Informational Guide

How To Charge A Car Battery Without A Charger

Your car battery will inevitably die at the most inopportune time. We will look at various ways to get your automotive battery running again without a charger.

Your car battery will inevitably die at the most inopportune time. When you get stranded, you might be asking yourself - how to charge my car battery without a charger. We will look at various ways to get your automotive battery running again so you can learn how to charge a car battery without a charger.

Common Causes Of Car Battery Failure

single car battery

Here are the most common causes that a battery will fail.

  • Human error: if you left your lights on after shutting down the car.
  • Parasitic drain: could be caused by an electrical short or problem.
  • Faulty charging: if you haven’t properly charged the battery.
  • Failed alternator: when this part fails, the battery no longer gets charged while driving.
  • Extreme temperatures: hot and cold weather can affect battery life.
  • Short Drives: the battery will die if you don’t allow for enough time to recharge.
  • Corrosion: on the battery cables or posts can lead to a poor charging connection.
  • Age: as the battery gets older, it stops holding a charge.

Ways Of Charging A Car Battery Without A Charger

Jumpstarting With Another Vehicle/Car

If you have a set of jumper cables on hand, you can learn how to charge a car battery without another car.

  1. 1
    Place vehicles facing one another. Open both hoods.
  2. 2
    Connect the red cable to the positive terminal on the dead battery.
  3. 3
    Connect the other red cable to the positive terminal of the good battery.
  4. 4
    Attach the black cables to the negative terminals of both batteries.
  5. 5
    Start the working vehicle and allow it to run for a minute.
  6. 6
    Try to start the dead vehicle.
  7. 7
    Disconnect the cables in the opposite order.
  8. 8
    Drive your car for at least twenty minutes to ensure the alternator charges the battery.

Here’s a helpful YouTube video for more illustration.

DIY Methods

If you want to know how to charge a car battery without a charger, consider using your laptop charger. While this isn’t a preferred method, it will get you by in a pinch.

You can also learn how to charge a dead car battery without a charger if you use a wall outlet and inverter. Most home inverters are rated for 12-volt batteries. Just keep in mind that the inverter needs to be powered off, while you leave the main supply on. Also, it's best not to use an extension cord.

But, do you know how to charge a car battery without a car or electricity? If you drive a manual transmission vehicle, you can push start the car.

  1. 1
    Have some friends handy to push the car.
  2. 2
    Get behind the driver’s seat and turn the ignition on.
  3. 3
    Push in the clutch and shift into second gear.
  4. 4
    Release the parking brake and brake pedal.
  5. 5
    Tell your friends to push.
  6. 6
    Once you reach five mph, abruptly release the clutch.
  7. 7
    If the engine doesn’t start, repeat the process, but go faster.
  8. 8
    If it still doesn’t start, the battery might be completely dead and require reconditioning.

Car Battery Care Tips

battery

If you maintain your car battery, it’s less likely that you will end up stranded. Here are a few battery tips.

  • Use a battery maintainer to keep the charge full.
  • Carry a portable battery charger in case it dies.
  • Clean off the corrosion regularly.
  • Test the battery for early signs of failure.
  • Drive your car for longer trips so the alternator can charge the battery.
  • Don’t run the lights or accessories while the car is off or idling.

People Also Ask (FAQs)

What happens to car battery if not used for a long time?

The alternator helps keep the battery charged while it runs. If you don’t run your vehicle, the battery slowly loses its charge. You may go out to start the car only to find out that the battery is dead.

Can a completely dead car battery be recharged without a battery charger?

You may wonder how to charge a dead car battery without another car. If the battery is dead and requires replacement, you won’t be able to do this. With another vehicle, you should be able to recharge a dead battery, as long as it is still good.

How long will it take to charge a car battery using the alternative methods provided?

As you look at how to recharge car batteries without a charger, the total time each method takes will depend on how dead the battery is and how much voltage is being provided.

Conclusion

We’ve looked at how to charge a car battery without a battery charger, ensuring that you have multiple options the next time you are stranded. However, the best way to keep your battery in optimal condition is to ensure you are never in this position.

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