After buying a battery, do I need to charge it. Do I need to charge a new battery

29.09.2019

Brake system

Any car enthusiast knows that it is necessary to service the battery installed in the vehicle from time to time, but not everyone knows that it is also necessary to service a new battery before use. Do I need to charge a new car battery? Why do I need to charge a new battery? Today we will consider this issue.

When should a new battery be charged?

Many owners of various equipment, be it a car, a motorcycle, an ATV, a motor boat, do not suspect that a new battery may need a charge. Often this is the fault of incompetent sellers who say that the battery was charged at the factory and nothing more is required. Of course, the manufacturer charges the battery before shipping, but before the battery gets to you, it will still sit for several days in the warehouse and weeks in the store. During this time, as a result of self-discharge, the battery will lose part of its charge and will need to be recharged. Of course, this is not true for those stores whose staff regularly maintains batteries before selling, but this is also not a sufficient condition. And if the battery is already on the car, motorcycle or other equipment you are buying, and you are buying a car in March, released in June last year? What do you think was the care of this battery?

You need to know the date of manufacture of the battery

How and how much to charge a new car battery?

For charging, you can use a charger that is suitable for your battery, following the instructions for use of the battery. Most modern automatic chargers charge the battery without user intervention. Therefore, at present, there is no need to puzzle over how to charge the battery.

The new battery is slightly discharged

If the new battery “sat down” not much (up to a voltage of 12.5-6 volts), then you can simply recharge it. To do this, put the battery on charge with any charger. In the case of an automatic charger, the electronics will do everything for you, and with a manual charger, set the voltage to 14.4V and the current depending on the battery capacity. As the charging progresses, the current will decrease to 200-300mA, after which the charging will be considered completed.

Recharging such a battery will not take much time, because. The battery is only 20-30% discharged. After charging, the battery is ready for use. Before charging, it is advisable to unscrew the corks from the cans, if any. Charge the battery in a well ventilated area.

In most cases, it is undesirable to immediately put a new battery on a passenger car - it must first be charged. You can use the charger. If there is no desire to carry the battery home or fiddle with charging in the garage, then you can charge the battery you just bought from the car generator. It will take some time to drive a car, while trying to keep the engine speed at a level not lower than 3-4 thousand.

When using a charger, it is better to set the currents to a small value and recharge the battery until the first signs of a full charge appear - active gassing. This may take 3 to 8 hours. Charging time directly depends on the degree of rarefaction of the battery. The less the battery has lain in the store, the less time it will take for preventive recharging.

It is not recommended to immediately put a car on which the battery has been replaced in a garage or parking lot and not operate it for even a few days. Such a period of inactivity, especially in winter at sub-zero temperatures, negatively affects the working condition of the battery. The probability of discharge increases even with a new battery.

If you bought a dry-charged car battery, then before installing it, in any case, you will have to take a little time to bring it to readiness. Here you will need to fill in the electrolyte, according to the instructions and charge it so that the battery gains its capacity. For charging, any standard charger that you probably have in your garage will do.

Remember that following the operating conditions of the battery and proper charging is a guarantee of its good performance and long service life. Experienced car owners are well aware of this, and in practice they were convinced of the correctness of such recommendations. If you approach this issue responsibly, regularly monitor the condition of the battery, add water, check the density of the electrolyte, and recharge, then the battery will not cause unnecessary trouble.

During engine operation, the battery (), regardless of type (serviced or maintenance-free battery), is recharged from the car generator. To control the battery charge on the generator, a device called a relay-regulator is installed.

The very operation of the car in winter often involves short trips, the inclusion of a large number of energy-intensive equipment (heating mirrors, windows, seats, etc.). The load on the battery increases significantly. At the same time, the battery simply does not have time to charge from the generator and compensate for the losses spent on launches. In view of the foregoing, it is optimal to fully charge the battery with a charger up to 100% at least once a year before the onset of cold weather.

We add that in case of problems with starting the engine due to engine malfunctions (problems with fuel equipment, etc.), the owner has to turn the starter much longer and more intensively. In such cases, you will need to charge the battery with an external charger much more often.

Charging the battery with a charger

To know how to charge a maintenance-free car battery with a charger, as well as to charge a serviceable type battery, you must follow certain rules. The charger (charger, external charger, start charger) is actually a capacitor charger.

A car battery is a direct current source. When connecting the battery, be sure to observe the polarity. For this, the connection points for the plus and minus terminals are marked with a plus and minus sign ("+" and "-") on the battery. The terminals on the charger have the same markings, which allows you to correctly connect the battery to the charger. In other words, the “plus” of the battery is connected to the “+” terminal of the charger, the “minus” on the battery is connected to the “-” output of the charger.

Please note that an accidental polarity reversal will cause the battery to discharge instead of charging. It should also be taken into account that a deep discharge (the battery is completely planted) can in some cases disable the battery, as a result of which it may not be possible to charge such a battery using a charger.

It should also be borne in mind that before connecting to the charger, the battery must be removed from the car and thoroughly cleaned of possible contamination. Acid drips are well removed with a damp rag, which is wetted in a solution with soda. To prepare the solution, 15-20 grams of soda is enough for 150-200 grams of water. The presence of acid will be indicated by the foaming of the specified solution when applied to the battery case.

As for serviced batteries, the plugs on the "cans" for pouring acid should be unscrewed. The fact is that during charging, gases are formed in the battery, which must be provided with a free exit. The electrolyte level should also be checked. When the level drops below the norm, distilled water is topped up.

What voltage to charge a car battery

To begin with, charging the battery involves supplying it with such a current that the battery does not have enough for a full charge. Based on this statement, it is possible to answer the questions of how much current to charge the car battery, as well as how much to charge the car battery with a charger.

In the event that a battery with a capacity of 50 Amp-hours is 50% charged, then at the initial stage, a charging current of 25 A should be set, after which this current should be dynamically reduced. By the time the battery is fully charged, the current supply should stop. This principle of operation underlies automatic chargers, with the help of which a car battery is charged in an average of 4-6 hours. The only disadvantage of such memory is their high cost.

It is also worth highlighting semi-automatic type chargers and solutions that involve fully manual configuration. The latter are the most affordable and widely available for sale. Considering that the battery is usually 50% discharged, you can calculate how much to charge a maintenance-free car battery, as well as understand how much to charge the battery of a serviced type of car.

The basis for calculating the battery charge time is the battery capacity. Knowing this parameter, the charge time is calculated quite simply. If the battery has a capacity of 50 Ah, then for a full charge it is required to supply a current of no more than 30 Ah to such a battery. 3A is set on the charger, which will take ten hours to fully charge the battery with the charger.

In order to be 100% sure that the battery is fully charged, after 10 hours you can set the current to 0.5 A on the charger, and then continue charging the battery for another 5-10 hours. This method of charging does not pose a danger to car batteries, which have a large capacity. The downside can be considered the need to charge the battery for about a day.

To save time and quickly charge the battery, you can set it to 8 A charger, and then charge for about 3 hours. After this period, the charge current decreases to 6 A and the battery is charged with this current for another 1 hour. As a result, it will take 4 hours to charge. Note that this charging mode is not optimal, since it is desirable to charge the battery with a small current of up to 3 A.

Charging at high currents can overcharge and overheat the battery, resulting in a significantly shortened battery life. We also note that the use of battery charging methods that are aimed at minimizing the negative process of plate sulfation do not have noticeable positive results in practice.

Proper operation of the battery, depending on its type (serviced and maintenance-free), the exclusion of deep discharge and timely charging with the help of a charger, allow the acid battery to work properly from 3-7 years.

How to assess the condition and charge of a car battery

Proper charging and a number of conditions that must be observed during the operation of a car battery can ensure normal engine start even at extremely low temperatures. The main indicator of the state of the battery is the degree of its charge. Next, we will answer how to know if the car battery is charged.

To begin with, some battery models have a special color indicator on the battery itself, which indicates whether the battery is charged or discharged. It should be noted that this indicator is a very approximate indicator, according to which it is possible to determine with a certain degree of probability only the need for recharging. In other words, the charge indicator can show that the battery is charged, but at the same time, the starting current at low temperatures is not enough.

Another way to determine the degree of charge of the battery is to measure the voltage at the battery terminals. This method also allows a very approximate assessment of the state and degree of charge. To measure the battery, you will need to remove it from the car or disconnect it from the charger, after which you need to wait an additional 7 hours. The outside temperature is not of fundamental importance.

12.8V-100% charge;
12.6V-75% charge;
12.2V-50% charge;
12.0V-25% charge;
A voltage drop of less than 11.8 V indicates a complete discharge of the battery.

You can also check the battery level without waiting. To do this, the voltage at the battery terminals must be measured by the load using the so-called load plugs. This method is more accurate and reliable. The specified plug is a voltmeter, a resistance is connected in parallel with the terminals of the voltmeter. The resistance value is 0.018-0.020 Ohm for a battery with a capacity rating of 40-60 Amp-hours.

The plug must be connected to the corresponding outputs on the battery, after which, after 6-8 seconds. record the readings displayed by the voltmeter. Next, you can evaluate the degree of charge of the battery by voltage using a load plug:

10.5 V - 100% charge;
9.9 V - 75% charge;
9.3 V - 50% charge;
8.7 V - 25% charge;
Indicator less than 8.18 V - full discharge of the battery;

You can also take measurements in the absence of a load plug without removing the battery from the car. The battery must be connected to the vehicle's on-board network. Then you will need to put a load on the battery by turning on the dimensions and high beam of the head optics (for cars with standard halogen lamps). The headlight bulbs have a power of 50 W, the load is about 10 A. The voltage of a normally charged battery in this case should be about 11.2 V.

The next way to check the battery charge is to measure the voltage at the battery terminals at the moment when the internal combustion engine is started. These measurements can be considered reliable only under the condition of a normally working starter.

At the time of starting, the voltage indicator should not be lower than 9.5 V. A voltage drop below the specified mark means that the battery is very discharged. In this case, it needs to be charged with a charger. This test method also allows you to identify problems with the starter. A knowingly serviceable and 100% charged battery is installed on the car, after which a measurement is made. If the voltage at the battery terminals drops below 9.5 V at the time of starting, then problems with the starter are obvious.

Finally, we add that measurements in various ways involve fixing fluctuations in fractions of a volt. For this reason, increased requirements are put forward for the voltmeter. The accuracy of the device is extremely important, since the slightest error of even one or two percent will lead to an error in measuring the degree of charge of the battery by 10 -20%. For measurements, it is recommended to use instruments with a minimum error.

How to charge a completely dead car battery

A common cause of deep battery discharge is banal inattention. It is often enough to leave the car with the dimensions or headlights, interior lighting or radio on for 6-12 hours, after which the battery is completely discharged. For this reason, many car owners are interested in the question of whether it is possible to restore a completely discharged battery.

As you know, the complete discharge of the battery greatly affects the life of the battery, especially when it comes to a maintenance-free battery. Manufacturers of car batteries indicate that even one full discharge is enough for the battery to fail. In practice, relatively new batteries can be restored at least 1 or 2 times after they are completely discharged without a significant loss of operational properties.

First you need to determine how much the battery is discharged using one of the above methods. You can also immediately put the battery on charge. Further, a completely discharged battery must be charged in the mode recommended by the battery manufacturer. The standard is to supply a charge current value of 0.1 of the total battery capacity.

A fully planted battery is charged with this current for at least 14-16 hours. For example, consider charging a battery with a capacity of 60 Ah. In this case, the charge current should be between 3 A (slower) and 6 A (faster) on average. It is correct to charge a fully discharged car battery with the smallest current, and for as long as possible (about a day).

When the voltage at the battery terminals no longer increases within 60 minutes. (assuming the same charging current is supplied), then the battery is fully charged. Maintenance-free batteries when fully charged assume a voltage value of 16.2 ± 0.1 V. It should be borne in mind that this voltage value is a standard, but there is a dependence on the battery capacity indicator, charge current, electrolyte density in the battery, etc. Any voltmeter is suitable for measurement, regardless of the error of the device, since it is necessary to measure a constant, not an exact voltage.

How to charge a car battery if there is no charger

The easiest way to charge the battery is to start the car by "lighting up" from another car, after which you need to drive the car for about 20-30 minutes. For the efficiency of charging from the generator, either a dynamic ride in high gears or movement in the “lower classes” is assumed.

The main condition is to maintain the crankshaft speed at around 2900-3200 rpm. At the specified speed, the generator will provide the necessary current, which will allow you to recharge the battery. Note that this method is only suitable under the condition of a partial, and not a deep discharge of the battery. Also, after the trip, you still need to realize a full battery charge.

Quite often, motorists are interested in what else can charge a car battery, except for the charger. Most often, as a replacement, it is supposed to use chargers that charge mobile phones, tablets, laptops and other gadgets. We note right away that these solutions do not allow charging a car battery without a series of manipulations.

The fact is that the main condition for supplying current from the charger to the battery is that there must be a voltage at the charger output that will be greater than the voltage at the battery outputs. In other words, with a battery output voltage of 12 V, the charger output voltage should be 14 V. As for various devices, their battery voltage often does not exceed 7.0 V. Now imagine that you have a gadget charger at hand that has the required voltage of 12 Q. The problem will still be present, since the resistance of the car battery is measured in whole ohms.

It turns out that connecting charging from a mobile device to the battery outputs will actually be a short circuit of the outputs of the charging power supply. The protection will trip in the unit, as a result of which such a charger will not supply current to the battery. In the absence of protection, the probability of failure of the power supply from a significant load is high.

It is worth adding that the car battery should also not be charged from various power supplies that have a suitable output voltage, but they are structurally unable to adjust the amount of current supplied. Only a special charger for a car battery is a device that has at its output the required voltage and current to charge the battery. In parallel with this, it is possible to control a constant current value.

Homemade charger for car battery

Now let's move from theory to practice. Let's start with the fact that you can make a battery charger from a power supply from a third-party device with your own hands.

Please note that these actions represent a certain danger and are performed solely at your own peril and risk. The administration of the resource does not bear any responsibility, the information is presented for informational purposes only!

There are several ways to make memory. Let's take a quick look at the most common:

Making a charger from a source that has a voltage of about 13-14 V at its output, and is also capable of providing a current of more than 1 Ampere. For this task, a laptop power supply is suitable.
Charging from a regular household electrical outlet 220 volts. To do this, you need the presence of a semiconductor diode and an incandescent lamp, which are connected in series in a circuit.

It should be borne in mind that the use of such solutions means charging the battery through a current source. As a result, constant monitoring of the time and the end of the battery charge is required. This control is carried out by regularly measuring the voltage at the battery terminals or by counting the time for which the battery is charged.

Remember, overcharging the battery leads to an increase in the temperature inside the battery and the active release of hydrogen and oxygen. Boiling of the electrolyte in the "banks" of the battery causes the formation of an explosive mixture. If an electric spark or other sources of ignition are present, the battery may explode. Such an explosion can cause fires, burns and injury!

Now let's focus on the most common method of self-manufacturing a charger for a car battery. We are talking about charging from a laptop power supply. To implement the task, certain knowledge, skills and experience in the field of assembling simple electrical circuits are required. Otherwise, the best solution would be to contact specialists, purchase a ready-made charger or replace the battery with a new one.

The scheme for manufacturing the memory itself is quite simple. A ballast lamp is connected to the PSU, and the outputs of a home-made charger are connected to the battery outputs. As a "ballast" you will need a lamp with a small rating.

If you try to connect the PSU to the battery without using a ballast bulb in the electrical circuit, then you can quickly disable both the power supply itself and the battery.

You should step by step select the desired lamp, starting with the minimum ratings. To begin with, you can connect a low-power turn signal lamp, then a more powerful turn signal lamp, etc. Each lamp should be tested separately by connecting to a circuit. If the light is on, then you can proceed to connecting an analogue that is larger in power. This method will help not to damage the power supply. Finally, we add that the burning of a ballast lamp will indicate the charge of the battery from such a home-made device. In other words, if the battery is charging, then the lamp will be on, even if very dimly.

A new battery must be fully charged and functional, that is, it must be immediately installed on the car to start further operation. Before purchasing, it is necessary to check the battery for a number of parameters:

body integrity;
voltage measurement at the outputs;
electrolyte density check;
date of manufacture of the battery;

At the initial stage, it is necessary to remove the protective film and inspect the case for cracks, drips and other defects. In case of detection of the slightest deviations from the norm, it is recommended to replace the battery.

Then the voltage is measured at the terminals of the new battery. You can measure the voltage with a voltmeter, while the accuracy of the device does not matter. The voltage should not be lower than 12 volts. A voltage reading of 10.8 volts indicates that the battery is completely discharged. Such an indicator is unacceptable for a new battery.

The density of the electrolyte is measured using a special plug. Also, the density parameter indirectly indicates the battery charge level. The final stage of the test is to determine the release date of the battery. Batteries that were released 6 months. ago or more from the day of the planned purchase should not be purchased. The fact is that a ready-to-use battery has a tendency to self-discharge. For this reason, for long-term storage, the battery must be prepared in advance, but in this case, the battery can no longer be considered a new finished product.

It turns out that the answer to the question of whether it is necessary to charge a new battery for a car will be negative. There is no need to charge a new battery. If the battery you plan to buy is dead, then it may simply be old, used, or there is a manufacturing defect.

Should I charge a new car battery?

Experts agree that even a new battery must be charged. In most cases, the battery lies 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 battery production technologies make it possible to minimize self-discharge. This statement is relevant only if the storage conditions are observed in the warehouse. The following factors can affect the degree of self-discharge:

air temperature in the room (norm 5-20 0 C);
air humidity;
the presence or absence of dust and dirt.

If the first parameter in warehouses is more or less observed, then few people monitor air 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 it, even if the seller swears that the goods are fresh from 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 elements must first be prepared. But there are differences between the duration of the charge of a serviced battery and an unattended one.

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

Charging with variable voltage

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, use the instructions.

Remove the battery from the car, make sure that the temperature of the electrolyte does not exceed 35 0 C.
Install the charger rheostat so that a voltage of 10% of the battery capacity is applied to the terminals.
Wait for the appearance of bubbles in the electrolyte, measure the voltage at the contacts.
If a value of 14.4 V is obtained, reduce the supplied current by 2 times.
Periodically check the voltage, once it reaches 16V and does not drop for three hours, the battery is charged.

It is difficult to say with accuracy how much time 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 by which you can make sure that the battery is charged. Check the density of the electrolyte with a hydrometer. If it does not rise within three hours, the process is over.

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 makes it possible to reduce the heating of the electrolyte.

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

Operating a new car battery

In order not to 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.

Proper battery charging.

Preparation of the battery for work consists in the following actions:

Remove the packaging, wipe the case with a clean cloth.
If the battery is serviced, remove the plugs and measure the density of the electrolyte (should be 1.27-1.28 kg / cm 3).
Charge the battery.
Clean the contacts with sandpaper, wipe with a clean cloth.
Carefully, avoiding sparks, connect the terminals.

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.

Battery Rules

Immediately after the first trip with a new battery, check the voltage at idle and with the power consumers turned off (the norm is at least 13.5 V).
Periodically inspect the case for mechanical damage that may occur due to improper operation or the influence of severe frosts.
Once a month, remove accumulated dirt from the surface of the housing.
Be careful while "lighting up" another car. There is a risk of burning the wiring when the ignition is on.
Regularly check the electrical equipment of the car: even a minor malfunction of the generator or relay can adversely affect battery performance.
Do not allow the battery to be critically discharged (less than 30% capacity) - do not turn on the headlights or radio for a long time when the internal combustion engine is not running.
Check the quality of the battery fastening to avoid mechanical damage to the case.

If you are not confident in your skills, contact a specialist once every six months to inspect the battery and possible technical work. It's better to leave it to someone who knows than to try and fix the problem yourself and ruin the battery.

As you can see, the operation of the new battery is not particularly difficult. The main thing is to periodically look under the hood and check the condition of the battery.

Rules for charging a new battery

If you become the owner of a classic lead battery, then take precautions when installing or recharging. 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 that prevent the dangerous substance from getting on the skin.

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

Summing up

Now you know how to properly charge a new car battery, follow our recommendations so that the power source lasts a long time and does not cause electrical equipment to fail. 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 the services of a master is much lower than the price of a new battery.

One of the stages of the overhaul of the engine is a complex of works with the cylinder head. Some of these works can be done with your own hands, thus saving an extra penny, and making the work better. A prime example of this is valve lapping. Today we will learn how to do it with our own.

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Car radios have become familiar devices in every car. Indeed, driving while listening to your favorite music is much more fun than doing it in silence. And it doesn’t matter at all whether a trip is made over long distances, or short ones, but it’s very disappointing when a disc you recently bought or recorded by you refuses to play on the radio in your car. Why is the radio not reading the disc? – .

Modern cars simply cannot be operated from a standard battery. We do not take into account hybrid cars and electric cars like the Tesla Model S. There are many models of modern cars that cannot even be started without a battery, “with a pusher”. In addition, the constant increase in electronic devices in modern cars leads to an increase in the quality and capacity requirements of the car battery. In this article, we will tell you how to properly maintain a new car battery so that it lasts as long as possible.

Standard batteries for modern cars are batteries filled with electrolyte. They, unlike dry-charged batteries, can be operated at sub-zero temperatures, however, they are discharged faster than in warm weather. When buying a new battery, it must be transported before installation in a car in a normal vertical position, not on its side. Otherwise, the tightness may be broken, and the electrolyte will leak out.

When using a battery in a car, you must keep it clean. All the dust and dirt that accumulates on the walls of the battery can become an excellent conductor of electricity and reduce the charge. In other words, a constantly dirty battery in a car discharges faster than a clean one. Some motorists got the hang of installing a new battery in a car, covering all its walls with polyethylene, a bag or a film. Of course, this may make it difficult to quickly access the battery connectors, but it will ensure its constant cleanliness. In some modern car models (especially in the business class), the batteries are installed in felt cases, and they remain constantly clean.

When washing a car, it is better not to forget to wipe the battery with a cloth soaked in soda solution, which perfectly neutralizes electrolyte particles that have fallen on the battery walls. Also, if the battery is serviced, check the electrolyte level along with cleaning it. Operating a battery with exposed plates inside will quickly lead to failure of the entire battery. After that, it will be given for recycling, it will no longer serve the car.

After installing a new battery in the car, you need to check that you have tightly connected the connectors with wires. This is checked with a conventional voltmeter according to the following algorithm:

Open the car hood;
Expose access to the battery connectors on which the wires are put;
Start the car and let it idle;
Bring the ends of the voltmeter to the battery connectors;
With well-fitted wires, the voltmeter should show a voltage of 13.5-14 volts.

If your battery shows a voltage below the prescribed data, it means that either the wires are not worn tightly, or the battery is faulty.

Check the battery charge periodically. Rare trips by car lead to its discharge, as the generator simply does not have time to charge it. A low battery charge will not provide enough current to start the engine starter.

Before you start reading this material, we advise you to read the Batteries page.

If the battery is not used for three to four months, then it is discharged and needs to be recharged.

Self-discharge is a property that is inherent in all types of batteries. Some have more, while others, high-quality and expensive, have less.

Below we insert two illustrations that show self-discharge graphs.

The first photo shows self-discharge versus time.

In the second photo, a graph of the dependence of self-discharge on the density of the electrolyte in the battery.

There are cases when recharging is required even for such batteries that are in operation.

If the battery is in a normal state and fully charged, then the density of the electrolyte in it is in the range of 1.27-1.28 g / cm 3, and the voltage is 12.7 volts.

The rarefaction of the battery is determined by the density of the electrolyte - the lower the density, the more discharged the battery.

For orientation, we note that when the density decreases by 0.01 g/cm3, then the battery discharge is 6-8%.

Below we put a graph by which you can evaluate the dependence of the rarefaction of the battery on the density of the electrolyte.

For verification, you should take the density of the electrolyte from the jar on which it is minimal.

Advice: If the rarefaction of the battery that is on the car is 50% in summer and 25% in winter, it must be removed and charged. Please note that a discharged battery may well freeze in winter. At an ambient temperature of -20°C, a battery with an electrolyte density of 1.2 g/cm3 freezes.

Another sign for recharging the battery is the case when the density of the electrolyte in different banks differ from each other by more than 0.02 g / cm 3

Proper charging of the battery requires an optimal choice of current, which should be 0.05 of the capacity of the battery itself.

This means that for recharging a battery with a capacity of 55 Ah, the optimal current is 2.75A.

Advice : The lower the charging current, the deeper the battery is charged.

When a battery is charged with a strong current, then the electrolyte begins to boil until it is fully charged.

With a weak current, the battery may not “boil” at all, but it will recharge better.

In such cases, a sign of the end of charging is considered not to change the density of the electrolyte.

If the electrolyte does not boil, and within 1-2 hours the density in the jars does not change, this means that the battery is fully charged.

From the graph, which is laid out a little higher, it becomes clear that at a density of 1.25 g / cm 3 the battery is discharged by 25%, that is, the power loss current is:

Based on this, we consider the approximate charging time:

Most likely, you had a question: - Where did the number 2 come from in the formula for calculating the recharge time?

During recharging, not all energy is spent on increasing the charge, but only 50-70%. The rest of the energy is converted into heat and heats up the electrolyte, often bringing it to a boil. Therefore, it is necessary to multiply the recharging time by 2 in the formula.

The battery can receive the greatest charge directly on the car, while driving. The alternator and charging relay must be in good working order.

Recharging from the car network has several advantages:

First, the option of recharging is excluded,
And secondly, during the ride, the electrolyte is constantly mixed, as a result of which a much larger volume of active mass is processed.

Reminder : Charging of the battery does not start immediately after starting the engine. Charging the battery directly depends on the temperature of the electrolyte.

What does it mean? And this means that when you start the engine, especially in winter, until the temperature of the electrolyte in the banks becomes positive, the battery will not charge. During this time, the electricity produced by the generator is converted into heat.

From the above, it follows that frequent short-term terrestrial journeys can completely drain your battery, bearing in mind the fact that each engine start takes up part of the capacity.

If the engine starts normally, that is, when the car starts on the first try, then 10 seconds of the starter is taken from the battery 0.83 Ah of capacity (300A * 10 seconds = 3000 A seconds = 0.83 A hour). For a battery with a capacity of 55 Ah, this is about 1.5 percent.

Long driving on the highway, without stopping, can lead to boiling of the electrolyte.
Batteries often do not recover their original capacity after deep discharge.

Battery symptoms

In the process of recharging, the density of the electrolyte does not increase, that is, the battery is not charged.
The battery does not hold a charge - increased self-discharge.

Below are some figures on the consumption of electricity in VAZ cars.

Ignition - 2 Ah
Dimensional lighting - 4 Ah
Dipped beam - 9 Ah
High beams - 10 Ah
Rear window heater - 11 Ah
Heating (fan depending on speed) 5-11 Ah
Wipers - 5 Ah
Audio - 5 to 15 Ah

It turns out that when we leave the car with the dimensions turned on for 3 hours, we lose 20% of the battery capacity (4 A * 3 hours = 12 Ah).

If you read the article “Batteries”, then you probably remember that the current generated by the car’s generator directly depends on the speed, especially for old Soviet cars.

Here are some figures characterizing different VAZ models.

It follows from the numbers that prolonged idling of the engine with the headlights and heater on may well cause the battery to discharge.

Reminder : For modern cars, especially foreign-made ones, this is not relevant. They are equipped with generators, which, at idle, are quite capable of providing energy to the weight of the car.

How to choose a battery

You must be sure that the battery is suitable for your vehicle.

The main compatibility factors are listed below:

In addition to the main factors, you should also consider some features of your car.

If your car isn't new and has faulty electronics, it doesn't make sense to buy a non-serviceable battery, as you will often need to add distilled water to the cans.

You should also pay special attention to the capacity, since the discrepancy between the capacity and the manufacturer's requirements will cause premature failure of the generator and starters.

Be sure to ask for a warranty card and check the maintenance addresses on this card.

Many battery manufacturers do not list a release date, as unmaintained batteries can be stored for a long time.

Demand a battery check right in the store. Remove the packing film and check that the battery case is not damaged.

Let the seller check the density of the electrolyte in all the banks before you. They must be the same and not less than the nominal value by more than 0.02 g/cm 3 .

Check the voltage with a load plug. Under load for 10 seconds, the voltage should not fall below 11 volts. No load 12.5 volts.

If the store employees refuse to perform checks, refuse the purchase.

How to install a battery in a car

When installing on a vehicle, make sure that all vents on the batteries are open, that is, all excess packaging particles are removed.

Lubricate the terminals with Vaseline.

Keep in mind that hanging the battery on the car is unacceptable. This can cause peeling of plates in jars.

If the battery is close to the collector, thermal insulation should be installed in the summer.

Battery life depends mainly on operating conditions.

Short trips with frequent starting of the engine (especially in winter), as well as a faulty alternator or starter, can cause premature battery failure.
The charging current should not exceed 1/10 of the battery capacity.
Periodically check the level and density of the electrolyte in the battery banks
Be sure to check the alternator belt tension. A weak belt can drain the battery, while a tight belt can damage the alternator.
If you are unable to fully charge the battery in a car, then once a week do it using a charger.

Advice : Make sure that the battery level does not fall below the 75% mark.

Reminder: Deviation of charging current by 10% (in either direction), resulting in a decrease in battery life by 2 times.

The engine should start with a half turn. Please note that during engine start, the current passing through the battery is from 100 to 300 Amperes (depending on air temperature).

Reminder: Decreased electrolyte level in banks, shortens battery life by 30%.

Features "lighting" from another battery

For "lighting" from another car, copper wires with a wide cross section are required, on the ends of which high-quality "crocodiles" are installed. "Crocodiles" should provide a large contact area and a strong clamp. There must be very good contact between the wire and the "crocodile", since a current with a force of up to 300 Amperes will pass through it.

For proper "lighting" you must follow some rules. In order not to damage your or "neighbor's" car, follow these steps as it is written:

Connect one end of the red cable to the (+) terminal of the infected battery.
Connect the other end of the same cable to the positive of the dead battery.
Connect one end of the black cable to the ground (-) of the infected battery.
Connect the other end of the black cable to the engine block of the vehicle with the dead battery. Try to keep the connection as far away from the carburetor or fuel pump as possible, as there may be sparks, but closer to the starter.
Make sure both cables are at a safe distance from rotating parts.
Start the car engine with a "good" battery, and it runs empty for 1-2 minutes.
Start the engine with a dead battery. If it starts, let it run for 1-2 minutes without disconnecting the wires.
If startup fails, try again in a few minutes.
Turn off the engine of the vehicle with the contaminated battery.
Follow the first four steps in reverse order.

air temperature in the room (norm 5-20 0 C);
air humidity;
the presence or absence of dust and dirt.

If the first parameter in warehouses is more or less observed, then few people monitor air 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 it, even if the seller swears that the goods are fresh from the factory.

How to charge a new car battery correctly?

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

Charging with variable voltage

It is advisable to charge a new car battery.

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

Remove the battery from the car, make sure that the temperature of the electrolyte does not exceed 35 0 C.
Install the charger rheostat so that a voltage of 10% of the battery capacity is applied to the terminals.
Wait for the appearance of bubbles in the electrolyte, measure the voltage at the contacts.
If a value of 14.4 V is obtained, reduce the supplied current by 2 times.
Periodically check the voltage, once it reaches 16V and does not drop for three hours, the battery is charged.

There is another way by which you can make sure that the battery is charged. Check the density of the electrolyte 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 battery temperature has risen to 45 0 C and above, turn off the charger or reduce the supplied current by 50%.

Constant voltage charging

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.

Operating a new car battery

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.

Proper battery charging.

Preparation of the battery for work consists in the following actions:

Remove the packaging, wipe the case with a clean cloth.
If the battery is serviced, remove the plugs and measure the density of the electrolyte (should be 1.27-1.28 kg / cm 3).
Charge the battery.
Clean the contacts with sandpaper, wipe with a clean cloth.
Carefully, avoiding sparks, connect the terminals.

On modern cars, current leakage can not be checked - even a turned off radio tape recorder can consume electricity and you will not be able to remove reliable indicators.

Battery Rules

Immediately after the first trip with a new battery, check the voltage at idle and with the power consumers turned off (the norm is at least 13.5 V).
Periodically inspect the case for mechanical damage that may occur due to improper operation or the influence of severe frosts.
Once a month, remove accumulated dirt from the surface of the housing.
Be careful while "lighting up" another car. There is a risk of burning the wiring when the ignition is on.
Regularly check the electrical equipment of the car: even a minor malfunction of the generator or relay can adversely affect battery performance.
Do not allow the battery to be critically discharged (less than 30% capacity) - do not turn on the headlights or radio for a long time when the internal combustion engine is not running.
Check the quality of the battery fastening to avoid mechanical damage to the case.

As you can see, the operation of the new battery is not particularly difficult. The main thing is to periodically look under the hood and check the condition of the battery.

Rules for charging a new battery

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

Keep in mind that during charging, chemical reactions occur in the battery, as a result of which explosive explosive gas (a mixture of oxygen and hydrogen) is released. Keep the battery away from open flames, do not touch the terminals to avoid sparks.