05/31/2020 1,885 Battery
Author: Victor
The problem of a dead battery is familiar to many car enthusiasts. There can be a lot of reasons why a battery may stop working, so in order to understand them, you need to have certain skills. This material will allow you to find out why the battery is not charging, how to identify such a problem, and what to do to fix it.
[Hide]
Content:
- 1 How long does it take to charge a car battery?
- 2 How to properly charge a car battery: determine the full discharge
- 3 How to properly charge a car battery if it is completely discharged
- 4 How to properly charge a car battery with a charger: preparation 4.1 Before starting power, you must perform a number of preparatory steps:
- 8.1 Experts recommend adhering to the following rules:
When the engine is operating, the battery, regardless of its type, is powered by a generator installed in the car. To control the process, the generator uses a relay regulator. This part helps supply voltage to the battery, which is essential for normal operation of the battery.
As a rule, the voltage does not fall below the parameter 14.1 V. The full capacity is gained under the condition of a voltage of 14.5 V. From this we can conclude: the supplied voltage is capable of ensuring the operation of the battery, but it is not possible to fully charge the element. To prevent the battery from completely discharging, experts recommend periodically powering the battery from a full charger.
Real Capacity Check
Battery capacity represents the battery’s ability to store electricity for further use by the consumer. It is considered the most important numerical characteristic, making it possible to evaluate the battery life of a gadget. If you want to check the battery of an electric scooter, you should start with this indicator.
The mileage on one charge cannot be increased. But it is quite possible to find out by checking the battery capacity of an electric scooter, without even resorting to the help of specialists. It is important to distinguish the real capacity from that indicated in the technical characteristics of the device.
Why know the real capacity
The need to determine the actual battery capacity is explained with an example. So, if the device has a 14 Ah battery installed, and the engine requires 6.9 A to operate, the operating time of this device is 2 hours. When moving at a speed of 25 km/h, the user will be able to cover about 50 km in a couple of hours.
In a similar way, it will be possible to calculate the battery life of any other device.
To check the performance of an electric scooter battery, you will need to know the exact capacity. And although this characteristic is always indicated in the appendix to the device, its correspondence to reality can be disputed.
How does the real capacity differ from that indicated in the specifications?
It is also advisable to consider this issue with an example. Having chosen the Speedway 5 electric scooter, you should not trust the capacity indicated in the specifications (23.4 Ah). This indicator must be checked as soon as possible after purchasing the gadget, so as not to be surprised by new phenomena in the future. The same applies to Xiaomi electric scooters and other models. The actual capacity may be lower than that declared by the manufacturer for the following reasons :
- the battery already has a certain mileage;
- The battery was assembled by hand (parts were purchased separately).
The difference between a real capacity and an ideal one is that the first one has an error, a thermal coefficient and leaks.
Even though the true figure may be lower than stated, this does not mean that the device will not perform its functions or will only work for a few days. In reality, few users think about checking the battery, yet their gadgets work for a long time without problems. In addition, even with a reduced capacity, the service life of the electric scooter and its components, when used correctly, fully corresponds to that specified in the technical specifications from the manufacturer.
Scheme for checking real capacity
It is possible to find out the real indicator after a complete discharge-charge cycle . This suggests that when purchasing a new device, conducting a test will be problematic.
The principle of the test is to completely discharge the battery with constant electrical power. At the same time, the duration of the discharge should be noted. In the future, you need to subtract the current consumed from the power .
Let's look at an example: we connect a 1 A device to a battery with a capacity (specified by the manufacturer) of 5 Ah. If the battery is discharged not in 5 hours, but, for example, in 3, this indicates that the actual capacity is equal to 60% of the declared value, i.e. 3 Ah.
The technique can be used for any type of battery.
How long does it take to charge a car battery?
The car battery must be powered on board the car itself, and driver participation is usually not required.
But there are situations in which the car is used for long-distance driving, and the battery does not have time to charge. This condition affects service life and is not conducive to durability. To avoid such a problem, it is better to use automatic chargers equipped with an intelligent control system. However, the cost of such a product is quite high, so many motorists continue to use standard chargers.
As a rule, the battery works quite normally at air temperatures above 0°C. Starting the engine in such conditions is not difficult. If the temperature drops, the battery life is reduced several times. In cold weather, starting the engine requires more starting voltage, which is associated with a change in the consistency of the engine oil. It thickens, so the starter needs more power to rotate the crankshaft.
If the car is used within the city, often for short trips, then energy-demanding equipment is put into operation. In this case, the battery is forced to cope with an even greater load, and it is not able to receive the necessary charge from the generator and restore the expended energy. That is why you should regularly feed the battery with a special charger. If the battery is in good condition, you can repeat the procedure approximately once a year until frost arrives.
Try connecting directly
This method will require the use of special devices, without which it will be impossible to perform any actions. At a minimum, you will need a power supply with short circuit protection, a multimeter, a USB cable and a soldering iron.
How to connect to your phone directly:
- take an unnecessary battery case, which has a pad for contacts;
- the contacts are soldered to the required resistances, suitable specifically for this phone;
- connect the clamps located between the two outermost workers through a resistance to a cable having a negative charge;
- connect the wires from the power supply;
- turn on the gadget.
If after all the above steps the device does not work, then nothing will help. It will be easier to go and buy a new battery.
How to properly charge a car battery: determine the full discharge
If the motorist does not have the opportunity to find out the residual capacity, then identifying the moment of full charging is not problematic by using the capabilities of a voltmeter.
During power supply, the voltage at the battery terminals does not increase, which means the element has reached 100% capacity. If you are using a modern product, the terminal voltage should increase to 16.2V (a slight up or down error is allowed). The figure is given approximately, since the exact value largely depends on the supplied current, battery capacity, type of electrolyte and other parameters.
How to properly charge a car battery if it is completely discharged
Often, the owner of a vehicle is faced with a complete discharge of the battery due to his own carelessness.
To discharge the battery, it is enough to leave the vehicle with active headlights, interior lights on, or multimedia equipment running. In the morning the owner will discover that the battery is completely discharged. In view of this, the driver is interested in how to charge the car battery in this case? It is no secret that discharging the power component to 0% negatively affects the period of use. Manufacturers who produce such products strongly recommend monitoring their condition, because even a one-time failure to provide timely power can cause the device to fail. According to statistics, even the most expensive battery becomes inoperable after two discharges.
To understand how and how much to charge a car battery, you need to determine how much the capacity has dropped. After which you can connect the charger and charge it as indicated in the instructions. A universal option is to supply current at 0.1 of the entire component capacity.
How to properly charge a car battery with a charger: preparation
Before you start eating, you need to perform a number of preparatory steps:
- Remove condensation, corrosion, and dirt from the contacts. Use a soft cloth that can be soaked in either a specialized product or a soda solution. Remove dirt thoroughly;
- Check the condition of the electrolyte. If it is not enough, add clean water, preferably distilled, otherwise the battery will be damaged.
After the above activities, you can begin the nutrition process. This is done using direct current or voltage. Charging time may vary. This does not apply to universal memory devices.
Types and features of memory
The types of these devices are classified according to the following criteria:
- voltage reduction (transformer, pulse);
- purpose (charging, starting-charging);
- control (manual, automatic).
Pulse memory
The fundamental factor is the voltage-reducing element. This is what distinguishes transformer and pulse devices. The second devices are more expensive, more compact, more reliable, and have a more complex design. But testing them yourself is quite possible. Almost all pulse devices have automatic control and can be charging or starting-charging.
Transformer charger
The principle of operation of a transformer is familiar from a school physics course. This class of devices is popular due to its availability and maintainability. Due to the simplicity of each block, it has an uncomplicated design. Transformer charging can be start-charging, with manual or automatic control.
- electrical wiring components,
- fuse,
- switch,
- power step-down transformer,
- rectifier diode bridge,
- ammeter.
How to charge a car battery with a charger and how long will it take?
To understand how to charge a car battery with a charger, you should follow several rules.
The battery is a source of constant current. To avoid making mistakes when connecting, observe the polarity using the “+” and “-” markings indicated on the battery. The terminals on the charging have the same markings. “+” connects to “+”, “-” to “-”.
Important! Incorrect connection without observing polarity will damage the battery. Instead of energy, it will be discharged, up to a deep discharge. The consequences of the error can only be eliminated by installing a new element!
Before connecting to external charging, the battery should be removed and cleaned of accumulated dust and dirt. Acid leaks can be easily removed with a damp sponge and soda. Use a few tablespoons of baking soda and a glass of water.
If we are talking about a serviceable battery, unscrew the plugs to release the gases accumulated inside.
Use a controller with an old battery
Alternatively, you can use the controller from an old battery. There is a board responsible for charging the battery. Thanks to this, the supply of energy stops when the device has received a full charge and deep discharge is prevented.
If you solder the charger wires to the board and connect them to the terminals, there is a high chance that the gadget will consider the homemade assembly to be a battery and start up in normal mode.
The ideal and safe option is to desolder the board from the old battery and solder it into the new battery.
How to charge a car battery if there is no charger
The simplest method of powering a component is to light it from another machine.
After this, you need to travel by car for at least half an hour. The main success factor is considered to be crankshaft speed, varying from 2900 to 3200 rpm. At these parameters, the generator supplies direct current, which resuscitates the power source.
Important! This method is only relevant if the battery is partially discharged. If the battery is deeply discharged, it is still necessary to fully charge the battery.
How to charge a car battery if there is no charger
Car owners are often interested in how to properly charge a car battery without a charger.
Sometimes power supplies from computer equipment or mobile devices are used as a replacement. It is no secret that the main condition for supplying current is the presence of voltage, the value of which is slightly higher than the voltage at the battery outputs. Example: the component output parameter is 12 V, and the charger voltage should not be lower than 14 V. At the same time, the equipment voltage often does not exceed 7 V.
Suppose you have a charger with a voltage of 12 V on hand, there will be a problem in the form of the protection system in third-party power supplies triggering, so charging will not supply current to the recipient. If such protection is absent, the adapter is highly likely to fail due to excessive load.
Experts also do not recommend powering the battery from chargers that have the required voltage, but do not have the function of adjusting the parameters of the output current. That is why a car battery can only be charged using a specialized device.
Repair of transformer type charger for car battery
Checking the car battery charger
First of all, you should check the fastening of the wires; often it is enough to solder the wire in place and the charger will work.
First of all, you should check the fastening of the wires. If any of them are weakened or even broken, then you just need to solder the wire in place. In this case, repairs will be simple and cheap. If the wiring is in place and there are no other defects in the connections (it happens that some connecting plastic parts melt, in which case they should be replaced with new ones, or the elements should be secured in another convenient way), then we proceed to checking the components of the device separately. Let's check the voltage at the input, namely along the wire to the point of connection with the power transformer. If it is intermittent or absent, we are dealing with a malfunction in the power supply circuit. Let's check the fuse; in order for it to work, power must be present at both terminals. If deficiencies are identified in this area, then we eliminate them (we change the fuse, or the wiring or plug).
How to charge a car battery with a charger: maintaining safety
Having figured out how and how much to charge a car battery with a charger, you need to take care of your personal safety so that the starting process goes without unnecessary problems.
Experts recommend adhering to the following rules:
- When working with a battery, do not light a fire near it - this may cause an explosion of hydrogen, which is released by the component during the power process;
- Do not neglect to observe the polarity, as incorrect connection can cause a short circuit and complete inoperability of the battery;
- Try not to overcharge the battery, as in the process it will overheat and the internal contents will boil away;
- Feed the battery on a flat surface that will not deteriorate from the negative effects of acid, since in theory, vapors mixed with drops of acid can come out of the ventilation hole;
- Charge the component and do not leave it unattended;
- To supply power, the part does not need to be removed from the vehicle, but the hood should be kept open - this is safe;
- If the battery gets too cold, give it time to thaw;
- Follow the manufacturer's recommended current level. It should be equal to 10% of the battery capacity;
- The battery is powered only in a room where it is possible to open windows/doors for ventilation;
- How long does it take to charge a car battery with a charger? Until gas begins to form in the cells;
- At the end of the power supply, wait 20 minutes for gas to escape from the battery.
When, under normal driving scenarios, a recently revived power component shows symptoms of being low, it should be diagnosed and the electrical equipment inspected and tested.
In this case, there are several options: the battery has exhausted its entire resource and needs to be replaced, or the car system does not power it. By the way, restoring electrical equipment costs a little less than purchasing a new battery. Now we have a Telegram channel with the latest news. Subscribe and stay updated!
