How to charge the battery? Guide
A discharged battery can immobilize even the best car. Rectifiers or more advanced chargers with an electronic control system allow you to restore the necessary energy reserve. What is worth remembering when planning to charge a car battery?
Cars are mainly equipped with lead-acid batteries. The new generation of products are maintenance-free devices. They differ from old-type batteries by permanently sealed cells with an electrolyte. Effect? There is no need to check or replenish its level.
In service stations it is recommended to check the level of this fluid regularly (at least once a year). Their cases are usually made of transparent plastic, which allows you to check the amount of electrolyte without having to disassemble the battery and unscrew the plugs that close individual cells.
- If it is not enough, distilled water is added to the battery. The minimum and maximum amount of this liquid is indicated on the housing. Most often, the maximum condition corresponds to the height of the lead plates installed inside, which must be covered, says Stanislav Plonka, an auto mechanic from Rzeszow.
Charging the battery with a charger
Regardless of the type of battery (healthy or maintenance-free), it is necessary to check the state of its charge. This is done by a special tester at least once a year. But all the shortcomings can be picked up on your own by listening to the engine start at low temperatures, or by checking the operation of elements that require current to operate. If the engine does not spin well and the headlights and lights are dim, the battery probably needs to be charged using a charger. In new batteries, a lot can be said about the level of charge based on the readings of special indicators located on the body.
- Green means everything is fine. Yellow or red signal the need to connect the charger. The black color indicates that the battery is completely discharged, says Marcin Wroblewski from the Ford Res Motors dealership in Rzeszów.
However, it should be remembered that the controls work with only one battery cell, so their readings are not always completely reliable.
Charging the maintenance-free and serviceable battery
– The battery can be charged in two ways. A longer process is preferred, but using a low amperage. Then the battery charges much better. Fast charging with higher currents should only be used when necessary. Then the battery is not so well charged,” says Sebastian Popek, an electronics engineer at the Honda Sigma showroom in Rzeszow.
Other activities influencing the correct operation of the battery are, first of all, maintaining the poles and terminals in proper condition. Since even a brand new battery may have minimal leakage, it is impossible to avoid contact of these elements with the acid. While the lead poles are soft and less susceptible to oxidation, the clamps should be protected against tarnish. The best way is to clean the clamps and poles with a wire brush or fine sandpaper. Then they need to be protected with technical petroleum jelly or with silicone or copper grease. Mechanics also use a special preservative spray, which also improves the conduction of electricity. To do this, it is best to unscrew the clamps (first minus, then plus).
– In winter, the battery can also be placed in a special case, so that it will work better. This is important because the consistency of the acid turns into a gel at low temperatures. If it still turns out to be completely discharged, it cannot be kept in this state for a long time. Otherwise, it will sulphate and be irrevocably damaged,” says Sebastian Popek.
