How to Use a Car Battery Charger

If your car battery has ever died and left you stranded on the side of the road near Troy, then you already know the pain and frustration of waiting for someone to come to your rescue. Fortunately, if you have a portable car battery charger on hand, you can give your battery a boost all by yourself and proceed to your destination safely. There are a few different types of car battery chargers, all of which serve different purposes that we will sort out in this helpful guide from our service team. 

Below, we’ve covered how to use a car battery charger, the different types of chargers available to you, and what you can expect when you use one. Keep reading to learn more, then let us know if you have any questions.

Prepping a Portable Car Battery Charger 

If the battery still has some juice, it’s likely that a good jolt from the charger will get it going again. Before you get started, however, you may have to remove the car battery in order to charge it; it depends on the car you drive. Many car batteries are easy to access, but if you have one that’s located under the fender, in the trunk, or under the seat, you may need additional tools or help from a service expert. If you’d rather have a professional take a closer look at your car battery, schedule service online today! 

What Are the Types of Car Battery Chargers? 

There are three main types of car battery chargers: charger, maintainer, and restorer. Every type serves a specific purpose: 

• Charger: Typically, chargers use a low-amp charge to fully recharge a car battery in up to 24 hours, although they can be found in different outputs. You can also find portable car battery chargers to keep on hand during long trips. When using a car battery charger, you’ll need to keep an eye on the battery’s charge level, or you can cause irreparable damage by overcharging the unit. 
• Maintainer: As the name suggests, maintainers will keep tabs on the battery’s charge level and stop charging when the charge is full. These are great for providing continuous power without overcharging the battery. If you’re an outdoorsy type, you can pick up a solar-powered maintainer, which will allow you to listen to music from your car while maintaining the battery’s charge. 
• Restorer: Car batteries can begin to formulate lead sulfate crystals when they run low on charge or fail altogether. This build-up of lead sulfate crystals can prevent the battery from ever reaching a full charge again. This is what restorers prevent; they detect battery sulfation and use a desulfator to restore the battery to its former self. A restorer is a great additional accessory for your battery, and most provide an output to charge your battery as well. 

Important Note: If you find yourself relying on a battery charger often, that’s a sign of a bigger issue that should be addressed.

How to Charge a Battery 

First, make sure the charger is off. Then, follow these general instructions (or the instructions that come with your charger):

1. Attach the charger’s positive cable to the battery’s positive terminal.
2. Attach the charger’s negative cable to the battery’s negative terminal. 
3. Adjust the charger to its slowest charge rate.
4. Then, power on the charger, and set a timer.
5. When you’re ready to disconnect the charger, make sure it’s off first. 
6. Then, detach the cables. 

How Long to Charge a Car Battery 

The timeframe required to charge your battery depends on the output of the charger as well as the condition of your car battery. If the voltage of the battery is less than 11.85, and you have a charger that supplies a five-amp charger rate, it’ll take about 12 hours to fully charge your battery. If the charge rate of the charger is 10 amps, however, it’ll take about six hours to fully charge the battery. Those time estimates are for car batteries with 400-500 cold-cranking amps. The number of cold-cranking amps, as well as the battery’s voltage, affect charge times. You can also use this helpful guide to gauge how long your car battery should last. 

Get Battery Service or Replacement at Dave Arbogast Buick GMC! 

If your battery continues to give off lackluster energy, it may be time to replace it entirely. Contact us online to explain the situation, and we’ll make sure to have a new OEM-certified battery waiting for you!