Mar 23, 2023 Pageview:303
A dead battery in your car or device can be frustrating. You can get the power you need from it to run your operation, and that is never something to smile about.
There are many reasons why your battery may die. And when it happens, you can do very few things to restore the juice and have your battery in the best condition. It all depends on the exact status of your “dead” battery.
One of the biggest questions we have come across is whether you can recharge a dead battery. The internet is full of answers, but not all are reliable.
And that is why we created this guide. We want to discuss whether you can still get the dead battery to work and how to do it safely.
Keep reading.
Can a Totally Dead Battery Be Recharged?
There are various answers to this question; hence, we cannot just say yes or no. You first need to know what it means by a “dead battery.” This is a term that can be quite confusing.
When someone says, “I have a dead battery,” they often mean a depleted or drained battery, which is low on charge and cannot perform its normal functions. You will not have enough power from the battery to start the engine or run your device.
There are different levels of battery ‘death.’ We have already looked at the first state, where the battery is just run out of juice due to normal use. In this case, the battery can be easily revived a number of times during its lifespan.
At the end of this life, the battery will be truly dead, and no amount of charging will revive it. You may have to replace the whole battery or get new cells to keep working for a longer time.
It is crucial to know just how dead the battery is before you can determine whether it can be recharged. You will need a voltmeter, an affordable and handy device for checking and diagnosing battery capacity and voltage.
If your battery is healthy, it will read 12.4 to 12.7 volts on the terminals. This is a fully charged and healthy car battery. But if you get anything below 12.4 volts, you won’t be able to start your car.
Even charging an over-depleted car battery may not be possible, and you will be forced to jumpstart it. This will give it enough juice to start the car and allow the alternator to charge it.
At a certain point, your battery will be truly dead and cannot be revived, no matter how much you try. Charging such a battery is a waste of time. Instead, consider investing in a new and higher-quality battery.
Can a completely dead battery be recharged?
Reversing hard sulfation is extremely hard. But then, if you have a dead battery, you can recharge it using several methods that we shall discuss below. Remember, it all comes down to just how dead the battery is.
Here is what to do:
A Fully Depleted Battery
As stated above, many of us refer to a fully depleted battery as dead. Such a battery will not give you much work because it does not have the juice to do anything.
When a battery drops below 12 volts, you should not attempt charging with the alternator. These methods will not even work because your car may not start as you expect it to. The alternator is designed to work with a reasonably healthy battery.
Even if you get the car to start, driving around to charge the battery means putting too much pressure on the alternator. This might damage it and affect other parts of the car. While this is not an alternative, you can get the battery to start working again by:
Jumpstarting or using a dedicated charge. You can safely revive a completely dead battery using a dedicated charger. Also, you can connect to a donor car and jumpstart it before you let the alternator take over.
Distilled water. Check the battery acid/electrolyte to ensure it is at the right level. Sometimes adding in water should give it a few more kicks. But this is only possible for wet batteries and not sealed ones.
If the battery is completely dead and cannot be revived, these methods will not work. The accumulation of hard sulfation is irreversible, which makes it impossible to charge the battery. Also, if your battery has been left in the “dead” status for an extended period, the lead sulfate creates hardened crystals that cannot be broken using a charger.
How Long Can a Car Battery Be Dead and Still Be Recharged?
Battery maintenance is extremely crucial if you want it to last for a long time. And part of proper maintenance is regularly charging it. If you keep your car in storage for an extended period, ensure you drive around to recharge it at least once every two weeks, depending on the battery status.
As stated above, leaving a battery dead for a long time leads to build of hard crystals that the alternator cannot break down. You will need to replace the battery as soon as possible. Never attempt charging such a battery.
If your battery has been in this condition for more than three months, you may not find it any more useful. In short, you can still recharge the battery if it has been dead for not over three months.
How Many Times Can a Car Battery Be Recharged?
All batteries come with a specific lifespan. This is the number of charge-discharge cycles the battery can safely endure before running out of capacity.
Most car batteries can be recharged 500 to 1000 times. More powerful batteries, like lithium-ion phosphate, are used in EVs and other electronic equipment that can last for more than 5000 cycles.
In short, it depends on the battery type and its strength. Also, your user conditions, like temperature, will affect the battery’s lifespan.?If the battery is completely dead, the best way to handle it is by replacement.
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