How long should I idle my car to recharge the battery?
If you find any of these cars start easily (the starter spins quickly), battery status is likely quite good, and a short drive or idling for 10 to 15 minutes may be adequate to keep the battery full, if done once every two weeks. If slower cranking is noted, a half hour drive once a week should do the trick.
Will a battery recharge at idle?
The answer is ‘YES’, yes the car battery does charge while the engine is idling. As long as the mechanical action of the alternator is taking place; that is, being turned by the engine crankshaft. Then the alternator is producing AC current, thereby charging the battery while your car is idling.
Can a bad voltage regulator drain the battery?
Symptom A: Dead Battery A bad voltage regulator can severely damage your car battery, causing it to stop working.
What is the fastest way to ruin a car battery?
7 Things That Can Drain Your Car Battery
- You left your headlights on.
- Something is causing a “parasitic draw.”
- Your battery connections are loose or corroded.
- It’s extremely hot or cold outside.
- The battery isn’t charging while you drive.
- You’re taking too many short drives.
- Your battery is old.
Can a trickle charger keep a car battery charged?
A battery tender uses internal sensors to monitor the charge level of your car battery so it can adapt how it charges it. This isn’t the same as a trickle charger which provides a battery with a small amount of power periodically to try to keep it charged. This can destroy a battery and it frequently does so.
How can I keep my car battery charged when not in use?
If you don’t want to have to worry about your car battery being depleted while it sits there is a very simple solution, you can disconnect the negative battery cable from the battery terminal.
What should I do if my smart charger wont charge my battery?
Take your battery to your smart charger and hook it up again. The battery should have enough of a superficial surface charge to trigger the battery charger to start the charging process! If it doesn’t work, you can try the process a few more times before you give up.
Can a car charger charge both batteries at once?
In the case with the battery connected to the running vehicle, the alternator is what is charging both batteries. Still, you shouldn’t allow this to go very long without disconnecting as it is a crude way to charge a battery. Remember, we’re not looking to charge the battery.