How Long Does It Take to Fully Charge a Car Battery by Idling?
1 Answers
A car battery typically takes about 16 to 20 hours of idling to fully charge. Taking a 12V 60Ah battery as an example, the charging method employs constant voltage with current limiting—14.8V constant voltage and 15A current limit for 16 hours. If the car battery is dead, an external power source can be used for charging. Using the car's alternator to charge it consumes a significant amount of time and also burns additional fuel. Below are some maintenance tips for car batteries: 1. Avoid frequent vehicle starts: In winter, when the car is hard to start, do not attempt continuous starts. Repeatedly cranking the starter motor will inevitably lead to excessive battery discharge and damage. The interval between restart attempts should exceed 5 seconds. 2. Regularly inspect the battery during maintenance: When the battery has been in use for about two and a half years, routine maintenance should include battery testing as a preventive measure. Try to avoid using electrical devices like the CD player or cigarette lighter when the engine is off, and minimize the use of various onboard electrical appliances while driving.