Car Battery Charger Instructions

Your car battery is down and you want to know how to charge it. You can either charge your dead car battery at a repair shop or carry a portable charger to do the task.
A car battery is often susceptible to discharge at the most unexpected times, or let's say it is not unexpected, but we couldn't keep a track of when the car battery was last charged or replaced. Sometimes, finicky people tend to replace their car batteries in the fit of the moment, when the car battery could have been easily charged only if one was aware of car battery charger instructions. At least, pinching one's wallet could have been avoided.

Portable Car Battery Charger

The battery of your car contains diluted sulfuric acid solution with lead plates, that provides appropriate current and voltage to the engine, as a result of the chemical reaction within the battery. So when the engine is on, the alternator is responsible for restoring the unused voltage and current as a backup for the car battery. But there are many reasons for a battery to discharge. Your car battery life expectancy might be nearing its end or your car has been standing for a while with the engine on, or alternator problems could also factor a flat battery. If the lights are let on, even after shutting the car engine, it can completely drain it out. So it is important to know the right method to charge a car battery.
  • There are many models of battery chargers available today, of which 12 volt battery charger is apt for charging your car battery.
  • Now, let's have a look at the car battery. Check the labels and see if any of the cell caps (under a press on strip) need to be removed before charging.
  • Before connecting the battery charger, make sure that the place is in open, or say well-ventilated. Then start the car battery testing by first checking the levels inside the battery. If the battery content level is low, add deionized or distilled water to it.
  • Make sure that the metal plates inside the car battery are immersed well in the electrolytic solution. This is to test if the car battery is functioning properly.
  • Now disconnect the negative and the positive leads of the car battery using a 10 mm spanner. While you disconnect, adhere to all the instructions outlined in the manufacturer's manual.
  • Connect the black and the red leads of the battery charger to the battery and switch on. There will be some voltage settings specified in your charger, > 6 volts, 12 volts and > 12 volts, of which the second setting is fine for your car. The amount of current for a 12 volt setting is approximately about 2 - 10 amps, of which 2 amps is enough if the charging is to be done all through the night.
  • Switch on the power supply and leave the battery to charge overnight.
  • Next day, your battery will be completely charged up.
  • Switch off the power supply and remove the charge clips from the battery terminals. Replace the cell caps and place the battery back into the car cabinet carefully.
Car Battery Charger Reviews

A portable car battery charger is all the more convenient to use, because of its portability (as the name suggests) and its small and compact size. Also, it is affordable and hence saves you a fortune, which otherwise would have been spent on getting a new car battery. Today there are a lot of car battery chargers available in the market. Schumacher IP-95C Jump Starter and Air Compressor is one such battery charger which has a built in air compressor and a DC source. It costs about USD 70. Besides keeping track of the charging, it becomes much easier with its display that intimates when the battery is 50% or 75% charged.

Other good car battery chargers include:
  • Deltran Supersmart Battery Tender Plus 12 Volt 1.25 Amp Battery Charger
  • Jump N Carry 660 Battery Booster
  • Duracell DPP-300EP Powerpack 300 with 250 psi air compressor and 300 watt inverter
  • Black and Decker VEC026BD Electromate 400 Jump Starter with built in air compressor
  • Schumacher SSC-1000A Automatic Speed Battery Charger
Companies like Allstar, Clore Automotive and K Tool, also produce efficient car charger batteries. Usually, these batteries cost about USD 50 - 100. Hope this article has helped you understand the car battery charger instructions and how car problems concerning a flat battery can be avoided. It is necessary to take a look at battery charger reviews to help you make the right choice in car batteries. So, always make it a point to carry a portable car battery charger which comes handy whenever your car battery drains out.
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Published: 10/12/2010
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