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CategoriesMarch 11th, 2022 A car battery's primary purpose is to change chemical energy into electrical energy when starting the car’s ignition. The battery also plays a part in powering car accessories such as radio, clock, and alarm systems. When the car is not being driven, the battery doesn't have a chance to recharge, leading to a dead battery. This simple fact is why regular driving is so essential. Leaving the battery in your car when it is parked for an extended period will allow the car battery to go from fully charged to completely dead in a little under two months. Experts recommend driving your vehicle for at least 30 minutes a week to recharge the battery. A new car battery can last for about two weeks without recharging. How long does a battery lasts when the engine is off depends on how it is stored, how old it is, and how it is used. How to Keep a Car Battery Charged When Not in UseThe best way to protect your battery is by driving your vehicle regularly. You can also take other actions to keep it charged when not in use. These include:
Car batteries will typically last 4 to 5 years or longer on average, given typical driving distances and climate control usage. When your battery is worn out, recycle it to reduce the resources needed for producing new batteries. If you’ve noticed your battery is on its way out, get a new, quality battery so you can get where you need to go reliably. Most car batteries that are in good condition will last at least two weeks without needing you to start the car and drive to recharge it. But if you don’t intend to drive your car for some time for whatever reason, you should still start it up once a week to recharge the 12-volt battery. Want to know how to avoid getting a flat battery if you’re not driving your car often? And what you need to do if you go to drive your car and the battery’s dead? Read on to find out what to do, and what not to do, when maintaining your car’s battery. How often should I start my car if I’m not driving?If you’ve not driven your car for the past two weeks or more, regardless of how old the model is, you should start it up at least once a week and keep it running for 15 minutes. By doing this, you allow the alternator (or ‘dynamo’ in older models) to recharge the battery and ensure the engine is kept in good condition too. When you do this, remember to turn off the lights (if you need to use them because it’s dark and your car doesn’t do this automatically), otherwise, you’ll find that it’s completely flat when you next go to drive. This is what’s known as a ‘deep discharge’, which the lead-acid batteries in cars aren’t designed to handle. In fact, if this happens multiple times it can reduce the lifespan of the battery by a third. What should I do if my battery is flat?The chances are that if you’ve been driving for a long time, then you’ve had to jump-start your car at some point. Also known as a ‘boost’, this quick-fix method starts a vehicle with a discharged/dead battery by connecting with another car’s battery or another power source through jump leads. Jump starts can sometimes be necessary if you’re out and about on the road and need to get moving quickly. However, a better alternative for long-term battery maintenance is using a designated battery charger/maintainer while regularly testing your car’s wattage between charges. It’s important that you know how to jump-start your car if you ever come to your car and it’s got a flat battery. It’s also just as important to know what to do when you want to recharge your battery. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to jump-starting and charging your car battery. How to jump-start your carWhen you jump-start a car, you’re using external electricity to recharge a flat battery enough for you to switch the engine on. The most common method of jump-starting a vehicle requires you to have jump leads (these cost around £10 from Halfords). Here’s a simple process to jump-start your car safely:
Want the best price on MOT, servicing or repairs? We’ve partnered with BookMyGarage to bring you instant deals in your area. Charging your carIt can be detrimental to a car battery’s health if you let it go completely flat by not driving it, or by leaving the lights on, for example. The good news is that it’s relatively easy to check the health of your vehicle’s battery and charge it. All you need is the right equipment and the know-how to do it. First things first, you’ll need to make sure you have a multimeter/voltmeter (around £8 from Halfords) and a charger that is suitable for your car’s battery type and engine size. To help you make the right choice when it comes to buying a charger, you should consider:
Six steps to charging your carOnce you’ve chosen the right charger for your car, you should follow these six steps to recharge it safely and get your motor back on the road.
Maintaining an electric car battery after not drivingElectric cars and hybrids have 12V batteries (also known as ‘auxiliary batteries’), like standard vehicles, but they charge differently. The most common way to do this is by pressing the start button to turn it on, which will automatically operate a charging system which in turn gives the battery more power. If you’re concerned about how much charge the auxiliary battery in your EV has, you should start the vehicle up at least once a week for 10 minutes each time for a sufficient recharge. At the same time, you should check the status of the main onboard battery (this can be done through most electric cars’ dashboards) to see whether it needs charging. Even though you may not be driving, lithium-ion batteries in EVs can gradually lose the capacity to hold a charge over time, and you may see the effects of this in the form of loss of range/percentage. Should your car need charging, make sure this is done through a designated home charge point or public station. While each EV comes with EVSE (electric vehicle supply equipment) that includes a Type-2-to-3-pin cable for charging from a mains socket, this can overload the outlet and potentially be dangerous.
Thinking of switching to an electric car? Moneyshake brings the market to you, showing you the best lease deals on the latest EVs. Want to find out more about how to maintain your car? Then head over to our guides page for information on vehicle maintenance. Looking to lease? Explore car leasing comparison with Moneyshake online today. Does a car battery lose charge when disconnected?All batteries have what is called a self-discharge rate. It means that the battery loses certain percentage of charge just from sitting unconnected without being charged.
Does disconnecting battery keep it from dying?Remove the Battery Entirely
Another thing to keep in mind is that even though your battery is disconnected, it will still drain naturally (although much slower) and you will need to charge it. Check your battery's charge using a voltmeter every two to three months and recharge it any time it's at 70% charge or less.
What happens if I disconnect my car battery for a long time?Disconnecting a car battery helps prevent electrical systems like a clock or an onboard equipment/computer system from draining it. If a vehicle and its battery are left unattended for a long period, probably a month, then it might result in the damage of the battery and could even introduce the need for a replacement.
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