It’s a sad state of affairs when you can no longer drive your car because the battery is dead. We no longer live in a society where you can just call AAA and have your battery jumped when it decides to call it quits. Thanks to the advancements in battery technology and the ever-increasing reliance on electronics in our day-to-day lives, a dead battery can leave you high and dry for hours if you don’t have a portable car battery jump starter on you. Whether your battery is old and just can’t hold a charge anymore, or you accidentally let the fluid levels dip too low, the first step to getting your car back on the road is to get a portable battery jump starter.
You may feel helpless with few readily available solutions. Fortunately, there is an easy way to get your car battery charged again without spending hundreds on a mechanic or tow truck service. It’s cheaper and more convenient to do it at home instead. If you live in an apartment complex or just don’t have access to another car, getting help from friends or family may not be possible. That doesn’t mean you have to book an appointment with a mechanic and spend hundreds of dollars on their services, though. With the right tools and some knowledge of how to charge a dead battery, it can be done easily in the comfort of your own home – and for much less money than taking it to a repair shop. So if you need help getting your car started again, read on for our step-by-step guide on how to charge a dead battery yourself.
Step 1: Test the Battery
The first step to charging a dead battery is to test it to see what the issue is. Most battery testers are either clamps that you put around the battery or handheld devices that you plug into the battery. After a few minutes, the tester will give you a reading that tells you whether or not the battery is healthy. If it says that the battery is dead, then you can jump-start it with another healthy battery. If you don’t have another battery or a tester, then you can try these tricks to help get more power out of your current battery. The first thing you want to do is make sure that it isn’t too hot or too cold. Battery performance degrades significantly when exposed to extreme temperatures. This will help you know what you’re up against and what you can do about it. Luckily, it’s pretty easy to test a battery with a few simple tools.
- A voltmeter – This will measure the voltage of the battery. If it doesn’t get up to a certain level, it’s dead. It’s a quick and easy way to test your battery and see how charged it is.
- A hydrometer – This measures the charge level of your battery’s electrolyte. You’ll want to compare the reading against the manufacturer’s recommended level to see if it’s low. If it is, your battery needs to be charged.
Step 2: Jump-Start the Dead Battery
If the battery test shows that it’s completely dead and there’s no sign of life, you’ll need to jump-start the car. This will give the battery enough power to turn on and start the car. Make sure the car’s engine is completely off. This will help prevent any damage to the car’s electrical system. Make sure the other car’s engine is also off and that both cars are parked in a safe location. Connect the red or positive end of the car jump starter to the positive end of the battery. The red end should be touching the metal terminal. Connect the black or negative end to the other car’s negative terminal. The black end should be touching the metal. Start the car on the other end. The car with the dead battery should turn on in a few seconds. Once it does, you can disconnect the cables in any order – just be sure to unplug both ends.
Step 3: Fully Charge the Dead Battery
With the dead battery fully charged and the car running, it should stay on for a while with no problem. If you start having issues with your car not starting, or if the lights go out when you’re stopped, you may have a problem with your battery. If this happens, you should have your battery tested as soon as possible to make sure it’s in good condition. You may need to get a new battery if this problem happens often or if the battery is very old. If it doesn’t, though, there’s a chance the battery died again. In that case, you’ll need to fully charge it again by following these steps: Disconnect the car’s battery. This will prevent it from draining the other battery. Attach the charger to the car battery. Make sure the red cable is touching the positive terminal and the black cable is touching the negative terminal. You should attach the charger to the car’s battery either while the engine is running or while it’s off but still connected to the car’s electrical system. When you start the car, the alternator will recharge the battery. If the battery is completely dead, it may take a few tries before the car starts. You should also make sure there is enough gas in the car so that it will run for a few minutes. Stay near the car and watch for any sparks or smoke coming from the battery. If you see any of these signs, immediately disconnect the car battery from the charger. The car’s starter will help keep the battery charged during this process.
Conclusion
If you follow these steps, you’ll be able to charge a dead battery. It might not be a quick process, though, depending on how long your battery was dead. Once the battery is charged, though, you’ll be able to start your car again. Remember that you’ll need to take care of your battery to prevent it from dying again. This can include replacing the battery, keeping it charged, and cleaning the terminals with a wire brush. Be sure to clean the terminals on the car, as well as on the battery, to ensure a good connection and charge. Regular cleaning of the car’s terminals will also keep corrosion from forming and protect the integrity of the battery’s terminals.
If the car won’t start and you have recently used jumper cables, be sure to clean the clamps with a multi-metal cleaner to prevent corrosion and make sure the cables are securely clamped to the car’s battery terminals. If the car has a remote starter and you’re having trouble getting it to work, be sure that the remote and car battery terminals are free of corrosion and grime. If you have any questions about charging a dead battery, feel free to ask them in the comments below.
