammonia. If dirt gets inside the electrolyte, the battery can be immediately scrapped.

Step 3. Connect and turn on

For serviced battery models, after removal, it is necessary to remove the top cover (for some, unscrew the protective plugs) to avoid increased gas pressure from the inside and reduce the risk of electrolyte boiling. It is mandatory to check the liquid level in the plates. If it is below the recommended value, add distilled water . Otherwise, the plates will “burn” during charging, which means loss of battery capacity.

The next step is connecting the wires with clamps to the terminals with the charger turned off . Observe polarity carefully! The reverse process should be carried out by also first disconnecting the charger from the mains. Gurgling sounds and noise when charging are normal. The only thing you need to monitor is the battery temperature. If it gets very hot, it is better to turn it off for a while to cool down.

The total charging time depends on a number of factors, so it is better to navigate by the indicators on the battery or charger. If an ammeter is built into the memory, then a decrease in the current to zero is a signal that the “feeding” process has completed.