It's no secret that one of the most important and indispensable components of every car is the battery. Improper operation of the battery is accompanied by various failures in its operation, which often lead to damage to other important systems. To avoid such troubles, you need to ask in advance how to charge the battery at home.
general information
Trying to understand how to charge the battery, you need to carefully familiarize yourself with its device, the principle of operation and the existing types. This will allow you to find a suitable charging method, as well as accurately restore the car's battery charge.
So, many car models are equipped with lead-acid type batteries. They are a design of six jars placed in a plastic case with reliable isolation from environmental influences. The body material is characterized by specific properties that make it invulnerable to acid attacks.
The containers are connected to each other in a sequential manner, since each of them contains electrodes with opposite charges (negative and positive).
Such elements are hidden in a liquid electrolyte, but as the battery is used, they become faulty, which reduces the capacity of the node. This then causes rapid loss of charge and other battery problems.
Existing types
There are two types of batteries available on the market. These include:
- Models to be serviced.
- Maintenance free structures.
Representatives of the first type are equipped with jars with screw caps. This means that the owner of the vehicle can independently restore the electrolyte level or replace a low-quality composition with a better one. However, it is strictly forbidden to start such a procedure without experience and skills, because this can lead to battery failure.
To prevent this, it is enough to contact a specialist and entrust the task in his hands. The service is inexpensive, but in most cases it completely restores the battery. Maintenance-free models are made in a different way - they do not have removable covers. This means that the possibility of repair and resuscitation is completely excluded.
Some car owners add purified water to the battery in an attempt to increase the electrolyte level. It is not recommended to do this, except in special cases, for example, when the car is stopped in a remote area from the city. To check the current volume of liquid, you need to remove the caps and look at the external state of the jars. If the electrolyte is below the electrodes, refilling is a must. When restoring the liquid level, you need to make sure that it is the same in all jars.
Experts advise refusing to fill in water or electrolyte without the necessary experience and skills. Before starting such work, you need to evaluate the quality and level of the liquid using a special device. If the option of using water is considered, then you need to use only distilled water and pour it in small portions.
Varieties of chargers
Depending on the principle of operation, there are several types of chargers. When interested in how to charge a battery, it is important to know how they differ and how they work. According to the type of charge, devices are divided into:
Checking the condition of the battery
Before you start charging the car battery, you need to assess its condition. Various methods and devices are used for verification:
It's no secret that car alternators are not able to return the full level of charge, but they do it only by 60%. As a result, fully charging the battery is a must and should be done at least once a season, before the onset of cold weather.
If you have a hydrometric indicator, you need to regularly look at its readings. The need for urgent battery charging can be indicated by the slow rotation of the starter during start-up.
Charging process
Having figured out how to charge a car battery, it remains to study the safety precautions in detail and read the step-by-step instructions. Given the fact that sulfuric acid is present in batteries, it is better to carry out charging work in a safe room with good ventilation and a temperature regime of +10 degrees Celsius.
It is possible to restore the charge level without removing the battery, but provided that the ambient temperature is kept at a positive mark. If you charge the battery in cold weather, this will reduce the efficiency of the entire process, and will also lead to freezing of the liquid in the banks. Therefore, in order to successfully charge the battery in winter, it is important to bring it into a warm garage.
Before starting charging, you need to do a little preparation by wiping the device with a soda solution. This process will get rid of the acid residue that often accumulates on the battery case. To prepare the composition, you need to take one tablespoon of soda and dilute it in a glass of liquid. During cleaning, the solution will sizzle, indicating the presence of acidic residues.
Having completed the removal of the battery from the vehicle, you can begin to unscrew the caps on the jars, and then put them on top to start the process of electrolyte evaporation without splashing. In addition, it is necessary to conduct a visual assessment of the liquid level. If it is normal, the plates will be immersed by about half a centimeter.
It is also important to familiarize yourself with the condition of the jars in the neighborhood. It is important that they have the same volume of electrolyte. If this is not the case, you will have to add distilled water to the tank. When working with a maintenance-free battery, this action is not necessary.
Connecting the device
When connecting the device to charge the battery, it is important to follow the polarity. The corresponding terminal of the charger is connected to the terminal with a plus (+) value. If you do not take this fact into account and choose the wrong polarity, this will entail various troubles, including a short circuit and complete damage to the battery. Therefore, before starting the charging process, you should make sure that the terminals are connected correctly. Color markings are used to distinguish polarity. For example, an element with a plus value can be colored red, and a negative value can be black.
To evenly distribute the electric charge across the plates, it is necessary to charge the battery with small currents. This will prevent possible overheating of the liquid in the jars, and will also make charging as productive as possible. When performing such a task, it is necessary to use the current strength at the level of 1/10 of the capacity.
If the charger is not equipped with any levers and is automatic, unfortunately, it will not be possible to change the mode and make your own changes. Often, such models have special light indicators indicating the current stage of charging. When fully charged, the green light should turn on.
If an ammeter is installed in the charger, then charging can be considered completed after lowering the arrow to zero. The duration is determined by the applied current. If you need urgent charging, it is recommended to use high currents, however, this will reduce the battery life. If there is no need to hurry, it is better to charge the system with small currents. In this mode, the whole process will take about 8 hours.
Upon completion, it remains to disconnect the charging terminals, tighten the caps and re-wipe the surface of the device with a soda solution. During charging, droplets of liquid electrolyte will settle on the case, and if they are not removed, this will increase the risk of current leakage, which will lead to rapid discharge. Unfortunately, 80 percent of drivers do not even know about this, and then they are interested in the reasons for the rapid loss of battery capacity.
Alternative ways
If the battery has been discharged, but there is no way to charge it with a special device, you can find alternative ways out of the situation. These include the following charging methods:
When figuring out how to charge a car battery, it is important to follow all the tips and follow the instructions. Also, do not forget about safety, otherwise it can lead to irreparable consequences.
First of all, you need to take care of the safety of the eyes and mucous membranes, which are afraid of exposure to sulfuric acid. It is important to remember that the substance from the battery jars is characterized by a toxic composition and any interaction with open parts of the body can end in failure. Care must be taken to prevent this.
After completing the installation and removal of the battery, it is important to wash your hands thoroughly. Also, the charging process is best carried out in a space with good ventilation. When choosing a charger, you should give preference to proven models from well-known brands, taking into account the recommendations of the battery manufacturer. In this case, the device will serve its owner faithfully and for a long time, and any failures in its operation will be practically excluded.
The car battery is charged using special chargers. To properly carry out this process, you need to know the type of car battery, its characteristics, as well as choose the right type of charger.
Car battery device
Most vehicles have lead-acid batteries. The design consists of six jars, which are placed in an insulating case made of material. For the case, a special plastic is selected that is resistant to sulfuric acid.
The jars are connected in series. They contain positive and negative electrodes, which by design are lead grids covered with an active mass. The electrodes are placed in an electrolyte. Over time, during operation, the plates fail, which leads to a decrease in battery capacity. The smaller the capacity, the faster the battery discharges.
Battery types
There are two types of batteries.
- Serviced.
- Maintenance free.
In serviced batteries, jars have lids that you can unscrew yourself. In such batteries, it is possible to check the electrolyte level, its quality and, if necessary, it is possible to add it. But on your own, without having the experience of this procedure, it is not recommended to do this. All operations to check the quality of the electrolyte, its level and topping up should be entrusted to a specialist. This work is not expensive at a price, but in some cases it can revive the battery.
There are no caps in maintenance-free batteries, it is completely one-piece. Its repair and resuscitation are not possible.
Also, motorists often add distilled water to the battery, thereby diluting the electrolyte. You can do this, but only if necessary. If you unscrew the caps on the jars, the electrolyte level will be visible, if it is below the electrodes, then you need to top up. The level should be the same in all six jars.
Do not add water or electrolyte to the battery yourself. Before doing this, you should measure the quality of the electrolyte with a special device. But if you still decide to add water, then add only distilled water and in small portions.
Charger types
According to the type of charge, the devices are divided into:
- Charger with constant voltage. In these chargers, the charge voltage is constant, and the current can be adjusted using the regulator.
- Charger with constant current. In such devices, the current strength is constant, and the voltage is changed by the regulator. Using this charge, you can fully charge the battery, but you need to carefully monitor the process. If used for a long time, the electrolyte may boil, and this may cause the battery to short out and even catch fire.
- Automatic (combined). These modern chargers first charge the battery with a constant constant current at a varying voltage, but then, with the gradual charging of the battery, the voltage is fixed, and the current gradually decreases. When the battery is fully charged, the device will automatically turn off.
There are several ways to check the battery status.
- With a standard tester. The tester is put into the voltmeter mode and the voltage is measured with the car turned off. If this procedure is done with the engine running, you will know if the generator is charging. The voltage when the car is off should be close to 12 V.
- load coil. By design, it is a resistance of 0.018 - 0.020 ohms with a voltmeter connected in parallel. This unit is connected for 5 - 7 seconds and then readings are taken from the voltmeter.
- By the indicator on the battery. On some types of batteries, a hydrometric indicator is installed, which is a small peephole. In this eye, the colors of the indicator change. If the color is green, then the battery is charged. If it is white, the battery needs to be charged, and if it is dark, the charge is at a minimum and electrolyte may need to be topped up.
You can find out about how the car happens in the detailed material of our specialist.
When is battery charging necessary?
Since the car generator is not able to fully charge the battery, but only by 60%, it is recommended to charge the battery at least once a season, before the cold weather. You should also monitor the readings of the hydrometric indicator, if any.
The first sign that the battery needs to be charged is when the car is started. If the starter spins quickly, then everything is normal. If it is slow and the rotation speed seems to be attenuation, this indicates a small charge.
What to watch out for and precautions
Since the battery uses sulfuric acid, you need to be careful and follow safety precautions. Charging should be done in a ventilated non-residential area at an ambient temperature of +10 degrees Celsius.
The question is often asked, is it possible to charge the battery without removing it? Yes, you can. But at positive temperatures. If you charge at minus, the charging efficiency decreases. In addition, when the battery is in the cold for a long time, the electrolyte may freeze slightly. That is why the battery should be brought into a warm room, where it will “thaw out” and only then start charging.
Preparing the battery for charging, removing from the car
Before charging, it is advisable to wipe the battery with a soda solution, this will make it possible to remove acid residues from the surface. The solution is simple to prepare: one tablespoon of soda in a glass of water. If the solution begins to hiss when wiped, then acid residues are present.
After removing the battery from the car, you need to unscrew the caps from the jars and put them on top. This will allow the electrolyte to evaporate when heated and not splash out of the jars. You should also check the electrolyte level.
It can be determined by eye. If all plates are completely immersed in the electrolyte by 0.5 cm, then the level is normal. It is also worth paying attention to the levels in neighboring jars, they should be the same everywhere. If the level is too low, you can add distilled water.
If the battery is maintenance-free (that is, there are no caps), we ignore this procedure.
Charger connection
Observe the polarity when connecting the charger. The positive terminal of the charger must be connected to the positive terminal (“+”) on the battery. We connect the negative of the charger to the negative (“-”). Reversing the polarity will cause a short circuit and damage the charger and battery. Therefore, you should be careful. The terminals are marked on both the battery and the charger.
On most chargers, the positive terminal is painted red, and the negative terminal is black.
Charging duration, process control
It is recommended to charge the battery with low currents, this will enable all plates to evenly distribute the charge, and the electrolyte does not overheat. Use the current should not exceed 1/10 of the battery capacity. It is indicated on the case and is indicated by "A / hour".
If the charger is automatic and does not have control levers, then it is impossible to make your own settings. Typically, such devices are equipped with indicator lamps indicating at what stage the battery is charging. When fully charged, the green light will turn on.
If an ammeter is built into the charger, then charging will be considered completed when the arrow of the device is set to zero.
The time directly depends on the strength of the charging current. If the battery needs to be charged urgently, it is possible to carry out the process using high currents, but this reduces the battery life. If there is no hurry, then charge with small currents. With such a charge, usually, the process does not take more than 8 hours.
Watch the electrolyte, if it starts to boil, reduce the current.
Completion of charging, installation of the battery on the car
At the end of charging, disconnect the charging wires, tighten the caps on the jars and wipe the battery with soda solution again. When charging, electrolyte droplets evaporate from the jars and settle on the case. If the electrolyte is not removed from the surface, current leakage through the case may occur and the battery will quickly be discharged. This problem is very common, as 80% of motorists simply do not know this. The electrolyte on the body is not particularly visible, it lies in a thin film, but this is enough for the current to pass through the body of the device.
When connecting, pay attention to the condition of the terminals and their tight pressing to the battery terminals. They should not be oxidized and should fit snugly.
How to charge a car battery when not charging
If the charger is not available, and you need to charge it urgently, you can use the following methods:
- Using a portable charger. It resembles a small battery, the charge of which is enough to start the engine.
- Assemble a homemade charger if you have the necessary items on hand. This requires a diode bridge, a resistor, a multimeter and a light bulb, as well as some knowledge of electrical engineering and the skill of working with a soldering iron.
- If the battery does not show signs of life in the cold, it should be removed and brought into a warm room for 30 minutes. The electrolyte will heat up and you will be able to start the car.
- Use a laptop charger. At the output, it gives out 18 V. In series, you need to insert a light bulb from the headlight into the circuit, it will play the role of a resistor. Then the current will not exceed 2 A, but it will take about 20 hours to fully charge the battery in this way.
Conclusion
When charging the battery, use all the tips that were given above and do not forget about safety precautions. Protect your eyes from getting acid from the battery there, wash your hands thoroughly after contact with caps and jars on the battery. Charge should be in a warm room with good ventilation, in the absence of children. Choose a charger only from trusted brands, based on the characteristics of your battery, and then it will serve you faithfully for a long time.
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Probably every car owner has faced the problem of a dead battery. This trouble can happen to any driver if you do not pay enough attention to the power source of the car.
We will talk about why car batteries are discharged, as well as the features of charging them at home.
Why does the battery drain
Usually, the life of a modern automobile is 5-6 years, subject to its proper operation and timely maintenance. After this time, the power supply wears out, and it is almost impossible to restore it.
However, it often happens that even a relatively new battery stops working. There may be several reasons for this:
- the car stood motionless for a long time, especially in the cold season;
- insufficient amount and density of electrolyte in banks;
- malfunctions in the electrical equipment of the car;
- destruction of battery working plates, etc.
If the car is not moving for a long time, the battery is discharged without being charged. This happens especially quickly in the cold. It is enough for the car to stand like this for two or three weeks, and you will no longer be able to start it.
During battery operation, the electrolyte gradually evaporates. And if you do not control its quantity, over time this will lead to the fact that the battery will lose its properties.
The cause of discharge can also be various problems with electrical equipment. This may be a lack of charging caused by a malfunction of the generator, etc.
In case of destruction of the working plates, it is better not to use the battery - this can cause an internal short circuit, which is fraught with failure of other electrical equipment and even a fire.
How to prepare the battery for charging
If, nevertheless, the battery is discharged, there is no need to rush to take it to the service. You can charge it yourself, of course, if you have a charger, plus you know how to charge a car battery. But first, the battery needs to be prepared for this.
First you need to remove it from the car by disconnecting the terminals. If the battery has been out in the cold for a while, it should be taken indoors and allowed to warm up for a few hours before charging.
You can charge the battery at home without removing it from the car, but this should only be done in a dry, warm place, preferably in a garage.
If the battery is serviceable, before charging, you need to unscrew the lids of the cans and check for the presence of electrolyte. Top up if necessary. And only then, without twisting the plugs, start charging.
And further. Before you charge the battery, you need to find out its capacity. It is usually indicated on the label and is measured in ampere-hours (Ah, Ah). This value will be needed to calculate the optimal charging current.
A few words about security measures
Before charging your battery at home, it is useful to learn a few simple rules that will keep you and your loved ones safe during this process.
- Firstly, the room in which charging will be carried out must be well ventilated. Vapors emitted during the process (sulfur dioxide, hydrogen, etc.) are unsafe for health.
- Secondly, it is forbidden to charge the battery near open flames and heating devices.
- And thirdly, any charger is mains powered, so it is not recommended to leave it unattended for a long time.
Charging methods
There are three main ways to charge a battery:
- constant voltage (voltage 14.5-16.5 V with a current decreasing from 45 to 20 A);
- direct current (charging current is 10% of the battery capacity);
- combined method (first with direct current, then with constant voltage).
After choosing the optimal constant voltage option, you will have to wait from 24 to 48 hours. In the first case, the charging voltage is set to 16.5 V, and in the second - 1.4 V. The battery, while charging, gradually “gains strength”, equalizing the difference between the battery and the charger.
The method allows you to charge the battery at home in 10 hours. Here it is important to accurately determine the charging current. As already mentioned, it should be equal to a tenth of the battery capacity. In other words, if the capacity of your battery is 55 A / h, you need to set the charging current to 5.5 A. At the same time, when the battery voltage reaches 14.4 V, it must be reduced to 3 A, and at 15 V - to 1.5 A.
The combined method combines the first two and is considered by far the best. For this method, there are special ones that can be used without constant supervision.
If you have no desire to figure out how to charge the battery with a charger using the methods described, use the tips below for quick and full charging. They do not require special knowledge in the field of electrical engineering, and therefore they are suitable even for a beginner.
Quick way to recharge
car? There is no definite answer to this question. Each case will take a different time. It usually takes 12 to 24 hours to fully charge the battery. However, you can charge the battery at home faster. This, of course, is not entirely correct, but if you do not have time to wait, use the quick method.
To do this, you can not remove the battery from the car, just disconnect it by removing the terminals. We unscrew the lids of the cans (if it is a serviced battery), check the amount of electrolyte. If there is a need and opportunity, we add it.
After 30 minutes, charging is stopped. This time is enough for a good battery to recharge and be able to start the engine. Its further charging is the work of the generator, unless, of course, we are dealing with electrical equipment malfunctions.
Full charge
If you have time, it is better to fully charge the battery using a small current. This method will allow you to charge the battery at home in a gentle mode to the maximum.
We remove the battery from the car, after disconnecting the terminals. Install it on a flat surface. We unscrew the plugs, check the electrolyte. We connect the terminals of the charger, not forgetting to observe and check the polarity. We connect to a 220 V network and set the charging current at 10% of the battery capacity. We leave for 10-12 hours, not forgetting to check the progress of the process.
How do you know that the battery is charged? You often hear that you can check with a voltmeter. There is, they say, 12 V - that means everything is charged. In fact, this is a false way. You can determine the battery charge only by the capacity indicator, and for this you need a hydrometer.
If you do not have it, you will have to be content with approximate indicators. Most modern batteries have indicators on the case that can be used to determine whether it is charged or not.
But if there is no indicator, just look at the ammeter of the device. The more the battery is discharged, the more current it consumes during the procedure, and as it charges, its value will gradually decrease. The battery can be considered charged when the ammeter needle points to zero. That is why, in fact, the question of how much a charged battery should show can be answered with confidence - not at all!
Can the battery be charged without a charger?
But what if there is no charger? The easiest way in this case is to ask someone to "light up" from his car. To do this, use a high voltage cable with special terminal clamps. They are thrown onto the battery terminals of a running car and onto the terminals of a discharged battery connected to the electrical equipment of another car, observing the polarity. After that, you need to wait some time (5-10 minutes) for the discharged battery to recharge a little, and start the engine. When the car starts, the cable is disconnected. The battery will start charging from the generator.
But how to charge the battery without a charger if there is no way to “light it up”? In such a situation, you can try to charge using a laptop adapter, but there are a few nuances. Firstly, most of these devices do not produce a current of more than 2.5 A, so it will take a very long time to charge. And secondly, there is a high probability that the adapter will not withstand the oncoming current load and will burn out.
Whatever it was, it's still worth a try, especially if there is no other way out.
It doesn’t matter how the batteries died: did you forget to pay off the dimensions, got too carried away listening to music in the parking lot, or left for the whole summer on vacation. To charge the battery, you need to have an understanding of the theory and follow a few simple rules.
A bit of theory
Most vehicles use lead-acid (WET) batteries. Their principle of operation is based on the chemical reaction of lead plates with an electrolyte, as a result of which electricity is generated. Over time, sulfation and destruction of the plates inevitably occur, as well as the boiling of the electrolyte, which reduces the capacity of the battery. And the battery can be discharged at the most inopportune moment.
How to check the battery
akbinfo.ruThe easiest way is to use the built-in charge indicator, which is on most batteries. This is the same “light bulb”, which in reality is not a light bulb at all, but a green float ball moving in a transparent bulb. With a sufficient level and density of the electrolyte, the ball rises and we see a green indicator. If the float is not visible, you need to check the electrolyte and recharge the battery.
Another option is a multimeter. With it, you can measure the voltage at the terminals and understand whether the battery is discharged or not. A fully charged battery should have 12.6V or more. A voltage of 12.42 V corresponds to 80% charge, 12.2 V - 60%, 11.9 V - 40%, 11.58 V - 20%, 10.5 V - 0%.
The most reliable way is to check with a load fork. It can show the voltage drop under load, that is, the real charge level and, accordingly, the capacity. Any auto electrician or a store that sells batteries has such a device. And most likely, they will not even take money from you for this check.
toyotaoforlando.com Having determined that the battery is really, you can start charging, but first you need to prepare.
- The battery should be removed from the car. If there is no time for this, disconnect it from the on-board network by disconnecting the negative wire.
- After that, you need to clean the terminals of grease and oxide for good contact.
- It does not hurt to wipe the surface of the battery with a dry cloth, or better, moistened with a 10% solution of ammonia or soda ash.
- Also, do not forget to unscrew the plugs on each of the battery cans or remove the cap to ensure the free exit of electrolyte vapors and prevent excess pressure inside.
- If the electrolyte level in any of the jars is insufficient, you need to add distilled water so that it completely covers the plates.
evolution.co.uk The very principle of charging is simple: you just need to connect the wires from the charger to the battery terminals in accordance with the polarity and plug the plug into the socket. However, to begin with, it is worth deciding on the charging method. There are two main methods: constant current charging and constant voltage charging.
The first is more effective, but takes place in several stages and requires control. The second one is simpler, but it only charges the battery up to 80%.
There is also the so-called combined method, in which participation on the part of the car owner is minimized. The disadvantage of this method is the need for a special charger with a rather high cost.
DC charging
- We set the current to 10% of the nominal capacity of the battery and charge until the voltage at the battery terminals rises to 14.3-14.4 V. For example, a battery with a capacity of 60 Ah should be charged with a current of no more than 6 A.
- Next, we reduce the current by half (up to 3 A) to reduce the intensity of boiling, and continue charging.
- As soon as the voltage rises to 15 V, you need to halve the current again and charge the battery until the voltage and current values stop changing.
Constant voltage charging
Everything is much simpler here. You just need to set the voltage in the range of 14.4-14.5 V and wait. Unlike the first method, with which you can fully charge the battery in a few hours (about 10), charging with a constant voltage lasts about a day and allows you to replenish the battery capacity only up to 80%.
Precautionary measures
Since battery charging is a chemical process that produces an explosive mixture of hydrogen and oxygen, you need to be very careful and follow the rules:
- Charge the battery in a well ventilated area.
- Do not use open flames and do not carry out any work that generates sparks.
- If it is not possible to remove the battery from the car, disconnect the negative wire, and preferably both.
This question often arises among motorists who actively operate the vehicle. After all, the power source can be discharged on the way, where there is no access to the electrical network.
To maintain the starter, power unit and other mechanisms in working condition, a battery is required. If during the engine start several idle starts follow, then the charge dries up. The battery is used as a backup source, as well as for emergency starting. It also depends on the performance of the power source whether there will be problems with transport in the winter, on the way.
How to identify a dead car battery?
Determining whether the battery is dead or not is easy. On new machines, there are instruments and sensors that monitor the degree of charge. There are no such indicators on domestic cars, so the owners are guided by the following indicators:
- The instrument panel almost or completely does not light up.
- When the ignition is turned on, the sound changes drastically.
- Starting the engine is accompanied by clicks, extraneous sounds.
Watch the video on how to charge the battery from charging a screwdriver.
How to charge the power supply without additional devices?
How to charge a car battery without a charger? Is it possible? It is possible to implement this option, although some preparation is required.
In order to charge the battery without a charger, you need some knowledge in electronics. For this, adjustments are made to the functioning of the relay-regulator, the voltage indicator increases. But such actions are performed only by masters who are able to do everything competently and accurately.
At home, the battery is reanimated by performing the following steps:
- Sources that consume electrical energy are switched off. Such devices include an acoustic system, registrars and headlights, etc.
- At standard vehicle speed, the gear is downshifted. As a result, the efficiency of the generator is increased.
In the event that the electrical system is working normally, then the actions performed will allow you to restore the charge without charging. After carrying out these measures, fuel costs increase.
Before following the above recommendations, we test the main components and the electrical system. Particular attention is paid to the performance of the generator.
If it was not possible to recharge the battery, then it is worth establishing the cause. Typically, this is due to:
- Damage to the belt, which is focused on the generator.
- Violations of the performance of the voltage stabilizer.
- Violation of the integrity of the brushes, their wear.
- Poor alternator belt tension.
Power Supply Charging Methods
If the question arises of how to charge the battery without a charger, then this can be done in several ways.
smoking
To restore a dead car battery, another power source is used. This method differs in that with its help the battery is restored quite quickly.
To perform, wires are required that are equipped with clamps that have the required cross section. Do not use thin or damaged wires. After all, their integrity is easily violated.
For lighting, wires are used that are equipped with a rubber braid. After all, plastic is destroyed at a negative temperature.
For lighting, wires are suitable, the permissible current strength of which is 200–300 amperes. They are centered on wide clamps that provide appropriate contact.
When connecting, focus on the shade of the wires. Red cables are connected to the positive terminal, only black wires are connected to the negative terminal. All connections are made before the engine is started. Only after that the engine of the donor car starts for 5-7 minutes.
This method allows you to reanimate the battery for a while. The car battery is fully charged from the mains.
Towing
To restore the charge, towing is used if the vehicle is equipped with a manual transmission. The battery should be slightly charged, because the way is to revive the generator.
For towing, you will need a strong cable that can withstand a serious load.
The method is implemented with vehicles or with the help of assistants. To restore the battery, 1-2 races are performed.
Recovery using a charger from a laptop computer
It is not always possible to use the options listed above. Therefore, drivers are wondering how to charge a car battery with a laptop charger?
This will require certain items:
- Wires that are equipped with copper conductors.
- Charger.
- Resistor (you can also use a light bulb).
To prepare the power supply circuit, wires for minus and also plus are output from the charger. The negative wire is centered on the outside, and the positive wire is on the inside.
Connection is carried out according to the following scheme:
- The negative wire is connected to the negative terminal of the battery first.
- A resistor or a productive light bulb with established characteristics, indicators is introduced into the prepared gap. Actions are performed according to the rules.
Using this method, you can fully charge the battery. But the process is carefully controlled. The voltage is constantly checked at the terminals. As soon as 14 Volts is displayed on the voltmeter, the procedure stops. You can set the end of the process by paying attention to the state of the electrolytic composition.
Recharging from the network
This method differs from the previous one in that the connection is made directly to the outlet. The adapter is not used in this case. A lamp (220V) is used to create resistance. A diode bridge is also introduced into the circuit, with the help of which the alternating current is rectified.
Connecting the battery is done carefully. Rules and regulations must be followed. Before connecting, it is checked whether the circuit is correctly prepared and assembled. All elements that are part of it are tested. Only in this way an effective and functional scheme is created.
Since it is difficult to recharge the power supply at high voltage, only experienced motorists or craftsmen can do this. Contact with the elements that are part of the circuit is allowed when disconnected from the source or network.
For work, wires and cables are used, which are covered with an insulating layer. The use of wires with bare ends is prohibited.
The included lamp acts as an indicator. If only part of the glow glows, then a part of the existing amplitude is cut off with the help of a diode. If the lamp does not glow when connected, then the circuit is disassembled and reassembled.
Battery and winter
In winter, drivers often face a problem that is associated with a lack of torque. The main reason is the freezing of the electrolytic composition. This occurs due to the influence of negative temperature on the components of the electrolyte.
Modern vehicles are equipped with automatic start. Therefore, the engine is started and the machine warms up every 2-3 hours. But domestic equipment is not equipped with such devices, so you need to cope in other ways.
- Warm
To start the motor, energy is required, which is produced by the battery. In order to maintain its performance in winter, the power source is moved to a warm room. After removal, it is checked whether the device is charged. For this, the use of a voltaic unit is allowed. The performance of the power source depends on the state of the electrolyte. In serviced batteries, this is not difficult to do.
- Don't panic
In winter, it will take 10-60 seconds to start. If necessary, the process is repeated. Masters do not advise doing this many times, as this will adversely affect the condition of the battery. And even the charger will not fix the situation. The purchase of a new power source is accompanied by significant investments. Therefore, it is better to keep the used car battery in excellent condition.
- Wire preparation
To start a car battery, cables are required that are equipped with clamps. They are used to connect to power sources that are located in another vehicle. The lighting procedure is carried out carefully, as you have to contact with elements that are energized.
The battery can be charged from a donor battery within 2-4 minutes. This is enough to start the engine. It is necessary to fully charge the car battery from the network or through portable equipment.
In order to prevent the likelihood of unpleasant situations on the road, the condition of the car battery must be monitored. With a certain frequency, the state of the electrolytic composition, conductive terminals and the housing is checked. In winter, the power source moves to a warm place in order to prevent freezing of the electrolyte and destruction of the case.
Video on battery charging