Do Car Batteries Come Fully Charged – Introduction and Need

Every car owner understands the importance of having a good battery. Without it, the car will not start or operate well. And that is why you may need to get a new battery when the current one starts showing signs of slow operation or loss of power too quickly.

However, before you buy a new battery, there are several things you need to understand. Car batteries come with specific shelf lives and self-discharge. Today will be talking about the charge state of a good new car battery.

Do New Car Batteries Come Fully Charged?

Are you thinking of buying a new battery, but you need to know what to look for? Well, whether you get it from your local retail store or it's delivered from an online store, you must check its health and charge. These are the most important aspects of the battery.

Unfortunately, most buyers will focus more on the brand and the price, ending up with low-quality and less efficient batteries. The first question you need to ask is whether your battery should come fully charged.

The answer is yes. New car batteries come from dealers and distributors when they are fully charged. Therefore, you can buy it off the shelf and start using it immediately.

However, don't expect all batteries to come fully charged. There are some exceptions, including:

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Some batteries come uncharged from the factory. It will be okay when you get a new battery that is completely empty. Such batteries are designed to be activated by the user. Luckily, the dealer will have the machine ready to charge for you when you want to use it in your car.

?Unusually sized batteries. Normal-sized batteries often come with full charge since they don't require any special fixes to get them running. However, there are some unusually sized batteries that must be specially processed before installing in a car.

Find out from the distributor if the battery is charged before buying. You have all the right to ask for such information. If it's not charged, let them charge for you before it's delivered so that you can start using it immediately. We recommend buying your battery from a reliable source, especially when you are getting it online – many shady dealers out there will easily sell you spoiled batteries.

Why do car batteries come charged from the factory?

There are several reasons why car batteries must come charged from the factory. The main ones include:

To avoid degradation. A car battery comes with highly reactive components in the electrodes and the electrolyte. The reaction is higher when the battery is empty than when it's appropriately charged. Perhaps you have heard that your battery must be at least 50% charged when you store for an extended period. The same thing happens with new batteries to keep them from degradation.

For quality control. It is hard to tell if a battery is good if it comes from the factory empty. It must be charged to discover its characteristics and state, service life, and state detection.

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These terminologies may seem a bit strange. They mean a new car battery must be fully charged to measure its performance. It undergoes processes like:

Measuring the charge capacity in milliamps.

Checking the voltage in volts.

Testing the depth of discharge per charge percentage to know the safes percentage.

Checking for the rated lifespan to ensure the battery performs as per the status when in use and when in storage.

Everything that involves a car battery's safe and efficient use must be tested well. And that can only happen if the battery is charged. You should not easily accept a battery that is not charged from the store unless there is a good explanation.

Can you test a car battery?

Yes. It's always advised that you test the battery before buying. This will help you to know its remaining charge and the ability to start the engine.

The best way to do this is by using a multimeter. This electronic instrument measures volts, amps, and internal resistance in an electrical source.

Follow these steps to use one:

Turn on the DC power on the multimeter to 20v

Attach it to the battery's red (positive) terminal.

Attach it to the black (negative) terminal of the battery.

To read the results, you need to know what voltages are the best for that battery. 12.6V is the full charge. 12.5v means the battery has a healthy life and will start the car. 12.1 to 12.4V mean the battery is partially discharged and can be recharged through the alternator. Such a battery will easily degrade if it gets the maintenance it requires.

Do I Need to Charge a New Car Battery?

It depends on the status of the battery when you buy it. If the battery is empty, you will need to charge it using a trickle charger before it can serve you.

However, as stated above, a new car battery will probably come fully charged. You may not need to charge it before use since it will have enough power to start the engine. In that case, there is no need to worry about charging.

Nevertheless, the alternator automatically charges the battery when the engine starts. So, even if the battery was low but had enough cranking power, it will start charging as you drive unless the alternator is damaged.

How Long Does a New Car Battery Need to Charge?

The time it takes to charge a new car battery depends on the battery's status when you start charging. Some batteries will only take a few minutes to be full, while others will take much longer.

Generally, charging a regular car battery using a charge of around 4 to 8 amps will take around 10 to 24 hours. But if you boost the battery to start the engine, it will take 2 to 4 hours and be full.

Electric car batteries will charge to 80% in about 30 minutes. This is one of the reasons why they are so efficient. Even so, charging it slowly increases its lifespan and efficiency.