Can You Start the Engine While Charging a Car?
2 Answers
You can start the engine while charging a car. The method for charging a car is as follows: 1. Turn off the engine; 2. Take out the positive and negative cables; 3. Remove the clips to open the battery protective cover, exposing the battery's positive and negative terminals; 4. Connect one end of a cable to the positive terminal of the dead battery and the other end to the positive terminal of the charged battery; 5. Take another cable, first connect it to the negative terminal of the charged battery, then connect the other end to the engine block or body of the dead vehicle, ensuring the negative is connected to the negative; 6. Start the charged car. The steps for starting the engine are: 1. Turn the key to the 'on' position and wait; 2. After the dashboard icons flash and go off, turn the key to the 'start' position to ignite.
When it comes to whether you can start the engine while charging a car, as someone who's been driving for 30 years, I've got some experience to share. In the past, when encountering a dead battery, I also thought it wouldn't be a big deal to start the engine while charging. But one time when I actually tried it, sparks appeared the moment the engine started, and the battery was completely ruined, costing me several hundred dollars to replace. The principle is simple: starting the engine requires a sudden surge of high current. If the charger is still connected, unstable voltage can cause a short circuit or damage the internal structure of the battery. So, I always recommend disconnecting the charger first before attempting to start the vehicle—it's safer and protects the equipment. It's also best not to do other things in the car while charging, like smoking or turning on the air conditioning, to prevent accidents. Remember a little trick: wait a few seconds after charging is complete before operating anything to avoid residual electricity interference. Developing good habits ensures your car lasts longer.
