Can a Car Charge Immediately Upon Ignition?
2 Answers
When it comes to charging a car battery directly upon ignition, the following precautions should be noted for battery charging and adding electrolyte: Precautions for Car Battery Charging: During the charging process, measure the density and voltage of the electrolyte approximately every hour, and monitor the temperature. If the temperature exceeds 40 degrees, the charging current should be halved. If the temperature continues to rise beyond 45 degrees, charging should be stopped and resumed only after cooling below 35 degrees. Precautions for Adding Electrolyte: First, use distilled water or a dedicated battery replenishment solution to adjust the battery's liquid level to the specified height. Before charging, connect the battery to be charged according to the rated voltage and current of the charging equipment. After the battery is fully charged, check the density of the electrolyte in the battery.
I used to think that starting the engine would charge the battery, until I had to get a tow due to a dead battery. Actually, the alternator only starts working when the engine is running, but this is only true if the alternator isn’t broken, the belt isn’t loose, and the wiring hasn’t aged. If the battery warning light on the dashboard comes on, it means there’s a problem with the charging system. Once, I went camping and forgot to turn off the headlights—after idling for half an hour, the battery still didn’t recover. Later, I found out the alternator’s carbon brushes were worn out. Now, I always use a voltmeter to monitor the battery—after starting, the voltage should rise above 13.5V to indicate normal charging.
