Does a newly replaced battery need to be charged?
2 Answers
Whether a newly replaced battery needs to be charged depends on the following two situations: 1. If the production date of the new battery is within half a month and it has not been used, it can be used directly without charging; 2. If the production date of the new battery is relatively old, or it has been used, it needs to be charged before use. Additional information: 1. The battery has no memory effect. The first charge should not be over-discharged or over-charged. Charging should stop when it shows full; 2. If the battery is not used, it will lose 1~2% of its charge daily. A battery that has not been used for a long time needs to be fully charged once every three months; 3. The battery should not be completely discharged. Generally, 20% of the charge should be retained. A battery that is deeply discharged will have its lifespan reduced by 80%.
I just replaced my car battery last week and had a long chat with the repair shop owner about it. He said new batteries now come fully charged from the factory and can be used immediately after installation without needing special charging. However, if a battery has been sitting in storage for over half a year, its charge might drop below 60%, in which case it needs to be recharged to activate it. Normally, just make sure the battery terminals don't rust, and the alternator will automatically recharge it after starting the engine. I keep a portable voltmeter in my car, and after installing the new battery, it showed over 12.6 volts, indicating sufficient charge. For long-term parking, it's a different story—if the car isn't driven for a month, it's best to use a charger to top up the battery.
