What current should be set when charging a car battery?

[Bryce]

When charging a car battery, the charging current should be determined based on the battery's capacity. Generally, car batteries range from 36AH (smallest) to 80AH (largest) for passenger vehicles (truck batteries are even larger). The charging current is typically set between 0.1C to 0.2C (where C is the capacity value). For a 36AH battery, a charging current of 4A to 8A is appropriate, while an 80AH battery requires 8A to 16A. Under normal conditions, a charger can fully charge the battery in 4 to 5 hours. Avoid frequently overcharging the battery. Although the current generated by the charger is not high, prolonged boiling of the electrolyte can cause fine particles on the surface to detach, potentially leading to oxidation and loosening of the active material from the grid framework.