Caring for your battery
So you forgot to turn off the fog light so that it was on overnight, and when you then try to start the car the next morning, the car does not make a sound. The starter motor does not start, and all you hear is a faint clicking sound . The battery is probably dead.
This usually happens in the winter and especially when you drive short distances. It is not good for the battery when only driving six kilometers to work and back when it is zero degrees and at the same time using every possible power consuming device such as heated seats, air conditioning, radio, and all other possible devices.
Another problem at low temperatures is that the colder it gets, the lower the viscosity of the engine oil. This means that the battery, together with the starter motor, must work much harder to start the vehicle. You should only try old tricks such as getting the engine started via the gearbox or pushing the vehicle when there are no other options as these techniques do more harm than good.
If the car does not start within the first few meters, unburned petrol can enter the catalytic converter and damage it. These tricks only work with manual transmissions. If you have an automatic transmission, you must call roadside assistance or ask someone to help you start the car with jump leads.
When using jump leads, it is important that you connect the cables in the correct order. regular battery maintenance . You should also only use features that draw a lot of power, such as fog lights, when absolutely necessary.
How to charge a battery:
Battery charger
Battery charging technology has come a long way in the last ten years. Charging stations used to be equipped with an internal transformer. These were mounted in large housings and were relatively heavy due to their wire spools. In modern chargers, microelectronic controls control the most important parameters. The new chargers can therefore be much more compact than the old units. However, there is a huge range of new chargers.
Most devices adjust themselves automatically, but there are some things you should always keep in mind: One is that the charge coming from the charger should be sufficient to charge the battery properly.
It does not help to connect a high-capacity battery to a weak charger as it would take days to get the battery fully charged. Good chargers can deliver up to 3.5 amps per hour. If your battery has a capacity of 70 ampere hours (Ah), the battery should be fully charged in 20 hours.
Another thing to know is that the charger must be able to detect the battery’s charge level and turn it off when the battery is fully charged. Reasonable voltage is 12 volts for cars and 6 volts for motorcycles and scooters.
If your battery is not a classic lead-based battery but a GEL battery or something with absorbent fiberglass mats, the charger must be compatible with these variants.
Charge
If your battery has been on the shelf and has not been connected for 12 months or more, it may be discharged. It may then be necessary to charge it as it will not have enough voltage to be able to start the car. Driving short distances or using a faulty generator is also bad for the battery.
With the help of these simple instructions, you can charge your battery yourself. Before connecting the charger, however, you should read the instruction manual and safety instructions on the battery carefully, and find out the correct voltage for the battery.
- Switch off all devices in the car that use electricity, and switch off the engine completely.
- You can choose to leave the battery installed or remove it from the car depending on the manufacturer’s instructions.
- To disconnect the battery from the car’s electrical system, first disconnect the negative terminal and then the positive terminal. Make sure that both poles are separated to avoid short circuits.
- If the battery is an open and maintenance-free variant, remove the protective cover, check the liquid level, top up the liquid if necessary and close the lid slightly so that gases can escape.
- Make sure that the charger is not connected to the mains and then connect the positive terminal and then the negative terminal to it.
- Check the settings, including the voltage indicated on the charger; if everything is as it should be, you can then connect it to the mains.
- After charging is complete, unplug the charger from the power outlet, and then disconnect the negative terminal and then the positive terminal.
- Then plug the battery into the car; first connect the positive terminal and then the negative terminal. Tighten the protective caps and replace the protective caps located over the poles.
Guarantee
One day in the middle of the cold winter, the car no longer starts, even though the battery is brand new. Then you might be wondering if the battery is still covered by the warranty?
In the case of car batteries, you must distinguish between the manufacturer’s warranty and the warranty that applies by law. The statutory warranty for customers is valid for 24 months from the date of purchase.
This means that a seller is responsible for all defects that existed at the time of purchase, even if it is not discovered until later. Battery warranty, on the other hand, is a service offered voluntarily by the manufacturer and not regulated by law. The scope of the guarantee is stated in the guarantee terms.
Waste disposal
In the past, people just left them on the road, but nowadays no one is allowed to get rid of a dead battery that way. This is not only harmful to the environment but also completely unnecessary as there is a simple and cost effective system to get rid of old batteries in an environmentally friendly way.
When this is used, the old battery is dismantled by a professional and then the various components are disposed of, including recyclable materials (lead and iron) and toxic substances (sulfuric acid and heavy metals).
Never in the trash
Do not dispose of used car batteries with household waste. According to the ordinance on batteries, spent car batteries must be handled separately and not together with other waste or ordinary household waste. Many salesmen and workshops that sell car batteries are happy to accept old batteries as waste. You can also return your old batteries to the municipality’s sorting facilities or recycling center.