If your car’s battery loses charge, you can restore it by running your car for at least 20 to 30 minutes. The thing is – your battery builds up its charge once the engine is running. The alternator provides electric charge to the battery by using mechanical energy from the engine.
If your battery gets completely dead, it’s not possible to charge it just by running your car. Also, if the charge is too low, it might only be possible to jumpstart the car or use a portable charger to restore the charge enough so you can start your car in the first place.
Idling your car for at least 30 minutes will charge your car’s battery a bit, but it might take hours to charge it up in a way you would when driving it. The best way to test your battery charge is by using a voltmeter after letting your car idle for some time.
When driving and revving your car, the alternator works harder and provides a more powerful charge to the battery. Does revving the engine charge the battery? Yes, revving the engine charges the battery since the mechanical energy generated by the engine gets transferred to the alternator that powers the battery.
Connect the red clip to the positive terminal on the car battery Turn on the charger and leave it to charge for the appropriate amount of time. Of course, your car’s handbook and the trickle charge guide will help you if you get stuck at any point.
If you are unsure what the problem is visited your trusted local garage. To charge a car battery, you will need your toolbox and follow some safety precautions. Park your vehicle in a well-ventilated area – not in your garage – and make sure that the engine is turned off. Use either need a trickle charger or a smart charger.