Car Battery Charging Voltage- Status, Value, and Current

Cars bring a lot of convenience to our lives. However, there can be major issues and the worst part is that you do not get to know about everything as soon as it starts. You only get to know about the situation when it is very near to being useless.

3.2V 20A Low Temp LiFePO4 Battery Cell -40℃ 3C discharge capacity≥70% Charging temperature：-20~45℃ Discharging temperature: -40~+55℃ pass acupuncture test -40℃ maximum discharge rate：3C

READ MORE

It is a common case with car batteries. There could be an issue with the alternator, and you will stay unaware of the issue. The battery will hold some charging and after that charging is used then you will get to know about the issue. So, it is best to learn about car battery charging.

Car Battery Charging Voltage at Idle

Even when your car engine is started the battery can have different voltage readings. The reason behind this issue is that there could be different issues with the alternator. So, here are some of the different scenarios regarding the car battery charging voltage when the engine is idle.

An idle engine is an engine when there are no additional electronics turned on and the car engine is started but the car is idle and not moving.

The Right Amount of Car Battery Charging Voltage at Idle

When the car is idle the charging voltage must be between 18.8 volts and 14.3 volts. It is the voltage reading that you get when the car is charging the battery in the right way. In this case, there are no issues with the alternator, or any electronics related to the charging part whatsoever.

The Low Amount of Car Battery Charging Voltage at Idle

There could be a case where the alternator is charging the car battery, but it is not doing things in the right way. There could be an issue with the alternator, charging electronic circuit, or even a loose wire. In this case, the voltage is no way near to being 13.8 volts or above. It is usually near 12 volts or a little higher.

Car Battery Voltage at Idle If There is An Issue

Sometimes there is a major issue with the alternator of your car. It causes charging issues and sometimes the battery is not even being charged when the car is idle. In that case, the voltage of the car battery will not be more than 12 volts. In some cases, it can be near to being 11 volts as well.

Low Temperature High Energy Density Rugged Laptop Polymer Battery Battery specification: 11.1V 7800mAh -40℃ 0.2C discharge capacity ≥80% Dustproof, resistance to dropping, anti - corrosion, anti - electromagnetic interference

READ MORE

Car Battery Charging Voltage Too High

Sometimes the car battery shows signs of high voltage charging. Here the case is not like the other testing cases where you can easily test the battery and the charging voltage without any issues. In the case your car battery charging voltage is very high you need to go through the following process.

How to check if the car battery charging voltage is too high.

When you start the engine of your car you will note that the voltage rises above 13.8 volts and stays under 14.3 volts. If the voltage stays within this limit, then there could be a case that the charging voltage is high. If the voltage rises above 14.4 volts, then you can be pretty sure that there is a voltage-high charging issue.

Now back to the case where charging voltage was within the limits, you need to check the voltage of the battery after the car charges it. If the voltage is 12.9 volts or above, then there surely is an issue of high voltage car battery charging.

Car Battery Charging Voltage Too High Symptoms

Getting to know about the car battery charging voltage is not only possible with the help of a meter. You can also look for a few symptoms about the case which will tell you that your car battery is being charged with too high a voltage. Some of the symptoms that will tell you about too high voltage car battery changing are:

The battery getting too hot while charging

The battery of the car bulging on the sides

The electrolyte of car battery evaporating too soon

Corrosion on the terminals of the battery

Car Battery Charging Voltage and Current

The voltage of the car battery and the charging current tell a lot about how your car is charging the battery and how much you can rely on that battery. Both the current and voltage have different significance for the car battery and here is all you need to know about the car battery charging current and voltage.

Car Battery Charging Voltage Significance

While the car battery is being charged you cannot tell a lot about its voltage. However, when the charging process is complete the voltage reading of the car battery tells a lot about how the battery is performing. Checking the battery voltage after the charging process tells the following information about the battery.

12.6 volts on the meter will tell that the battery has 100% charging.

12.4 volts on the meter will tell that the battery has 75% charging.

12.2 volts on the meter will tell that the battery has 50% charging.

12.0 volts on the meter will tell that the battery has 25% charging.

The voltage reading below 12 volts tells that the battery needs charging

Battery voltage anywhere near 9 or 10 volts tells that the battery needs to be replaced

Car Battery Charging Current Significance

More charging current of the battery means that the battery will be charged faster. However, if this current value rises above the significant value, then it can harm the car battery while charging. Different alternators charge the car battery at different rates. The current ranges from 40 amps to 120 amps depending on the model of the car and the charging requirements.

Conclusion

When the car battery charging voltage drops even by the smallest bit it can cause a huge difference in terms of performance. So, it is the best practice to keep track of the charging voltage of the battery. Well, it is not only the battery that you need to care for as the alternator has significance in this part as well. This was all about the car battery charging voltage status that you needed to know.