Sooner or later, every motorist is faced with the problem of a dead battery. And, as luck would have it, it happens quite unexpectedly - at a time when you urgently need to go to work. But what can be done?

How to charge the battery with a charger and more - more on that later in our article.

How to check charging

Most often, motorists blame the battery for a bad charge after several unsuccessful attempts to start the engine. But sometimes the problem can be hidden in the starter itself or other mechanisms of the ignition system.

In order to make sure whether this is really due to a dead battery, you need to check it with a current load, a plug or a multimeter.

Also, motorists check the battery charge level using a hydrometer. This tool externally is a container with a pear for a collection of liquid and a float inside. The latter determines the level of density of the electrolyte. If this indicator is 1.2 g / cm 3 or less, then the battery has run out by 50 percent or more. When the battery is completely discharged, the device will show a value of 1.1 grams per cubic centimeter. By the way, density measurement should be made in all banks. Moreover, the difference between them should not exceed more than 0.15 grams per cm 3. If the density of the electrolyte in the cans differs significantly, this indicates the deterioration of the battery. In this case, it is better to replace it. By the way, if the generator does not charge the battery, this can also signal that the battery is worn out.

How to properly charge a car battery? Method number 1

Let's consider the fastest and easiest way - "lighting". However, we note that it can be used only when there really is a need for fast charging.

What is needed for the operation

For this we need one more car (from which we will "light") and a couple of special cables. It is worth noting that the wires must be very thick, with a large cross-section, and at the same time flexible. It is not recommended to use cables of the same color, as the polarity can be reversed and the on-board networks of both vehicles can be burned. The ends of the two wires should have ribbed clamps. They are popularly called "crocodiles". Homemade clamps can not be used categorically, since there is a risk of arcing and shorting of batteries.

Getting Started

Having prepared the cables, we park the cars so that they are located as close as possible to each other "front end" and at the same time do not touch. The cars must be placed on the handbrake and the gear shifted into neutral. On cars with an automatic transmission, it is indicated by the letter "N".

However, at this point, the car battery should not start charging yet. Before this operation, be sure to turn off all electrical devices in the car, and it is best to remove both terminals from the batteries.

It is important to remember the correctness of connecting the cables, since the serviceability of electrical appliances (including the ECU) of both cars depends on this. So, with one wire we connect to the "pluses" of the batteries, and the second - to the "minuses". After that, we connect the "mass", that is, we lead the second (negative) cable to any unpainted part of the car. Pay close attention to this point. If you do not connect the mass, your dead battery will instantly discharge the battery of the second car.

Now comes the fun part. We start the engine of the second car for about 5-10 minutes, turn off the engine and see the state of the battery in our car. Ideally, a discharged battery should be sufficiently charged to start and continue to use throughout the day. If this did not happen, we repeat the procedure again. And so on until the charge becomes normal.

Most often, 1-2 attempts are enough. During the charging and operation of the internal combustion engine of the car, do not touch the cables, even if they are insulated. At this moment, the wires get very hot, so there is a great risk of getting burned.

note

1. When a car with less battery power than yours is used as a "donor". That is, "lighting" a 5-ton truck from a passenger sedan, you can simply disable the battery of the latter.
2. When the ambient temperature is -10 and below degrees Celsius.

In other cases, charging a car battery can be safely done using "lighting". The main thing is to follow all of the above rules.

Method number 2

As we said earlier, if there is enough time, it is best to charge the battery using a special charger. This is, although long, but one of the safest ways. In addition, it does not require a second vehicle or additional cables. So how do you properly charge your car battery?

First you need to remove it from the mounts from under the hood (if it is already installed on the car). Then it should be taken to a dry place. It can be a garage or an apartment. After that, we take the charger in our hands and, in accordance with the polarity, connect the terminals to the battery. Then we set the voltage regulator to the minimum value and plug the charger into the outlet. That's it, charging is on. You just have to check the battery charge level from time to time. How long does it take to charge the battery? On average, this takes about 10 (maximum 12) hours. It is important not to overcharge it, as this can provoke the electrolyte to boil and its further evaporation from the cans. If the battery is "overexposed", it will simply swell up and will no longer be suitable for use.

How to determine the charge level? It's very simple - this value is shown on one of the memory windows. When fully charged, the arrow will show 0. After the required time has elapsed, remove the formed condensation from the case with a cloth and reinstall the battery.

Features of charging at constant current and voltage

In total, there are two types of charging car batteries - constant current and constant voltage. Let's look at the features of the application of both methods.

So, constant current charging. This concept implies the supply of such a level of current, the value of which does not exceed 1/10 of the total battery capacity. Let's take a 55 Amp-hour battery as an example. Based on the above rule, the current for charging should be about 5.5 A (assuming a 20-hour discharge). To achieve the desired results, the current level must be monitored for two hours and adjusted as necessary. It is worth noting that some modern batteries can be charged at higher values ​​(the voltage of the charged battery is between 12 and 15 V). This applies to hybrid batteries with or with silver alloy.

Charging a car battery at constant current is a two-step process. The first stage, which we have already talked about, lasts about 20 hours. On the second, when the voltage level in the 12-volt battery reaches 14.5 volts, the current decreases by 2 times. When the temperature of the electrolyte in the cans of the car battery reaches 55 degrees Celsius, charging must be stopped. Otherwise, the liquid will simply evaporate.

Battery charging at constant voltage is most commonly used for maintenance-free batteries. Here, in contrast to the first method, the voltage level remains unchanged throughout the entire operating time. In terms of time, charging the battery at constant voltage can last up to a day until the arrow shows 15 volts.

But whatever the charging of the battery, still no one canceled the safety rules. If you do this work in a garage, keep the area free of flammable objects. If the outside air temperature is minus 15 degrees, it is best to carry out this operation at home, since you can hardly immediately determine the process of boiling of the electrolyte (the walls of the battery will remain cold). Try to charge the battery in a room with a minimum humidity (no more than 80 percent).

How to properly charge a new battery?

Oddly enough, even the battery that was just bought in the store needs additional charging. Over time, the battery lying on the shelf of the store loses its original density of the electrolyte. And what seller in Russia will keep his charge on a monthly basis? Moreover, if he has more than 1000 such goods in his warehouse. Therefore, after purchase, it is imperative to perform additional battery charging.

So we have new batteries. How do I charge them? In general, this process is almost similar to that which is produced with used analogs. This refers to the time spent on the charge. Most often, to bring the level of electrolyte density to a normal value, you need to spend no more than 1-2 hours. In this case, all operations are done in the same way as in the examples described above. Metal "clothespins" from the device are connected to the battery terminals, and the charger is plugged into an outlet. On modern devices, the end of the charge is signaled by a lit green light on one of the parts of the device. After that, the battery can be disconnected from the charger and can be safely installed on the car. On this question, how to properly charge a car battery can be considered closed.

Equality of battery

By the way, the battery charging time is practically the same, whether it is a battery of a truck tractor or some kind of small car. The same applies to the density of the electrolyte - this value is the same for all types of batteries.

Conclusion

So, we figured out how to properly charge your car battery. As you can see, charging the battery is not so difficult as it seems at first glance.

I periodically receive questions on my blog regarding charging a fully charged car battery. For example, I put the battery on preventive charging and forgot about it, the charger is not automatic and it took a very long time to charge the battery! What will happen, what are the consequences? Another popular question - the car generator always "feeds" the battery, even when fully charged, and if the trip is long, what will happen then? How does it all work? As you understand, today we will talk in relation to the car. I will answer all questions at once, as usual the video version at the end ...

Lead-acid batteries are installed on cars. Of course, now there are a huge number of technologies for their production (there are also options that are the most advanced now). However, charging a battery that is fully charged is not worth it, this can drastically reduce the product's life. There are a number of reasons for this.

Device

If the charging current is applied again, the sulfates are destroyed, and the density begins to rise again. Actually, this happens in a circle, this is a classic scheme of work.

Of course, now the electrolyte can be locked in special mats (AGM) or gel (GEL), but the essence remains the same. Lead plates are electrolyte.

What happens if you charge 100%

Bubbles begin to appear in the electrolyte, many say that it boils! However, this is not entirely correct (if you do not go into the theory of physics now and say everything in simple words), then - when the full charge and electrolyte density of 1.27 g / cm3 are reached, a working battery should begin to emit bubbles. This comes out "HYDROGEN" and "OXYGEN", which are released from the electrolyte during a chemical reaction. IT IS POSSIBLE TO REMOVE THE BATTERY FROM CHARGING!

That is, in simple words, it is water that begins to decompose, but not sulfuric acid. If the battery is left to simmer for a long period of time, the density will increase even more.

Over time, lead sulfates form on the plates, which must be broken.

Generator operation

Many wrote to me - after all, the generator always recharges the battery (this is how we figured it out badly for a fully charged one), so this system cripples itself?

Not quite right. Now in modern generators, and in older models, there was a very effective overcharge elimination system. Installed, which reduced the charge when reaching 100% (then it generally tends to zero). In modern systems, there is such that generally the supply of recharging stops and after the discharge, it is resumed again.

Therefore, on cars, it does not happen CHARGING AN ALREADY CHARGED BATTERY (in simple words, overcharge), it is completely cut off by the electronics (in this case, the relay). But if this happens, it means that the relay-regulator is not working properly.

That is why the batteries of normal manufacturers (how to choose) can go for a VERY long time. 5-7 years old

Put it on charge and forget

I don't know how this is even possible - YOU NEED TO BE CAREFUL ! YES, and now it's worth taking advanced chargers (at least the same one), they will automatically turn off when they reach 100%.

BUT it also happens - the charger is old (that is, it does not automatically turn off), and you forgot to turn it off. That is, the battery is charged, but the charge is all "figchet" and "figchit". Is it bad or not?

The very first thing is that it all depends on the capacity of the battery and the current strength. For example, if you charge a 200Ah battery with a current of 1-2A, then you will charge it for a VERY LONG time! But if it's 40 or 45 Ah, that's a little different.

The second - of course, overcharging is bad, but again, depending on what current you put it on, and how long it already costs. It usually happens that they bet on 1-2A (for 55Ah) and thus it costs a long time (for example, two days). Such a weak current cannot do anything terrible in a day. Well, the electrolyte will boil, well, a small part of it will boil off, you add distilled water to the norm and that's all. There won't even be an intense warm-up.

But if the current strength is 5-10 Amperes, then it is really already dangerous! Such a current can not only contribute to the "boiling away" of most of the electrolyte - exposure and strong heating of the plates (in a really short period of time, I am already silent about the days) - which will actually shorten the battery life (or even disable it). BUT, and most of the released hydrogen can provoke an explosion (as I also call cotton), because hydrogen burns quickly and strongly.

Buying a new battery is a necessity that sooner or later every car enthusiast faces. The service life of the battery is not eternal, so when the device can no longer hold a charge, there is a need to buy a new battery. We will tell you more about how to charge a new car battery and what to look for when buying it below.

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When does a new battery need to be charged?

Our car owners sometimes have no idea that new car batteries sometimes need to be recharged. Of course, this is usually the fault of incompetent sellers who assure buyers that the devices they are selling are initially ready for full-fledged use. During manufacture, devices are charged at enterprises, however, before the battery falls into the hands of the buyer, it can stand for more than one month in a store or in a warehouse. During this time, the devices self-discharge, as a result of which they lose some of their capacity and, of course, they will need to be charged.

The longer battery devices are idle, the faster they are discharged. When purchasing a battery for a car, it is necessary to check the marking and the date of production - if more than six months have passed since the date of manufacture, then the device must be charged before use. And in principle, experts do not recommend buying batteries that were released more than six months ago. And although the shelf life of most batteries is 12 months, the actual use of the device begins from the moment when electrolyte is poured into it. And this, in turn, happens in production.

To roughly estimate how much charge a battery has for a car, you need a tester - a voltmeter or multimeter. For diagnostics, attach the black tester probe to the "-" terminal, and the red one to the "+" terminal. If the seller assures that the device you are purchasing is fully charged, then the voltage parameter should be from 12.6 to 12.9 volts. If the obtained values ​​are lower, then it is necessary to recharge before use. In the event that the voltage of the car battery is about 11 volts, then the device needs a full charge.

What to look for when buying a new battery?

What you need to consider when buying a new battery:

1. We have already talked about charging - when buying a device, you need to check its charge.
2. The same goes for the date. If you notice that more than six months have passed since the production of the battery, then it is better not to buy it.
3. When buying, it will not be superfluous to measure the level, as well as the density of the liquid - for this you need a hydrometer.
4. Also check out the main indicators - its capacity, starting current, class.
5. The dimensions of the device as well as its terminal arrangement. There is a misconception among our compatriots that all batteries are the same in terms of design, this is not true. The sizes of the devices may differ depending on the purpose and the possibility of operation in certain car models. Especially when buying, you need to make sure that the terminals of the purchased device are located the same as in your battery, and not vice versa. If the location of the terminals is different, it will cause difficulties in connection and operation.
6. Also, before purchasing, you should remove the protective film and make sure that there is no cracks or other types of damage on the case. In the event that you notice any defects, we recommend that you refuse to purchase the device (video by Sergey Rotanov (RSV)).

How to recharge correctly?

So we smoothly approached the question - how to properly charge a new battery? Recommendations regarding the implementation of this task may differ, here a lot depends on how discharged the device is.

The new battery is slightly discharged

If the discharge rate of the battery you are purchasing is very low, it must be recharged. To do this, the device is put on charge, in this case, you must first set a constant voltage.

On modern memory devices, such an option is referred to as "automatic" - initially a voltage of 15-16 volts is supplied to the device, then this indicator is reduced taking into account. This mode is considered the most optimal, since with its help the memory does everything automatically, without the intervention of the car owner. When the procedure is complete, the battery can be used. But before you charge the device, you will need to unscrew all the plugs from it, and the procedure itself should be carried out in a ventilated room, or better in the garage (the author of the video is the Svetlograd1 channel).

The new battery is almost completely discharged

In the event that the discharge is strong, up to 11 volts, then the method with constant current will be the most optimal option. But still, it is better to refuse to buy such batteries, since their condition leaves much to be desired.

Charge a new high-discharge battery as follows:

1. First, the current must be set to 0.1 C. So the device must be charged until the voltage level at its contacts is 14.4 volts.
2. Further, the current decreases to 0.05 C - wait until the charge level is 15 volts.
3. Further, the procedure is repeated in the same way, only the current parameter should be reduced by another 50%. So monitor the tension hourly. In the event that you see that changes are taking place, and the liquid in the cans of the structure, which must also be unscrewed before starting the process, is boiling, this indicates that the procedure has been successfully completed. When the electrolyte boils in cans, water hydrolysis occurs - the electrolyte level itself decreases, and hydrogen begins to evolve from the structure.

The advantage of this method is uniform, and most importantly, full charging of the device. The disadvantage is that it is necessary to control the voltage and monitor how the electrolyte behaves.

Control-training cycle

If you want the device you are buying to work for a long time, then before use, you can perform a control-training cycle, in particular, we are talking about the charge-discharge mode. This procedure will give an opportunity to "practice" the device, thanks to which it will be able to gain the optimal capacity. But it should be borne in mind that the control-training cycle is not useful for all batteries. In particular, we are talking about calcium batteries - they not only do not need to carry out such a cycle, but also should not be very discharged, so it is better not to buy them in a discharged state. To implement KTC, you need a multifunctional charger that can discharge the battery.

KTC is produced in this way:

1. First you need to check the density of the liquid, after which the device is fully charged.
2. Then, using the charger, the battery must be discharged - this procedure is carried out for ten hours; for its implementation, a current must be set on the charger, which is 9% of the total capacity of the device. You need to wait until the voltage level drops to 10.3 volts.
3. When the discharge is completed, the device must be charged immediately. Please note that the charging current should be no more than 10% of the device's capacity. According to experienced specialists, this procedure should be carried out for 10 hours, after which the current should be reduced by half and the device should be charged for another 12 hours.

Video "How to detect sulfation of battery plates?"

Detailed instructions on the topic of correct charging, as well as the detection of sulfation of the battery structure, are presented in the video below (the author of the video is the Sampalshchik channel).

After buying a new battery for a car, the owner has many questions about the charging time and operating conditions. In some cases, motorists do not know how to prepare a source of electric current for work and whether there is a need for such an event at all. In the article, we will tell you whether you need to charge a new car battery, how long it takes to fully charge, and give recommendations for operation that will help extend the battery life.

Experts agree that even a new battery must be charged. In most cases, the battery remains in the manufacturer's or seller's warehouse for a long time, which leads to a natural decrease in its capacity. In order not to be mistaken, it is better to check with the seller the date of manufacture of the battery and, based on the information received, decide whether to charge the battery or not.

There is an opinion that modern technologies for the production of batteries make it possible to minimize self-discharge. This statement is only relevant if the storage conditions are observed in the warehouse. The following factors can affect the degree of self-discharge:

• indoor air temperature (norm 5-20 0 С);
• air humidity;
• presence or absence of dust and dirt.

If the first parameter in warehouses is more or less observed, then few people follow the humidity and dust. As a result, after 2 months, the loss of battery capacity can reach 20-40%.

As you can see, the question of whether to charge a new battery or not disappears. It is better to play it safe and charge, even if the seller swears by oath that the goods have just left the factory.

How to charge a new car battery correctly?

In fact, there are almost no differences between charging a new and a used battery - both the one and the other element must be prepared in advance. But there are differences between the charge duration of a serviced battery and a maintenance-free one.

In each case, a certain voltage supply method is applied, which determines how much you need to charge a new car battery.

AC charging

This method is useful for charging a new serviceable battery. This technique allows you to somewhat reduce the degree of "boiling" of the electrolyte, which has a positive effect on the operation of the battery in the future.

It is advisable to charge a new car battery.

If you decide to charge the battery in this way, follow the instructions.

1. Remove the battery from the car, make sure that the electrolyte temperature does not exceed 35 0 C.
2. Install the charger rheostat so that a voltage of 10% of the battery capacity is applied to the terminals.
3. Wait for the appearance of bubbles in the electrolyte, measure the voltage at the contacts.
4. If a value of 14.4 V is obtained, reduce the supplied current by 2 times.
5. Check the voltage periodically, as soon as it reaches 16 V and does not drop within three hours, the battery charging is complete.

It is difficult to say exactly how long it will take to charge. This procedure usually takes up to 14 hours. Therefore, do not forget to check the voltage in order to turn off the charger in time.

There is another way you can make sure the battery is charged. Check the electrolyte density with a hydrometer. If it does not rise within three hours, the process is over.

Be careful! If during the charging process you find that the temperature of the battery has risen to 45 0 C and above, turn off the charger or reduce the supplied current by 50%.

Constant voltage charging

This method is best used to charge a new, maintenance-free battery. The difference from the previous method is the constant supply of voltage without changing the current strength. This approach reduces the heating of the electrolyte.

For charging, a modern charger is used, equipped with a charge indicator and an automatic relay that regulates the supplied voltage depending on the parameters of the battery electrolyte.

Already an hour after connecting the charger, the battery capacity will rise to half, and after 4 hours - up to 95% of the manufacturer's declared one. There is no need to guess how long it takes to fully charge. This takes about 5 hours, after which the full charge indicator on the charger will turn on.

Using a new car battery

So that you do not have to go to the car shop again in a year, you need to know how to prepare the battery for work and operate it in the future. For those who have a vague idea of ​​what to do with a new battery, we have prepared two instructions.

First of all, you need to choose the right battery - it must correspond to the parameters specified by the car manufacturer. Otherwise, our recommendations will be useless.

Correct charging of the battery.

Preparing the battery for work consists in the following steps:

1. Remove the packaging, wipe the case with a clean cloth.
2. If the battery is serviced, remove the plugs and measure the density of the electrolyte (should be 1.27-1.28 kg / cm 3).
3. Charge the battery.
4. Sand the contacts with sandpaper, wipe with a clean cloth.
5. Connect the terminals carefully, avoiding sparks.

If you have an old car that does not have on-board electronic devices (radio, alarm, computer, etc.), use the instruments to check for possible current leakage. Normally, the value should not exceed 15 mA.

On modern cars, you do not need to check the leakage of current - even the turned off radio tape recorder can consume electricity and you will not be able to remove reliable indicators.

Battery operating rules

1. Immediately after the first trip with a new battery, check the voltage at idle speed and with the energy consumers turned off (the norm is at least 13.5 V).
2. Periodically inspect the case for mechanical damage that may result from improper operation or the influence of severe frosts.
3. Remove accumulated dirt from the cabinet surface once a month.
4. Be careful when lighting another car. There is a risk of burnout of the electrical wiring when the ignition is on.
5. Check the electrical equipment of the car regularly: even a minor malfunction of the generator or relay can negatively affect the performance of the battery.
6. Avoid critical battery discharge (less than 30% capacity) - when the internal combustion engine is not working, do not turn on the headlights or radio tape recorder for a long time.
7. Check the quality of the battery fastening to avoid mechanical damage to the case.

If you are not sure of your skills - once every six months, contact a specialist to inspect the battery and possible technical work. Better to entrust the case to someone who knows than trying to deal with the problem yourself and ruining the battery.

As you can see, the operation of the new battery does not have any particular difficulties. The main thing is to look under the hood periodically and check the condition of the battery.

Rules for charging a new battery

If you become the owner of a classic lead-acid battery, then when installing or recharging, follow the precautions. Remember that there is acid inside the battery, which can pose a threat not only to health, but also to life.

Acid burns are very painful and leave scars for life, therefore, when servicing a new battery, it is recommended to work with special gloves, which exclude the contact of a hazardous substance on the skin.

This advice is especially relevant for those craftsmen who carry out maintenance or repair of batteries at home.

Do not forget that when charging, chemical reactions occur in the battery, as a result of which an explosive oxyhydrogen gas (a mixture of oxygen and hydrogen) is released. Place the battery away from sources of open flame, do not touch the terminals to avoid sparking.

Let's summarize

Now that you know how to properly charge a new car battery, follow our recommendations so that the power source will last a long time and will not cause damage to electrical equipment. If, during operation, you have any problems with the battery, and you do not know how to solve them, go to the service station. As practice shows, the cost of a master's services is much lower than the price of a new battery.

Does every car enthusiast know how to properly charge a car battery? Of course, anyone can say: what can be a layer here ...

From Masterweb

25.04.2018 23:01

During the movement of the vehicle, a generator serves to power the on-board network. However, when the engine stops working, the entire load is transferred to another device, referred to as a battery (accumulator). And in order for such a source of electrical energy to last as long as possible, it is necessary to properly charge the car's battery.

Within the framework of this article, we will analyze such points as: the need to properly charge the battery, what types of it exist, and also touch upon, in fact, the charging rules themselves.

A little theory won't hurt

The car battery serves as the main source of energy for starting the starter motor, which in turn “turns on” the engine. It also maintains the efficiency of the on-board network when the generator is not running.

In the summertime, the start of the power unit is also possible with a 50% charged battery. However, in winter, the battery capacity is half as much due to the fact that the grease thickens, and this leads to an increase in starting currents.

Therefore, such a storage battery is unlikely to be able to start the engine, except to use the method of lighting it from another vehicle. For this reason, the car battery must be charged by the charger before the cold weather sets in. But what, in fact, is the reason for the need for proper charging? This will be discussed further.

What is the need to properly charge the battery?

A battery with a working car can last 2 or 3 years, which usually ranges from 70 to 100 thousand kilometers. Keeping the battery charged can increase its service life. At the same time, it is recommended to charge the battery when it is discharged by half or more.

It is worth remembering that the storage battery itself does not generate electrical energy, but accumulates it and subsequently feeds the vehicle's on-board network. While the vehicle is moving, the charge is restored, and a generator driven by the crankshaft of the engine serves as a source for recharging the battery.

Excessively frequent discharging and charging cycles of the vehicle battery adversely affect its technical condition. Not only does the charge level decrease, but the battery is gradually discharged. And over time, this charge is no longer enough to start the engine. Then it becomes necessary to charge the battery, due to which the efficiency of the power source is restored. For this, a charger (charger) is used.

However, before proceeding to familiarize yourself with all the subtleties, it is worth studying what types of batteries exist, what main characteristics they have, what is the feature and operation of the chargers. We will also touch on some equally important points and what is not recommended to do.

Varieties of battery

The following batteries are currently produced:

• Alkaline.
• Acidic.
• Gel.

Moreover, each of them has its own characteristics of charging a car battery. In alkaline devices, it consists in using a nickel-iron or nickel-cadmium tandem, which is used for the production of plates. The cavity of the battery housing is filled with caustic potassium. But due to the lower current strength, such batteries are practically not used, unlike other analogs.

The electrodes of acid batteries are made from lead and a number of impurities. This decision has a good reason - this metal can deliver more current for a short period of time. Plus, it has excellent energy capacity. An acid solution acts as an electrolyte here. As practice shows, such batteries are popular among a large number of vehicle owners.

Gel batteries can be considered a kind of innovation. In fact, this is the same acidic version, only the electrolyte is in a jelly-like state. And in fact, charging a car battery at home of this type is practically no different from the procedure with acid analogs.

Such know-how of the automotive industry holds much more promise. At the same time, its widespread use is limited by a number of factors. And this is mainly due to technological features. In addition, not every car enthusiast likes their cost, which is too high for most consumers.

Serviced and unattended batteries

In addition, rechargeable batteries are divided into two more types:

• Maintenance-free - these include closed-type batteries, and their cases are completely sealed. Due to this, there is no access to the internal parts: it will not work to unscrew something or just look. At the same time, if you accidentally turn it over during operation or when charging a car battery at home, electrolyte will not leak out. As a rule, these are gel batteries.
• Serviced - as you might guess, these are the batteries that have access to the contents of the cans. To do this, each of them has a twist-off plug. This category includes acid batteries.

More than a century has passed since the very first battery appeared (about 140 years), and in our modern world it is impossible to imagine how to do without such power sources. Indeed, in addition to cars, this type of battery power a variety of devices: from phones and gadgets to complex systems in various spheres of human activity, including space.

Something about the charger

What is the charging of the car battery? When we are faced with the need to buy a charger for a mobile phone, we usually do not have such a question. It would seem that it is the same with car analogs, and the problem of choice as such simply does not exist. However, this was relevant 2 decades ago. Then the chargers differed from each other only by the brand and the body.

Now everything is different, and the differences between modern devices are more pronounced. And the first thing I want to note is the way of charging the car battery. According to this feature, the battery can be:

• With manual adjustment.
• Automatic.

Despite the fact that hand chargers are already a classic, many car enthusiasts still prefer them. In this case, it is always possible to control the entire process and, if necessary, intervene, adjusting the current based on the state of the battery. But, in addition to charging the car battery with a charger, it is possible to perform sulfation recovery.

About automatic chargers, and so everything should be clear. The restoration of the battery capacity takes place without human intervention. The simplest and, accordingly, inexpensive chargers are even devoid of measuring instruments, and the end of the procedure is signaled by an LED. For those car owners who prefer to rarely look under the hood, this is the best solution. But here it is worthwhile to understand that working in accordance with the given algorithm, the state of the battery is not taken into account. In addition, the cost of such devices may not be affordable for everyone.

Also, the chargers can be separated depending on the design:

• Transformer - made on the basis of a familiar voltage transformer with a minimum number of active elements. This made it possible to achieve high reliability and increase in size.
• Pulse - due to the alternating current of charging the car battery with a high frequency, it became possible to significantly reduce the dimensions of the devices. On the one hand, this is an undoubted advantage, but on the other, the high cost and complexity of the entire structure.

The simplest charger consists of a step-down transformer and a diode bridge. It will not be difficult to understand the principle of operation: the primary winding takes on an alternating voltage of 220 V, after which it is reduced (converted) and directed to the diode bridge.

At the output, we get the required 14-16 Volts, which is enough to charge the battery.

Basic but important rules

To be successful in charging your car battery, there are important points to keep in mind:

• In order to determine the level of the charging current, the capacity of the battery can be guided. As a rule, 10% of the nominal battery rating is enough. For example, if the battery capacity is 55 Ah, therefore, 5.5 Amperes is the charging of the car battery.
• It takes a certain amount of time to fully charge the battery. However, do not resort to quick options using a current rating of 20-30 amperes. Ultimately, this only leads to the destruction of the battery.
• For gel batteries, the limit is 14.2 Volts, it is highly not recommended to exceed it.
• Before connecting the charger, it must be disconnected.
• When connecting, observe the polarity (plus to plus, minus to minus), otherwise both devices (battery and charger) may fail.

It is also necessary to ensure that the voltage at the charger terminals exceeds the battery rating by 10%. For a better understanding, let's give an example: if the voltage of the battery terminal is 12.8 Volts, then it must be maintained within 14.08 V, which is these 10% (12.8+ 1.28).

Knowing these basic rules, you can avoid many mistakes when charging a car battery at home. Do not forget about safety precautions, because this event is a chemical process, during which an explosive mixture of gases (hydrogen and oxygen) is released. In this regard, you need to be careful.

Battery check

Before proceeding to charge the battery, you need to make sure that it is completely discharged. There are several ways to do this. Most batteries have a special indicator, which is, in fact, a hydrometer. He independently measures the density of the electrolyte and, depending on this, one or another ball floats up. This is what we see, mistaking it for a light bulb. And when everything is normal, a green "light" is visible, otherwise it will be red.

Another way to check the battery before charging the car battery is to use a multimeter. A fully charged battery has a terminal voltage of about 12.6 volts or more. Other values ​​correspond to:

• 12,5 – 90%;
• 12,42 – 80%;
• 12,32 – 70%.
• 12,2 – 60%;
• 12,06 – 50%.
• 11,9 – 40%;
• 11,75 – 30%.
• 11,58 – 20%;
• 11,31 – 10%.
• 10,5 – 0%.

But a more reliable method is a load plug, which will show the voltage drop under load. In other words, you can see the real indicator of the battery charge level.

This device can be found in every auto electrician, or in any store that sells batteries. Most likely, such a check can be done for thanks, nothing more.

From theory to practice or preparing the battery for charging

After the complete discharge of the battery has been determined, it is worth going directly to practice. But before that, a small preparatory stage is needed. The first step is to remove the battery from the car, but if there is not much time to charge the car battery, then you should disconnect it from the on-board network.

At the same time, you can diagnose it, examining its condition well, simultaneously cleaning it from dust and other contaminants. In this case, it is worth paying attention to whether there are cracks and electrolyte leakage. If any, further operation of such a battery is highly discouraged.

If everything is in order, it is worth cleaning the terminals to ensure good contact. You can also wipe the battery case with a cloth soaked in a solution of ammonia (10%) or soda ash. After that, you need to unscrew the plugs or remove the plugs. Electrolyte vapors will escape unhindered to avoid overpressure.

Charging the vehicle battery correctly

There is nothing complicated in the battery charging procedure itself, but not everyone knows how to do it in the right way. It is advisable to carry it out in a room with good ventilation, away from open flames.

In this case, you can go in two ways:

• Constant voltage (14-16 Volts) with alternating current. At first, its value is 25-30 Amperes, but subsequently gradually decreases as the battery is charged.
• The voltage changes, but the current remains unchanged. Only this approach is quite complicated, because accuracy is important here.

The first method is very easy to implement and all that is needed is to set the required current value, which is 10% of the battery capacity. As a rule, this parameter is indicated in the passport or in the plate on the case. As the battery charges, the current will decrease. On average, the time it takes to fully charge a car battery is 10 to 13 hours.

The second method is already more complicated, and it is necessary to clearly understand how everything is done. The first step is to set the current value (10% of the battery capacity). It should be adhered to until the voltage reaches 14 volts. When this is achieved, the current should be halved until it is already 15 volts. And as soon as this voltage is established, the current must be reduced three times. A full charge of the battery will be indicated by a constant voltage level on the indicator.

At the end of the procedure, it is advisable to check the battery with a load plug. If it is absent, you can make sure that the battery is working properly by installing it in place and connecting it to the on-board network. Success will be to start the engine.

Service and maintenance issues

In order for the battery to serve for a long time, it is not only necessary to properly charge it, but careful care of it is also important. And this requires regular maintenance. The first step is to understand one proven fact: in the summer, liquid from cans evaporates more intensively. And if the battery case is translucent, then a decrease in the electrolyte level below the normal range will be clearly noticeable. Of course, if the driver is interested not only in what should be the charging voltage of the car's battery, but even occasionally looks under the hood.

As a rule, there are special marks on the car battery: "MIN" and "MAX", which allow you to control the amount of liquid. However, there are batteries where they are not available, or for some reason it is impossible to visually determine the electrolyte level. Then you should use a simple method:

• Unscrew the caps from each jar and, in turn, lower the glass tube into each of them. Its length must be at least 10 cm.
• After the tube rests against the mesh, it is worth pinching its end with your finger and pulling it out.
• Measure the resulting distance. Normally, it should be from 10 to 15 mm. If it is less, then you need to add distilled water to the required level.

In addition, the density of the electrolyte should be measured, for which a hydrometer is used. This device looks like a large graduated pipette. There is a float inside that can move freely. A rubber bulb is attached to one of its ends.

To measure the density of the electrolyte, you first need to squeeze the pear - all air will be removed from it. The other end is immersed in a jar of liquid, after which the pear can be released without haste. The float will begin to float, and the division at which it stops will be the value of the desired density. In addition to this, there are other hydrometer designs.

Now with regard to directly the values ​​of the density of the electrolyte. It is different for each climatic zone. In summer, for the central regions, the optimal density value should be in the range of 1.27-1.19 g / cm3. For the southern and northern ones - 1.25-1.17 g / cm3 and 1.2-1.21 g / cm3, respectively. Lower density values ​​indicate the need to charge the vehicle battery. If they are higher, then you need to add distilled water.

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