Charging At 50 Amps Is Fast But Stay Safe
A 50 amp charger sounds great. But you should be wary. At that rate, there’s a risk of overheating the battery.
Higher amps means a faster charge. Problems are more likely to arise if you leave the charger connected long after the battery is fully charged. No matter which charger you use, you should always promptly remove it once the battery has a full charge again.
You can avoid this danger by sticking with a slower charger. A 10 or 12 amp charger gets the job done safely in a reasonable amount of time.
How Long Does It Take To Charge A Car Battery Using A 12 Volt Charger
The answer to the above question depends on the amperage used to charge the battery.
for example:
- 40 Amp Charger: 40 amps has a fast charging capacity and can charge your car battery within minutes to an hour.
- 2 Amp Charger: A low amp charge battery charger, such as 2 amp, can charge the battery in 1-2 days. This is because a 2 amp battery only supplies 1 amp per hour.
- 4 Amp Charger: Normally, a car battery holds 48 amps, so with this amount of voltage it can take up to 12 hours to reach the full capacity of the battery.
- 10 Amp Charger: The 10 amp charger can charge a semi-discharged small car battery in less than 2-3 hours and a medium car battery in less than 3-4 hours. Large car batteries with 50% charge capacity take 4-7 hours to fully charge.
Can I Charge A New Battery
Yes, as we said earlier when the battery acid has been put in, and you do not use the battery immediately, it is advisable to put it in the charger to fully charge it.
The battery can be charged at a voltage slightly higher than the rated voltage but needs to be monitored to not overcharge it. The battery will need at least 12.9 volts to charge. This will be a slow charge but the battery can be charged at a higher voltage of up to 15 volts but close monitoring is required to avoid damage.
The best option will be to connect a trickle charger or an automatic charger that will detect when the battery is fully charged and will provide just the floating charge to keep it fully charged.
The trickle charger has temperature compensation and will ensure the healthy status of the battery is maintained.
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Does Idling Drain Your Battery
Yes, idling your car for as little as two minutes will be the equivalent of driving a mile! Leaving your car idling will waste not only gas but does not allow your battery to charge. Not allowing your battery to charge will drain its power during idling.
During idling, your engine and alternator run slowly. The alternator will provide electricity to charge the battery. However, if you are using high-powered accessories, then the alternator wont meet the electrical demand. In these instances, your battery will make up the difference and become drained.
Too much idling can cause your battery to drain significantly and can cause lasting damage. When stuck in traffic, consider turning off your car. It will not only save on fuel but prevent excess strain from being put on your car battery.
You can also consider opening the windows instead of using the AC when driving in warmer climates or adjusting the heaters to use less energy and save your battery.
If The Battery Won’t Hold A Charge It’s Time To Replace
Something strange may occur when you attempt to charge your car battery. You may realize the battery doesn’t hold a charge. At this point, you’re better off replacing the old battery with a new one.
There are some key steps to replacing a car battery safely.
If you have all the safety supplies you need, then it typically takes about 15 minutes to do all this. In the event you don’t feel comfortable doing this, you can take your car to an auto shop to get it done. The price to remove and replace a car battery usually ranges between $110 and $220.
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Charging Times With Different Battery Chargers
Different car battery chargers give different amounts of power, so the charging time of a car battery will depend a lot on this. For sure, it takes a different amount of time to charge different types and sizes of batteries also, but there are times for a normal-sized car battery around 62 Ah.
Here is how long it takes to charge a car battery:
- 2 Amp charger: 24 to 48 hours
- 4 Amp charger: 12 to 24 hours
- 10 Amp charger: 3 to 6 hours
- 20 Amp charger: 2 to 4 hours
- 40 Amp charger: 30 minuter to 1 hour
Risk To Battery Charging By Driving
The risks to using your car to charge a flat battery arent great, but they are real. Without causing you undue stress, you should know what the possible risks are. Its always better to use a battery charger to bring your battery up to at least 12.5 volts.
If you need a great little boost starter and charger, check out the little NOCO boost pack. I bought one and was genuinely blown away by how powerful it is. Im a mechanic for over twenty five years and this is the fastest charger pack Ive owned.
Anyway, you can check it out here on the Auto electrical tools page.
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How Long Will The Alternator Take To Fully Charge New Battery
A new care battery comes fully charged. However, as the battery sits on the shelf, it will experience self-discharge which is the decay of charge over time.
A dry battery when the battery acid is added, will not have full capacity in place. It will have anywhere above 90% of the rated charge levels.
When the battery is plugged in the car, it will take from 90seconds to 20 minutes to fully charge it. These timelines are affected by many factors such as operating temperatures, state, and efficiency of the alternator e.t.c.
When Driving How Long Does It Take For A Car Battery To Charge
So youve chosen to start your car and go for a little drive to get some fresh air. Alternatively, you may have jump-started your automobile after it had sat for an extended period of time. You might be wondering how long it takes for your car battery to charge while youre driving. To put any real charge on the car, the widespread assumption is that you must drive it for at least 30 minutes.
This isnt to claim that 30 minutes of driving will completely recharge your battery. Some considerations are necessary. Was your cars battery exhausted to a certain extent? Generally the age and condition of your vehicles battery, if your car battery has been sitting for a while, 30 minutes of driving may not be enough to fully recharge it. But all is not lost driving it around will charge it and prevent the car battery from entirely dying.
Sometimes the batterys state is such that it can no longer hold a charge. Ill use my travel to New Jersey from Florida as an example once more. I had hours and hours of interstate driving ahead of me, but it didnt matter because my car battery was dead. In any case, the time had come for a new one.
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How Long To Charge A Dead Car Battery
Your car was idly sleeping for an extended time in the garage due to snowfall or any other cause. Now, everything is okay and you are going for a drive and trying to start the car. But, its not getting started.
Its happening because your car battery has waned as its not getting charged for a long period. But, now the problem is you dont know how to charge a completely dead car battery? 210-8
Dont worry!
Its simple though sometimes tricky. Go reading below patiently. You will learn how long should you charge a dead car battery & how.
Normally, to charge a dead car battery fully takes 4-24 hours.
Why this variation?
Because, charging a dead car battery depends upon the amps of your battery charger and battery. For example, you have a 2 amp car battery charger and your battery is holding 48 amps.
Here, it will take 24 hours to charge the battery fully.
On the other hand, if you have a 10 amps battery charger, it will take 4 hours to charge the battery completely.
So, now you can feel if you have a low amp battery charger, it will take more time. On the other hand, when you own a high amp battery charger, it will take less time.
Okay?
Besides, as I told you charging a dead car battery is tricky, its important to know how to charge a dead car battery 590-14 to save your car battery from getting overcharged and consequently damaged and boost your battery life.
Is It Better To Charge The Battery Or Jump Start The Car
In the long run its better to recharge the battery, but in emergencies a jump start may just do the job.
When you jump start a car you boost the engines failing battery with a second battery, usually on another car. You connect the jump leads to the two battery terminals positive to positive and negative to negative.
Then, with the booster cars engine running at a fast tick over you allow the failing battery to take a little boost charge and the car should be able to start. Then, as you run the engine, the battery should begin to recharge itself.
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How Long Does It Take To Jump Start A Car Battery
Jumpstarting a car battery is not an option that is recommended in a general situation, however, in case of any emergency you can opt for the jump start option. The time it takes to jump start a car battery cant be exactly predicted. Nonetheless, it may take 2 minutes minimum and a maximum of 10 minutes or even 30 minutes in extreme cases.
What Kind Of Battery Do You Have
Most deep cycle batteries are 48-amps. A completely dead 48-amp battery will take 48-hours to recharge with a 1-amp battery charger. However, 48-amp batteries arent the only options available. The more amps your battery has, the longer it will take for the charger to restore it fully.
Its also important to note that AGM batteries utilize different chargers than a standard lead-acid battery. AGM batteries are exclusively trickle-charged, which makes them longer to charge. However, they also hold their charger longer when in storage than a traditional lead-acid battery will.
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Faulty Loose Or Corroded Battery Connectors
The battery is connected through the positive and negative terminals, which are then attached to the rest of the car. It functions both ways, sending electricity to the rest of your car, and also getting topped up from the alternator. Therefore, it is important in making sure your batterys connections are all well and good. But often times, regular driving can cause wear and tear. For instance, all the vibrations and jostling around could knock the cables loose.
This would hamper both the electrical supply, and also impacts how much your battery is charged up from the alternator. It could even cause long-term damage to other electrical parts of the car. Maybe, those cables have become damaged, due to short-circuiting or excess heat from the engine. Alternatively, the terminals could become corroded over time, from being exposed to moisture. Corrosion on the terminals will impact the batterys connections.
Read Before Fitting A Car Battery
Fitting a car battery isnt difficult, however most late model vehicles wont like having their computers shut down. When power is disconnected, learned values stored in the ECUs , KAM chips are lost.
This causes lots of issues, some of which can be more irritating than serious. So before changing your battery, know that you may need to perform some recalibration also known as relearn tasks.
Most cars will relearn them selves after a few days driving but some models may require calibrating using a scan tool. See the Mechanics tools page to see the scan tool use.
The kind of problems replacing a battery can cause, includes:
- Engine hunting
- Power window and sunroof issues
- Electric steering warning lights
- Stability control warning lights
- HVAC issues
You can bypass these potential problems by using a KAM tool , its a simple power lead connected into the 12v port charger or through the data link connector, it powers the car and computer systems while you replace the battery.
The Schumacher memory saver tool is a cinch to use and good quality, its conveniently sold and delivered by Amazon.com.
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How Are You Charging Your Battery
Like we stated a 48-amp battery will take 48-hours to recharge with a 1-amp charged. But if youre using a 2-amp charger, it will recharge that same battery in only 24-hours. Meanwhile, if youre using a 40-amp charger, itll recharge your battery in just over an hour.
If youre trying to figure out how long it will take to recharge your battery, no factor is more important than the type of charger you are using.
How Long Does It Take To Charge The Battery At Idle
Even after considering the fact that your battery is dead, it will not take an eternity for your battery to charge. The battery will demand a lot of current because of the fact that it has been discharged. Around 60 amps or more.
Realistically speaking, a flat battery can be charged up to 80 percent in 2 hours. But to make this possible, the alternator has to manage 14 volts at the battery terminals, the whole time it is being charged.
It is also important for people to realize that cars are not meant to be kept idle. They are supposed to be driven around.
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What Is Causing My Cars Battery To Go Flat
I know, youre probably itching to know more about how long does it take to charge a car battery. But before we can go into discussing that, well first need to understand more about the reasons behind your cars battery going flat. The battery, after all, is a key component in any car. In the context of internal combustion engine cars, the battery is the primary source of power for all your cars electrics. This includes the actual starting of your car itself, sparking it into life.
A spark of electricity is needed to begin the combustion process, which makes your car go. Then, your cars electrics need juice from the battery. This includes all your cars lights, the windshield wipers, or the cars internal computer brain with its many sensors. Then, there are the little miscellaneous functions like running the cigarette lighter, or the cars USB ports. This highlights then, the importance of what a battery does, and why it matters to keep it in good condition.
Ordinarily, your cars battery is always kept charged while the car is running. Once the engines started, it will also power the alternator, which then charges the battery along. Naturally, lockdowns have meant that we couldnt drive often enough to charge our cars batteries. But even when everythings turned off, your cars battery will indeed keep on draining. Because even while your car is asleep, the battery is needed to power functions such as your cars alarm.
How Long Does It Take An Alternator To Charge A Dead Battery
Generally speaking, your alternator will not be able to charge a dead battery. While it provides charge and maintains your battery during driving, a dead battery is too much to revive.
What your alternator can do, is recharge drained and flat batteries, though. Depending on the charge level of the battery, your alternator can charge your battery within half an hour of driving at highway speed.
Charging your battery this way often requires a battery to be charged beforehand by an amp charger. If the battery is deeply discharged, 15-30 minutes on a 40-amp charger will provide charge and give the alternator a chance to finish charging the battery while driving your car.
The amp used to charge your battery will depend on the type of your battery and any damage it has suffered. In some cases, switching to a lower amp will allow the battery to continue charging without any overheating problems arising.
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Maintaining An Electric Car Battery After Not Driving
Electric cars and hybrids have 12V batteries , like standard vehicles, but they charge differently. The most common way to do this is by pressing the start button to turn it on, which will automatically operate a charging system which in turns gives the battery more power.
If youre concerned about how much charge the auxiliary battery in your EV has, you should start the vehicle up at least once a week for 10 minutes each time for a sufficient recharge.
At the same time, you should check the status of the main onboard battery to see whether it needs charging. Even though you may not be driving, lithium-ion batteries in EVs can gradually lose the capacity to hold a charge over time, and you may see the effects of this in the form of loss of range/percentage.
Should your car need charging, make sure this is done through a designated home charge point or public station. While each EV comes with EVSE that includes a Type-2-to-3-pin cable for charging from a mains socket, this can overload the outlet and potentially be dangerous.
Remember: Check your vehicles handbook before choosing to maintain the 12V battery by plugging into your domestic mains socket.
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