Charging a battery

Charging a battery

Before we get into how to charge a car battery at home, you need to know how to prepare to charge the battery. It is very easy to get a good shock if the battery does have some juice. Before you even get started, if you have to remove the battery from the vehicle to charge it, be sure you have the tools for the job. Some batteries are easily accessible; however, some are under or in the fender and some may even be in the trunk or under the seat depending on the make and model of your vehicle. Do not attempt to charge a dried-out battery. If needed, add distilled (or drinking) water to just above the battery plates.

Charge

A battery that needs to be replaced, however, won't hold a charge or will need to be recharged multiple times. Generally, corrosion looks like a greenish, crusty substance around your battery ports. It's a product of battery acid fumes coming into contact with the air—and it’s pretty common in most lead-acid batteries. However, it can compromise your car's electrical system and make it harder for the battery to receive the charge. You can remove the corrosion by cleaning it up with a brush and a paste-like mixture of water and baking soda.

If the car battery doesn't hold a charge, you'll need to tow your car to a place that can fix the issue. It's time for a new car battery. Thankfully, with more than 1,700 locations across the country, your nearest Firestone Complete Auto Care isn't hard to find! Whether you pull in or get towed in, one of our trained technicians can inspect your battery and help you find the right car battery at the right price. (Source: www.firestonecompleteautocare.com)

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For instance, a 500 CCA battery would load test at 250 amps for 15 seconds. A load test can only be performed if the battery is at or near a full charge. Some electronic load testers apply a 100 amp load for 10 seconds, and then display battery voltage. This number is compared to a chart on the tester, based on CCA rating to determine battery condition.

Sulphation of batteries starts when specific gravity falls below 1.225 or voltage measures less than 12.4 (12v Battery ) or 6.2 (6 volt battery). Sulphation can harden on the battery plates if left long enough, reducing and eventually destroying the ability of the battery to generate rated volts and amps. There are devices for removing hard sulphation, but the best practice is preventing formation by proper battery care and recharging after a discharge cycle. Sulphation is the main reason a significant portion of lead acid batteries don't attain their chemical life span. (Source: www.chargingchargers.com)