How to charge a car battery at home. Is it possible to charge alkaline batteries? How to charge a AA battery with a charger?

It's no secret that autonomous portable sources of electricity can be conventional or battery-powered. In conventional batteries, both salt and alkaline, and lithium, the chemical reaction is irreversible, but in rechargeable batteries it can be extended by cyclic recharging. So what batteries can be charged and how to distinguish them from each other - in this article.

How do you know if the battery can be charged?

The first thing that distinguishes a battery from a regular battery is the inscription indicating the capacity in milliamperes per hour (mAh). Most often, the manufacturer puts it in large letters, so it is simply impossible not to notice it. The higher this number, the longer the battery will last.

Batteries that can be charged have a name specific to the battery - rechargeable, which translates as “rechargeable”. If the buyer sees the message do not recharge, this means that the device cannot be recharged.

The third difference is the price. Rechargeable batteries cost an order of magnitude higher than conventional batteries, and the price depends on their power and recharge cycles. However, ordinary ones also have high power, but they still cannot be recharged. Such energy carriers can be distinguished by the inscription “Lithium” present on them.

The voltage of conventional batteries is 1.6 V, and that of rechargeable batteries is 1.2 V. Having a special measuring device - a multimeter or voltmeter - can measure this indicator and thus understand what is in your hands.

An ordinary battery will also prove itself during operation: having ceased to function in a more powerful device, it can be placed in another device with lower power requirements and thus extend its life. Batteries last longer, discharge gradually, and when they have exhausted their entire resource, they will be ready for use again after recharging.

Those who are wondering whether it is possible to charge regular batteries should answer that they are not intended for this. In the best case, it will end in a mild disaster, and in a severe case, it will end in an explosion with all the ensuing consequences. Batteries with any type of electrolyte can be charged and this will answer the question of those who ask whether the corresponding lithium batteries can be charged. However, the imagination of folk craftsmen will not become scarce, and today many have found a way to charge ordinary batteries. So, those wondering whether it is possible to charge ordinary alkaline batteries should answer that it is possible. To do this, you need to put 3 dead alkaline batteries in the charger for 4 batteries, and 1 rechargeable battery on the right. In 5-10 minutes they will be ready to go.

It doesn’t matter how the battery died: whether you forgot to turn off the lights, were too carried away listening to music in the parking lot, or went on vacation for the whole summer. To charge the battery, you need to have an understanding of the theory and follow a few simple rules.

A little theory

Cars mostly use lead-acid batteries (WET). Their operating principle is based on the chemical reaction of lead plates with an electrolyte, which results in the generation of electricity. Over time, sulfation and destruction of the plates inevitably occur, as well as boiling away of the electrolyte, which reduces the capacity of the battery. And the battery can run out at the most inopportune moment.

How to check the battery

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The easiest way is to use the built-in charge indicator, which is found on most batteries. This is the same “light bulb”, which in reality is not a light bulb at all, but a green float ball moving in a transparent flask. When the level and density of the electrolyte is sufficient, the ball rises and we see a green indicator. If the float is not visible, you need to check the electrolyte and recharge the battery.

Another option is a multimeter. With its help, you can measure the voltage at the terminals and understand whether the battery is discharged or not. A fully charged battery should have 12.6 V or more. A voltage of 12.42 V corresponds to 80% charge, 12.2 V - 60%, 11.9 V - 40%, 11.58 V - 20%, 10.5 V - 0%.

The most in a reliable way is a load fork check. It can show the voltage drop under load, that is, the real charge level and, accordingly, the capacity. Any auto electrician or a store that sells batteries has such a device. And most likely they won’t even take money from you for this check.

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Having determined that the battery is valid, you can start charging, but first you need to prepare.

It is advisable to remove the battery from the car. If you don’t have time for this, disconnect it from the on-board network by disconnecting the negative wire.
After this, you need to clean the terminals from grease and oxide for good contact.
It doesn’t hurt to wipe the surface of the battery with a dry cloth, or better yet, one moistened with a 10% solution of ammonia or soda ash.
Also, do not forget to unscrew the plugs on each of the battery cans or remove the plug to ensure the free release of electrolyte vapors and to prevent excess pressure inside.
If the electrolyte level in any of the jars is insufficient, you need to add distilled water so that it completely covers the plates.

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The charging principle itself is simple: you just need to connect the wires from the charger to the battery terminals in accordance with the polarity and plug the plug into the socket. However, first you need to decide on the charging method. There are two main methods: DC charging and charging constant voltage.

The first is more effective, but takes place in several stages and requires control. The second is simpler, but only charges the battery up to 80%.

There is also a so-called combined method, in which participation on the part of the car owner is minimized. The disadvantage of this method is the need for a special charger with a fairly high cost.

DC charging

We set the current to 10% of the nominal capacity of the battery and charge until the voltage at the battery terminals rises to 14.3-14.4 V. For example, a battery with a capacity of 60 Ah should be charged with a current of no more than 6 A.
Next, we reduce the current by half (to 3 A) to reduce the intensity of boiling, and continue charging.
As soon as the voltage rises to 15 V, you need to halve the current again and charge the battery until the voltage and current values stop changing.

Constant voltage charging

Everything is much simpler here. You just need to set the voltage within 14.4–14.5 V and wait. Unlike the first method, with which you can fully charge the battery in a few hours (about 10), constant voltage charging lasts about a day and allows you to replenish the battery capacity only up to 80%.

Precautionary measures

Since charging a battery is a chemical process that releases an explosive mixture of hydrogen and oxygen, you need to be very careful and follow the rules:

Charge the battery in a well-ventilated area.
Do not use open flames or carry out any work that produces sparks.
If it is not possible to remove the battery from the car, disconnect the negative cable, or better yet, both.

Many people know that portable energy sources can be rechargeable or conventional. There is an opinion that if you knock the batteries against the wall or slightly change their shape, you can extend their life by several hours. And this is the absolute truth. However, there are other proven and original ways Charge the battery yourself at home.

How to know if you can recharge

The battery differs from an ordinary battery in capacity - mAh. Often the manufacturer makes this inscription in large letters. The higher this indicator, the longer the battery will last.

If, when purchasing, you saw the inscription “do not recharge,” then the item cannot be recharged. Another difference is the cost. Battery devices cost much more than conventional energy cells. Moreover, the cost is formed from recharging and power cycles.

It is noteworthy that folk craftsmen have learned to charge ordinary devices. They came up with a lot of ways to do this.

You should immediately pay attention to the fact that you can only recharge alkaline (alkaline) cells yourself. Saline ones are not suitable for this. In addition, recharging them can be dangerous and lead to to very undesirable consequences: explosion, electrolyte getting into the eyes, etc.

Charging can be done different ways. Therefore, there is no need to throw away the device immediately after it has become unusable.

Using special devices

Today there are many special charging devices on sale, for example, Battery Wizard. With the help of such a device you can charge ordinary finger devices several times. Consumers speak of this device as a profitable and economical purchase.

To recharge, the batteries are placed inside a special structure, which can have different shapes: square, rectangular, round, etc.

Then the device is connected to a 220 V power supply. After the elements become slightly warm, they need to be pull out immediately. If overheating occurs, it will lead to dire consequences.

Better buy special ones rechargeable batteries and charger included. Also pay attention to the manufacturer.

Danger of charging batteries

A large number of companies produce galvanic cells. You can buy them at any electronic goods and household equipment store. AA batteries contain caustic alkali. In a confined space, when electric current passes, the device can easily explode.

If the battery easily survived the charge/discharge cycle, then its capacity will decrease significantly during subsequent recharges. In addition, electrolyte often begins to leak, which can cause damage to the device installed in the battery.

Is it possible to extend the service life

Ordinary salt-type batteries do not function very well in cold and heat. Therefore, it is better not to use them in such weather conditions. The electrolyte inside is converted to gas or freezes, which has a detrimental effect on its conductivity.

A dead battery will last a little longer if its housing lightly press with pliers. But this must be done as carefully as possible to prevent damage.

Reagents often form into small lumps, which prevent the reaction from proceeding smoothly. inside the battery. To make the process easier, you can tap the AA battery on some durable surface. This will add about 6-7 percent power to the element.

You should also pay attention to the fact that alkaline devices tend to self-discharge. Therefore, when purchasing, you should take into account the date of manufacture. Old elements will quickly become unusable.

To achieve maximum battery life, should not be installed on one device different types. The same applies to installing new elements to old ones. It is better to always have an extra set in stock. When one loses its charge, it can be quickly and easily replaced. In this case, you will not need to think about whether the batteries can be charged.

During engine operation, the rechargeable battery (), regardless of the type (maintained or maintenance-free battery), is recharged from the car generator. To control the battery charge, a device called a relay regulator is installed on the generator.

The very operation of a car in winter often involves short trips, turning on a large number of energy-intensive equipment (heated mirrors, windows, seats, etc.) The load on the battery increases significantly. At the same time, the battery simply does not have time to charge from the generator and compensate for the losses spent on launches. Taking into account the above, it is optimal to fully charge the battery with a charger to 100% at least once a year before the onset of cold weather.

Let us add that in case of problems with starting the engine due to engine malfunctions (problems with fuel equipment, etc.), the owner has to turn the starter much longer and more intensely. In such cases, you will need to charge the battery with an external charger much more often.

Charging the battery with a charger

To know how to charge a maintenance-free car battery with a charger, as well as charge a maintenance-free battery, you must follow certain rules. The charger (charger, external charger VZU, jump charger) is actually a capacitor charger.

Car battery - source direct current. When connecting the battery, it is imperative to observe the polarity. For this purpose, the connection locations for the positive and negative terminals are indicated by the positive and negative signs (“+” and “–”) on the battery. The terminals on the charger have similar markings, which allows you to correctly connect the battery to the charger. In other words, the “plus” of the battery is connected to the “+” terminal of the charger, the “minus” on the battery is connected to the “-” output of the charger.

Please note that accidentally reversing the polarity will cause the battery to discharge instead of charging. It is also necessary to take into account that a deep discharge (the battery is completely drained) can in some cases lead to battery faulty, as a result of which it may not be possible to charge such a battery using a charger.

It is also necessary to take into account that before connecting to the charger, the battery must be removed from the car and thoroughly cleaned of possible contaminants. Acid stains can be easily removed with a damp cloth, which is moistened in a solution with soda. To prepare the solution, 15-20 grams of soda per 150-200 grams of water is enough. The presence of acid will be indicated by foaming of the specified solution when applied to the battery case.

As for serviceable batteries, the plugs on the “cans” for filling acid should be unscrewed. The fact is that during charging, gases are formed in the battery, which must be provided with a free exit. You should also check the electrolyte level. If the level drops below normal, distilled water is added.

What voltage to charge a car battery with?

Let's start with the fact that charging a battery involves supplying it with such a current that the battery does not have enough for a full charge. Based on this statement, you can answer questions about what current to charge car battery and also how long it takes to charge a car battery with a charger.

If a battery with a capacity of 50 Amp-hours is 50% charged, then at the initial stage the charging current should be set to 25 A, after which this current should be dynamically reduced. By the time the battery is fully charged, the current supply should stop. This principle of operation underlies automatic chargers, with the help of which car battery Charges on average in 4-6 hours. The only disadvantage of such memory devices is their high cost.

It is also worth highlighting charging device semi-automatic type and solutions that involve completely manual setting. The latter are the most affordable and widely available on sale. Taking into account that the battery is usually 50% discharged, you can calculate how long to charge a maintenance-free car battery, and also understand how long it takes to charge a maintenance-free car battery.

The basis for calculating the battery charging time is the battery capacity. Knowing this parameter, the charging time is calculated quite simply. If the battery has a capacity of 50 Ah, then to fully charge it is necessary to apply a current of no more than 30 Ah to such a battery. The charger is set to 3A, which will require ten hours to fully charge the battery with the charger.

To be 100% sure that the battery is fully charged, after 10 hours you can set the charger current to 0.5 A, and then continue charging the battery for another 5-10 hours. This charging method does not pose a danger to car batteries, which have a large capacity. The downside is the need to charge the battery for about a day.

To save time and quickly charge the battery, you can set the charger to 8 A, and then charge it for about 3 hours. After this period, the charging current is reduced to 6 A and the battery is charged with this current for another 1 hour. As a result, it will take 4 hours to charge. Note that this mode charging is not optimal, since it is advisable to charge the battery with a small current of up to 3 A.

Charging with a high current can lead to overcharging and excessive heating of the battery, resulting in a significantly reduced battery life. We also note that the use of battery charging methods, which are aimed at minimizing the negative process of plate sulfation, in practice does not have noticeable positive results.

Proper operation of the battery depending on its type (maintained and unmaintained), avoidance of deep discharge and timely charging using a charger allow the acid battery to operate properly for 3-7 years.

How to assess the condition and charge of a car battery

Proper charging and a number of conditions that must be observed during operation of a car battery can ensure normal engine starting even in extremely low temperatures. The main indicator of the condition of the battery is the degree of its charge. Next, we will answer how to find out if the car battery is charged.

Let's start with the fact that some battery models have a special color indicator on the battery itself, which indicates whether the battery is charged or discharged. It is worth noting that this indicator is a very approximate indicator, by which only the need for recharging can be determined with a certain degree of probability. In other words, the charge indicator may indicate that the battery is charged, but the starting current at low temperatures is not enough.

Another way to determine the battery charge level is to measure the voltage at the battery terminals. This method also allows a very rough assessment of the state and degree of charge. To measure, the battery will need to be removed from the car or disconnected from the charger, after which you need to wait an additional 7 hours. The outside air temperature is not of fundamental importance.

12.8 V - 100% charge;
12.6 V-75% charge;
12.2 V-50% charge;
12.0 V-25% charge;
A voltage drop of less than 11.8 V indicates a complete discharge of the battery.

You can also check the battery charge level without waiting. To do this, the voltage at the battery terminals must be measured by the load using so-called load forks. This method is more accurate and reliable. The specified plug is a voltmeter; a resistance is connected parallel to the voltmeter terminals. The resistance value is 0.018-0.020 Ohm for a battery with a capacity of 40-60 Ampere-hours.

The plug must be connected to the corresponding outputs on the battery, after which after 6-8 seconds. record the readings displayed by the voltmeter. Next, you can estimate the degree of charge of the battery by voltage using a load plug:

10.5 V - 100% charge;
9.9 V - 75% charge;
9.3 V - 50% charge;
8.7 V - 25% charge;
An indicator of less than 8.18 V means the battery is completely discharged;

You can also take measurements in the absence of a load plug without removing the battery from the car. The battery must be connected to the vehicle's on-board network. Then you will need to put a load on the battery by turning on the headlights and high beam headlights (for cars with standard halogen lamps). The headlight bulbs have a power of 50 W, the load is about 10 A. The voltage of a normally charged battery in this case should be about 11.2 V.

The next way to check the battery charge is to measure the voltage at the battery terminals at the moment when the internal combustion engine is started. These measurements can be considered reliable only if the starter is working normally.

At the time of start-up, the voltage reading should not be below 9.5 V. A voltage drop below this mark means that the battery is heavily discharged. In this case, it needs to be charged using a charger. This test method also allows you to identify starter problems. A known good and 100% charged battery is installed on the car, after which a measurement is made. If the voltage at the battery terminals at the time of starting drops below 9.5 V, then problems with the starter are obvious.

Finally, we add that measurements using different methods involve recording fluctuations in fractions of a volt. For this reason, increased demands are placed on the voltmeter. The accuracy of the device is extremely important, since the slightest error of even one or two percent will lead to an error in measuring the state of charge of the battery by 10 -20%. For measurements, it is recommended to use instruments with minimal error.

How to charge a completely dead car battery

A common cause of deep battery discharge is simple inattention. Often it is enough to leave the car with the lights or headlights, interior lighting or radio on for 6-12 hours, after which the battery is completely discharged. For this reason, many car owners are interested in the question of whether it is possible to restore a completely discharged battery.

As you know, completely discharging a battery greatly affects the battery life, especially when it comes to a maintenance-free battery. Manufacturers of car batteries indicate that even one full discharge is enough to cause the battery to fail. In practice, relatively new batteries can be restored at least 1 or 2 times after they are completely discharged without significant loss of performance properties.

First, you need to determine how much the battery is discharged using one of the above methods. You can also immediately charge the battery. Next, the completely discharged battery must be charged in the mode recommended by the battery manufacturer. The standard is to supply a charge current value at 0.1 of the total battery capacity.

A fully charged battery is charged with this current for at least 14-16 hours. For example, consider charging a battery with a capacity of 60 Amp-hours. In this case, the charge current should be on average from 3 A (slower) to 6 A (faster). A completely discharged car battery should be properly charged with the smallest current, and for as long as possible (about a day).

When the voltage at the battery terminals does not increase any more for 60 minutes. (assuming the same charging current is supplied), then the battery is fully charged. Maintenance-free batteries, when fully charged, assume a voltage value of 16.2±0.1 V. It should be borne in mind that this voltage value is standard, but it also depends on the battery capacity, charging current, electrolyte density in the battery, etc. Any voltmeter is suitable for measurement, regardless of the instrument’s error, since it is necessary to measure a constant, not an exact voltage.

How to charge a car battery if there is no charger

The most in a simple way Charging the battery involves starting the car using the “lighting” method from another car, after which you need to drive the car for about 20-30 minutes. For charging efficiency from the generator, either dynamic driving in high gears or driving in low gears is assumed.

The main condition is to maintain crankshaft speed at around 2900-3200 rpm. At the specified speed, the generator will provide the necessary current, which will allow you to recharge the battery. Note that this method is only suitable if the battery is partially, not deeply, discharged. Also, after the trip you will still need to fully charge the battery.

Quite often, car enthusiasts are interested in what else can be used to charge a car battery, besides a charger. Most often, chargers used to charge batteries are supposed to be used as a replacement. Cell phones, tablets, laptops and other gadgets. Let us immediately note that these solutions do not allow you to charge a car battery without a series of manipulations.

The fact is that the main condition for supplying current from the charger to the battery is that there must be a voltage at the output of the charger that will be greater than the voltage at the battery outputs. In other words, if the battery output voltage is 12 V, the charger output voltage should be 14 V. Regarding various devices, then the voltage of their batteries often does not exceed 7.0 V. Now imagine that you have a gadget charger at hand, which has the required voltage of 12 V. The problem will still be present, since the resistance of a car battery is measured in whole Ohms.

It turns out that connecting charging from mobile device to the battery outputs will actually represent a short circuit of the charging power supply terminals. The protection will be triggered in the unit, as a result of which such a charger will not supply current to the battery. In the absence of protection, there is a high probability of failure of the power supply from a significant load.

It is worth adding that the car battery should also not be charged from various power supplies that have a suitable output voltage, but they are structurally unable to adjust the amount of current supplied. Only a special charger for a car battery is a device that has at its output the required voltage and current to charge the battery. In parallel with this, it is possible to control a constant current value.

Homemade charger for a car battery

Now let's move from theory to practice. Let's start with the fact that you can make a battery charger from a power supply from a third-party device with your own hands.

Please note that these actions pose a certain danger and are performed entirely at your own peril and risk. The administration of the resource does not bear any responsibility, the information is presented for informational purposes only!

There are several ways to make a charger. Let's take a quick look at the most common ones:

Making a charger from a source that has a voltage of about 13-14 V at its output, and is also capable of providing a current of more than 1 Ampere. A laptop power supply is suitable for this task.
Charging from a regular household electrical outlet of 220 Volts. For this you will need to have semiconductor diode and incandescent lamps, which are connected in series in a circuit.

It should be borne in mind that the use of such solutions means charging the battery using a current source. As a result, constant monitoring of the time and moment of the end of the battery charge is required. This control is carried out using regular voltage measurements at the battery terminals or counting the time for which the battery is charged.

Remember, overcharging the battery leads to an increase in the temperature inside the battery and the active release of hydrogen and oxygen. Boiling of the electrolyte in the battery “banks” causes the formation of an explosive mixture. If an electrical spark or other ignition source occurs, the battery may explode. Such an explosion can cause fires, burns and injuries!

Now let’s focus on the most common method of making a charger for a car battery yourself. We are talking about charging a laptop from the power supply. To complete the task, certain knowledge, skills and experience in the field of assembling simple electrical circuits. Otherwise optimal solution will contact specialists, purchase a ready-made charger or replace the battery with a new one.

The manufacturing scheme of the charger itself is quite simple. A ballast lamp is connected to the power supply, and the outputs of the homemade charger are connected to the battery outputs. A lamp with a small rating will be required as a “ballast”.

If you try to connect the power supply to the battery without using a ballast light bulb in the electrical circuit, then you can quickly damage both the power supply itself and the battery.

You should select the right lamp step by step, starting with the minimum ratings. To begin with, you can connect a low-power turn signal lamp, then a more powerful turn signal lamp, etc. Each lamp should be tested separately by connecting it in a circuit. If the light is on, then you can proceed to connecting an analogue with more power. This method will help not damage the power supply. Finally, let’s add that the battery charge from such a homemade device will be indicated by the burning of the ballast lamp. In other words, if the battery is charging, then the lamp will light, even if very dimly.

New battery must be fully charged and operational, that is, it requires immediate installation on the car to begin further operation. Before purchasing, it is necessary to check the battery according to a number of parameters:

hull integrity;
voltage measurement at the outputs;
checking electrolyte density;
date of manufacture of the battery;

At the initial stage, it is necessary to remove the protective film and inspect the case for cracks, drips and other defects. If the slightest deviation from the norm is detected, it is recommended to replace the battery.

Then the voltage is measured at the terminals of the new battery. You can measure voltage with a voltmeter, but the accuracy of the device does not matter. The voltage should not be below 12 Volts. A voltage reading of 10.8 Volts indicates that the battery is completely discharged. This indicator is unacceptable for a new battery.

The density of the electrolyte is measured using a special fork. Also, the density parameter indirectly indicates the battery charge level. The final stage of testing is determining the release date of the battery. Batteries that were produced 6 months ago. You should not purchase back or more from the day of the planned purchase. The fact is that a ready-to-use battery has a tendency to self-discharge. For this reason, for long-term storage the battery must be prepared in advance, but in this case the battery can no longer be considered a new finished product.

It turns out that the answer to the question of whether a new car battery needs to be charged will be negative. There is no need to charge a new battery. If the battery you plan to purchase is discharged, then it may simply be old, used, or have a manufacturing defect.