The Car Battery - How to Charge and Replace Dead Car Batteries

Car Batteries At AutoAnything

Whether you're flying around the corners of the track on a regular basis or just trying to make it through the morning commute, you need a car battery that reliably gets the job done. Of course, your car battery powers your clock, radio and lights. But as you know if you've ever tried to start your car after leaving your lights on all night, its main function is to get your vehicle started.

Most vehicles on the roads today have a 12volt DC battery that supplies the juice necessary to start the vehicle and to run electrical systems when the vehicle is turned off. When your vehicle is running its primary source of power is the alternator. The alternator also recharges your car battery while you are driving. This is why after you jumpstart a car you need to drive around for approximately 20-30 minutes to fully recharge the battery.

Picking the Right Car Battery

When you're looking for a new car battery there are several questions you need to ask in order to find the one that will serve you best. The main question is what are you using your vehicle for? Is this a track vehicle where you need light-weight power? Are you powering up a large aftermarket electronics system? Do you live in an area that gets below 40-50º F? The answers to these questions will help you to decide which car battery is right for you.

If you're looking for a battery to power your speedy race car, a performance battery is a great option. Regular car batteries can weigh as much as 60lbs. In contrast, some light-weight performance batteries measure in at a mean and lean 6lbs. That's a big reduction, especially in situations where every ounce counts!

For audio buffs, pumping up your vehicle with the latest and greatest in sound systems bring a different set of requirements. You need a car battery that can provide increased voltage output for longer amounts of time and withstand the vibrations of all your boom power. The amp hours(AH) on a battery indicates how much juice it can put out over a 20 hour period. Picking up a car battery with increased AH's will allow you to run your gear for longer periods with the vehicle off. Also, performance batteries are designed to resist vibrations that can cause premature battery failure.

In cold weather situations, the chemical reaction in your car battery slows down, which can make it difficult to start your vehicle. Picking up a battery with higher cold cranking amps (CCA) will allow you get going, even on those chilly mornings. CCA measures how many amps a car battery can deliver at 0?F for 30 seconds. Many performance batteries are designed with higher CCA than traditional ones, so this may be a good option for you. Depending on how cold of an environment you're vehicle is in, a block heater may also be necessary for cold weather starting.

Jump Starting Your Car

If you're turning your key and nothing is happening, jump starting your car may be necessary. The process for doing so is fairly straightforward, but it does require some knowledge and safety precautions to avoid a dangerous mistake. An incorrect set up can cause an explosion, so make sure to follow the proper steps.

Step 1: You'll need to find another vehicle with a charged battery and some jumper cables. Also, it's a good idea to read your vehicle's owners manual for any peculiarities relating to your specific make and model. Some modern vehicles with complex onboard computers may have different requirements.

Step 2: Situate the vehicles so that the car batteries are as close together as possible without having the vehicles touch. Park and turn off both vehicles and open the hoods.

Step 3: Attach the positive (usually red handle) jumper cable clamp to the positive terminal of the dead car battery.

Step 4: Attach the other positive jumper cable clamp to the positive terminal of the charged car battery.

Step 5: Attach the negative (usually black handle) jumper cable clamp to the negative terminal of the charged car battery.

Step 6: Attach the remaining negative handle to an unpainted mental surface in the vehicle with the dead battery, usually somewhere on the engine block. Do not connect it to the battery or any moving parts.

Safety Note: Make sure the only thing connecting the two vehicles are the jumper cables. The vehicles should not be touching each other.

Step 7: Start the vehicle with the charged battery and let it run for 30 seconds to a minute. Next, try starting the other vehicle. If it doesn't work you can try letting them sit for 3-5 minutes more and trying again.

Step 8: Once both vehicles are running, remove the cables in reverse order.

Step 9: Keep the vehicle with the dead car battery running and drive it around for at least a few miles to recharge the battery. If possible, keep the vehicle running for half an hour to fully recharge the battery.

If you can't jump your car battery, hooking it up to a battery charger might work to get it going again. If the battery is exhausted though, you will need to purchase a replacement. Also, if jumping the battery doesn't work, you may need to consult a mechanic to find out if the problem is somewhere else.

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