22 Years' Battery Customization
Mar 15, 2022 Pageview：714
Have you needed to jump-start your car battery lately? Or has been acting a bit sluggish. It might be high time you connected it to a charger.
Not everyone knows how to use a trickle charger. And perhaps you are wondering what this means and how it will give your battery enough juice to keep going.
If it's your first time, you might have several questions. For example, if it's OK to charge your car battery while it's still connected.
You are right to be concerned. One of the last things you want is ruining your car's electronic system. Instead of spending thousands of money fixing it, all you need is to learn how the system works.
And that's why we have prepared this article. We want to help you charge your battery safely.
Is It OK to Charge the Car Battery While Connected?
It's OK to charge a car battery while still connected. However, it all depends on the charger you are using.
There are so many chargers on the market today. Some are good, while others don't promise the best services. It's always good to consider the charger before leaving it connected over while charging.
For the most part, a modern smart charger with microprocessor control will give you the best service. Such chips do not control older chargers. It's, therefore, a bad idea to charge without disconnecting it first.
There are several things you should know about the whole process, though. Let's dig a little deeper.
Only Use a Smart Charger
If you must charge your car battery while still connected, only use a smart charger. This is the takeaway of this article. You need a modern microprocessor-controlled charger. You will find these charges everywhere.
Try searching on Amazon today, and you won't find anything other than a smart charger. And they are q quite affordable, durable and very handy.
We are not saying you should pick just anything that pops up. There are different types of smart chargers. And perhaps finding a great option could be equally a bigger challenge.
A smart charger is basically a mini-computer that can run real-time diagnostics on the battery. It will then adjust the charge needed and provide the exact amount.
Smart chargers come with plenty of incredible features. They will protect your car's electronics from any damage.
Think about the alternator if you are still not sure if you should charge a connected battery. This is the component that is constantly charging the battery. You will never hear about disconnecting batteries for the alternator to work.
Still, you must understand that using the wrong charger can cause more harm than good. It's the reason many experts recommend that you disconnect the battery first.
Many people charge their car batteries from time to time while connected. We have not heard of any serious issues affecting them.
However, many will recommend disconnecting the battery if you use an old charger. Chargers that don't come with real-time diagnostics will not tell when there is an issue with the charging process.
Chargers that are not smart don't turn off when the battery is full. They just keep pumping more and more electricity. The results are overcharging and potential harm to your battery.
Smart chargers will either turn off or enter the "float"/"maintenance" mode. This standby state allows the charger to emit only a tiny amount of current to keep the juice level up when the battery starts to discharge.
How to Charge a Car Battery When Still Connected
Having a smart charger is not enough. You will also need a smart move to learn how to use the charger safely.
The first thing you will need is safety glasses. Make sure every safety gear is well set in place before continuing.
Step 1: Connecting the Charger
Start by connecting the charger's red (positive) lead to the red of the battery. Connect the charger's black (negative) lead to that of the battery.
Step 2: Plug the Charger into a Power Source
Ensure the charger is unplugged when connecting in step one. Ensure you connect well to the power source.
Step 3: Switch on the Charger
Most smart chargers come with on and off buttons. After plugging, therefore, you must switch it on. It's just like switching on any machine. You need this process if the charger starts working automatically.
Step 4: Disconnect the Charger
Wait for the charging process to complete. The smart charger will indicate the status. You can then go o and unplug from the power source. Wait for a few seconds, and then disconnect the charger from the battery.
Why hook the charger before plugging and unplug before hooking? This step is to remove any chance of the charger sparking the battery terminals when connecting. Some chargers advertise that they will not spark, but you should not believe such.
Can I Charge My Car Battery Without Disconnecting It?
Yes. But you will need a smart charger for this. As stated above, there are many smart chargers on the market today.
When choosing, make sure you go for a charger with the best features. Make sure it will enter the float or maintenance mode once the charging process is done.
Go for chargers that don't automatically enter the "desulfation" mode. It might seem that this controlled overcharge is harmless. But it can be pretty annoying if that is not what you want.
Do not pick a charger that is oversized for your battery. This can cause overcharging and damage the battery.
Can You Leave a Trickle Charger on All the Time?
Generally, trickle chargers of car batteries work at a slow controlled rate. Such is the best charger because it gives your battery enough time to charge. It also protects the battery from damage.
Most modern batteries are designed to stay connected to the battery for a long time. This feature keeps the battery from exploding.
It can take about 20hours to trickle charge a car battery to full. You should disconnect immediately.
Overcharging a car battery with a trickle charge can damage the battery. If you want to keep it connected, use a regular to stop it once charging is done. Some smart chargers come with this feature.
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