Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: The preparation
• Method 2 of 3: Charging the battery
• Method 3 of 3: In an emergency situation start your battery with jumper cables
• Warnings

Car batteries are charged by the engine of your car, usually you can use a battery for up to five years before it needs to be replaced. But even the best batteries are empty every now and then - for example, if you've left your lights on. That can be very annoying, but fortunately it is very easy to recharge your battery.

To step

Method 1 of 3: The preparation

1. Determine what type of battery you have. You need to know this to determine what type of charger you need. Normally, somewhere on the battery it is stated what type of battery it is. If you can't find it, check the battery manufacturer's website. Also check the voltage, which is stated on the battery, or else in the car's user manual. There are, among others, the following battery types:
   • Maintenance free
   • Wet cel
   • AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat)
   • Gel battery
   • VRLA battery (recombination battery)
2. Buy a battery charger. Buy a battery charger that suits your battery type and intended use. Most chargers work on all types of battery, except wet cell batteries. There are fast chargers, but also chargers that take longer, after which the battery runs out less quickly. The newer digital models indicate how full the battery is and stop automatically when the battery is fully charged. Older simple chargers must be manually disconnected in time to stop charging in order to avoid dangerous situations.
   • Read the battery charger's user manual to make sure you are using the charger correctly.
3. Remove the battery from your car, if necessary. In most cases you can charge the battery while the battery is still in the car. If that does not work, first turn off all electronics in the car and remove the grounded pole first.
4. Clean the battery terminals. Remove grease and dirt with a little baking soda on a damp cloth or scouring pad. The terminals must be clean so that they can make good contact with the battery charger terminals.
   • Never touch the terminals with bare hands, especially if they have white powder on them. That powder is usually dried sulfuric acid, which can burn your skin if you come into contact with it.
5. Place the battery charger correctly. Move the charger as far away from the battery as possible, as far as the cables will reach. Never place the charger on top of the battery. And always do this in a well-ventilated area.
6. Add distilled water to the cells of the battery if necessary. Only do this if the manufacturer prescribes it for this type of battery, and in that case follow the instructions carefully.
7. Remove the cell covers. Some batteries have caps on top of the battery or under a yellow strip. These must be removed so that gas that builds up during charging can escape.

Method 2 of 3: Charging the battery

1. Plug the charger into an electrical outlet. Only use grounded sockets, otherwise you risk fire.
2. Place the clamps on the corresponding battery terminals. The positive terminal is usually red and can be attached to the positive terminal with the plus sign (+). The other clamp is usually black and can be attached to the negative terminal with the minus sign (-). Do not allow the clamps to touch each other or other pieces of metal on or near the battery.
3. Turn on the battery charger and set the charger to the desired voltage. Read the owner's manual for the car or battery to determine which voltage is appropriate. Start charging.
4. Keep an eye on the battery for a few minutes to see if everything is going well. Watch for sparks, smoke, or leaking liquids. If everything seems to be in order, the battery will be charged properly.
5. Leave the battery charger and battery alone until the battery is full, which could take all night. Some chargers can do it much faster, but it's better to use a slower charger and be patient.
6. Check how full the battery is. If the charger says that the battery is fully charged, or if the pointer shows less than an ampere, then you are done.
7. First unplug the battery charger before removing the clamps. Replace the caps on the battery and place the battery back in the car if necessary.

Method 3 of 3: In an emergency situation start your battery with jumper cables

1. Read more about starting your car with jumper cables. If your battery is empty and you do not have access to a battery charger, you can use another car to start the car.

Warnings

• Batteries contain acid. Do not damage a battery and never leave a battery in the sun.
• Do not touch conductive metal without proper hand protection.
• Check that the clamps are attached to the correct pole: red on the positive pole (+), black on the negative pole (-).