How long to charge a car battery ?

[NightCrawler]

The battery was dead for awhile and the charger is a 10 amp battery charger.

I charged it for 4-5 hours or so but it still won't crank the car over. The lights work and everything but not enough cold cranking amps.


The battery wasn't fully charged yet but I removed it because I really needed to move the car.


PS: This is a HUGE battery.

 

[MazerRackham]

Chearge it for 2004502! HAPPY HENA:SLK YEARAS!

 

[SharkySimo]

Depends on the battery.... MOST car batteries charge for no less than 12 hours.

 

[Aimster]

Mine takes 35 minutes .... you sure you have it connected on properly and the key turned one?
(I turn the car on with it connected)

 

[amdskip]

Yeah, does it have a setting for cranking it over? I would just let it charge overnight and try it in the morning. The setting should be something like boost for starting it but don't fry the thing with it.

 

[Goosemaster]

Find the metal bar that holds the battery in palce. Remove both bolts. Remove battery .Reattach. Done.

 

[MrYAK]

Originally posted by: SharkySimo
Depends on the battery.... MOST car batteries charge for no less than 12 hours.

You could also do the old jump start method. Have a friend pull up in front of you hook up the jumpers(remember, connect both pos. and neg. on their car, connect the pos. to the batt. and the neg. to the frame of yer car) only have their car running, turn the key to the run position, turn every thing you can on, this will get juice running through the battery, wait......then try it. this has always worked for me if i need a jump. once you got the car running, leave it on for a while so the alternater can charge the battery.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: MrYAK

Originally posted by: SharkySimo
Depends on the battery.... MOST car batteries charge for no less than 12 hours.

You could also do the old jump start method. Have a friend pull up in front of you hook up the jumpers(remember, connect both pos. and neg. on their car, connect the pos. to the batt. and the neg. to the frame of yer car) only have their car running, turn the key to the run position, turn every thing you can on, this will get juice running through the battery, wait......then try it. this has always worked for me if i need a jump. once you got the car running, leave it on for a while so the alternater can charge the battery.

Sometimes, if the battery is dead, you'll still have to leave it charging for a bit.

Either way, if you are cranking the thing, make sure a running vehicle is attached by the batteries or you will suck the life out of your bat and jsut waste time if it is being problematic.

Also, there is no sense in earing down your starter. In fact, your electronics might heat up or whatever, so let it charge up, and don;t crank it for extended periods of time. I only mention thisbecause one of my relays heats up like crazy makign the car dead weight until it cools. I would think that this might be a universal problem for older automobieles, but promise nothing.

 

[olds]

It's possible that the battery is ruined and can't accept enough of a charge to start the car. What is the specific gravity of the electrolyte?

 

[DrPizza]

Jumpstart car... drive to Autozone... have them check the battery to see if it's dead or just needs to be charged up.

 

[NightCrawler]

I'm using a neighbors old Kmart 10 amp car charger, he bought 20 years ago. The battery was completely dead. After 4-5 hours it was back to life some in that the lights were lighting up.

{{{{ I wrote this at 2 AM but fell asleep til 6:45 AM so it's a little late getting posted }}}}

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: NightCrawler
I'm using a neighbors old Kmart 10 amp car charger, he bought 20 years ago. The battery was completely dead. After 4-5 hours it was back to life some in that the lights were lighting up.

{{{{ I wrote this at 2 AM but fell asleep til 6:45 AM so it's a little late getting posted }}}}

:thumbsup:

 

[flot]

10 amps for 4-5 hours should be plenty.

 

[NightCrawler]

Dead Battery.....way to start the new year.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
It's possible that the battery is ruined and can't accept enough of a charge to start the car. What is the specific gravity of the electrolyte?

Might not be possible with newer sealed batteries.

ZV

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
It's possible that the battery is ruined and can't accept enough of a charge to start the car. What is the specific gravity of the electrolyte?

Might not be possible with newer sealed batteries.

ZV

True. Where does it say it was sealed? I must have skimmed by it.

 

[The Stigenator]

well the 10amph charger will take a minimum of 12-24hrs to fully charge. If its got a meter on teh charger see that its taking the full charge, as it charges it will drop in amps used.. when its down to a level where its charged you can start it.

10amps/hr * # of hrs = amps charged..

edit:

my motorcycle battery is a 10amp battery. When dead it will take 10 hrs at 1amp to charge. My charger does not have a 1amp setting, it has a 10 amp and a 2 amp. I put it in 2 amp and its usually fully charged around 3-4 hrs. That's because i usually have some charge in there already.

If i am in a hurry on that battery, i put it in 10amps, wait about 20 minutes, and its usually done.

 

[redly]

charge time is dependant on a few variables...temperature being an important on that comes to mind. IIRC, with Lead Acid batteries, the efficiency of the charge cycle goes way down as the temperature gets below 32F. If at all possible, get your car to a warm garage if you want to do a full charge

 

[d33pt]

your battery may just be toast where it won't hold enough charge to be useful anymore. if it's been sitting dead for more than a day or two, it probably is junk..