How to charge the battery of a car?
Even if it seems "fit", a battery can discharge for various reasons. Prolonged parking, high-temperature fluctuations or forgetting to switch off the headlights result in a gradual loss of energy. If this happens, it is not always helpful to replace the battery. Simple reloading allows most of the time to remedy the problem. How to do it?
Do you own cables? It's time to take them out:
Starter cables connect two cars together to charge a weak battery. Simply position a second vehicle at a distance sufficient to connect the battery to battery, and then run the engine of the second vehicle. This usually provides the necessary energy for the "broken down" vehicle to start the engine. It will take some time to bring the necessary energy. Once the engine is started, rolling will reload the battery properly.
At home, use a battery charger:
The battery charger is a classic. Operating on a 220 volts outlet, it is not nomadic and must be connected to the home. Very easy to use, simply connect the positive and negative terminals of the battery, then turn it on so that the charge starts. Depending on the condition of the battery to be recharged and the power of the charger, it may take some time for a full charge (sometimes a whole night).
The battery starter (also called booster): nomadic or not:
Battery starters are widespread and there are all kinds of them. This goes from the big booster which plugs on 220 volts and allows in a few seconds to revitalize a discharged battery, the nomadic starter working with the help of a battery. These devices are equipped with cables that come directly connect to the battery to provide a source of power powerful enough to start a car.
However, be careful to choose the model corresponding to your vehicle, because there are several types and at all prices. For diesel engines, prefer a more powerful model with a more powerful battery. Remember to recharge it from time to time. Even if the batteries of these devices are more and more efficient, they end up unloading after a long period of non-use.
For some time now we also see appear in the trade of "mini booster" very compact that ranks everywhere. They have the shape of a small battery and are recharged via a USB plug. Their powers vary depending on the model, but they are very effective to reinvigorate a tired battery.
However, choose a model whose power is compatible with your engine. Thanks to the different connections available, they also allow charging a mobile phone or even a computer.
Be careful when connecting:
If the latest generation accessories have a protection device in case of pole reversal, this is not necessarily the case of older models. It is therefore important to respect the polarity at the time of connection. As these devices are normalized, the red color cable is for the positive (+) terminal, while the black cable will connect to the negative (-) terminal. If in doubt, be aware that the positive terminal of the battery is the larger of the two.
Before replacing a battery that seems to be showing signs of weakness, start charging it. This is usually enough to get battery in shape. On the other hand, if the problem persists, it will be better to replace it.
