How to charge a car battery at home

All modern cars use batteries for achieving many functions like assisting the starting motor and security system. So it is necessary to have a healthy battery in your vehicle for a tension free ride. Used cars are lower in price, but while buying the Best used cars, make sure that they have a healthy battery. All car batteries are charging with the help of an alternator meshed with the engine. So there is no need for manual charging. But due to many reasons, the battery can get drained. In such conditions, the vehicle will not start, and in such a situation, manual charging is the only option to make the battery charged. The manual charging of a car battery is not an easy task. There are a few steps to follow for safe manual recharge of car batteries.

1.Safety precautions

Car batteries contain acids and harmful chemicals. Also, short circuits can cause explosions from car batteries. So, wear necessary safety equipment like safety glasses, gloves, etc. Electricity is dangerous if carelessly handled. So place both charger and battery over insulating materials like rubber mats. Check voltage and heat of battery multiple times during charging. If any abnormalities are present, turn off the charger immediately. Keep kids and pets away from the place during the process.

2.Checking and confirming the battery

Checking and confirming batteries have two parts. The first part is checking and verifying whether the problem is with the battery or not, and only after this step proceeds to other actions. Use a multimeter to check the voltage of the car battery. Usually, all the car batteries are rated at 12 volts. But 12-volt batteries will have 13 to 14 volts while on condition and 12.6 to 12.8 volts at a fully charged state. The battery should maintain a minimum voltage of 12.4 to 12.6 for starting the car. So, confirm the voltage of the car battery is below this level to make sure that the problem is with the battery. If the condition satisfies, then move to the next part. In this part, confirm the battery specifications like the voltage, ampere, type etc. This part is necessary to select the appropriate charger. For example, a charger with 12 volts output can not charge a battery rated at 12 volts. Also, the types of battery can vary with the car manufacturer. Even in the Best used cars, the chance of battery degradation is high. So regularly check for battery voltage levels.

3.Removing the battery

The car batteries need to be removed to charge. Before removing the battery, turn off the vehicle. Usually, car batteries are tightened with bolts, So use suitable size spanners to loosen the bolts. Wrap the end of wires with insulation tape after disconnecting from the battery terminals. Lead-acid batteries are heavy, so be careful during removal. Place the battery in a dry place. Make sure that there is no chance of it coming in contact with water. Placing it on the rubber mat is advisable.

4.Charging and reconnecting

Before connecting the output wires of the charger to the battery, clean it with sandpaper. This cleaning will remove any contaminants in the metal terminals. It is essential for better charging. Use a suitably specified charger to charge the car battery. If the battery is 12-volt lead-acid type, then the charger should be capable of energising this battery. Connect the positive and negative wires of the charger with corresponding positive and negative terminals. Constantly monitor the voltage and heat of the car battery. After reaching the required voltage, remove the battery from the charger and reconnect with the wires from the car. Make sure that the wires are connected with the appropriate terminals.