How do I properly charge a battery???

Darkstar · Mar 16, 2002

Well, my battery is dead (and Checkers free diagnostic thing says so too) and im on my way to replace it tomorrow at the local AC Delco dealer, but I wanted to try and charge it first. My question is, how do I properly charge the battery?

I got a battery charger but the instructions to it are so weird I cant figure it out. First off, the instructions dont tell me to disconnec the battery cables before charging. 2ndly, it refers to two difference kinda grouding systems on cars, a "Negative Grounded Post" and a "Positive Grounded Post". According to the "Negative Grounded Post" instructions, I connect + to + and - to the chassis ground (and yes, I know where that is). For the "Positive Grounded Post" instructions, I connect - to - and the + to the chassis ground. It says "refer to your battery or cars instructions on which system it uses" but neither tells me what I need to know.

W T F do I do???

LPB · Mar 1, 2002

The Legend is a Negative Ground vehicle. Never, Ever, switch polarity. Disconnect both the Pos and Neg cables and then recharge. If the charger has a slow or fast charge setting, set it to slow in order for the battery to be given a deep charge. Also best to do at room temp. If the battery has been discharged almost to the point of zero, it may have become frozen if the temps in your area have been below freezing for any period of time. As a precaution, leave the battery indoors for a day to make certain it is not frozen.

MC® · Jan 17, 2002

Best $30 I spent so far.....

I bought one of these off ebay just before the winter. If you do not drive your car often this charger is great. It tops off the battery with a slow deep charge and then maintains that level. They even have a charger that can be mounted directly onto the battery so all you have to do is plug it into an outlet.

http://www.batterytender.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=35&products_id=69

95gs · Jan 19, 2002

Do you find out why your battery is dead in the first place? bad alternator or just a worn out battery?? (most last bout 5 years or so).

Personally I wouldn't bother w/ recharging & just get a new powerful battery, providing your charging system is ok. Legend takes alot of amps to start & in these cold weather its handy to have that extra "ooommmph"

chuckee98 · Jun 24, 2002

I agree with MC on the Battery Tender. I have two, one for my bike, and one for my Civic which doesn't get used often. Unfortunately, I paid more than $ 30 for each of them.

By the way, the battery life on a lead-acid battery is significantly shortened every time it is discharged or goes dead. You can kill a brand new lead-acid battery after it goes dead a handful of times, and will need to replace it. You'll know when it happens because the battery won't take a charge anymore. (Another reason to buy an Optima.)

Darkstar · Mar 16, 2002

Thanks LPB, thats EXACTLY what I was thinking bit figured I should ask before I try it out. According to the instructions it says that I should hook up like a 5' cable to the negative post, then hook the - from the charger to the end of the cable. Is this correct?

I think the battery was bad to begin with or something, about 6 months ago it died on me (after I left me headlights on for about 5 mins), I jumped it and it was fine driving everyday. Now, during the winter, my car sits for a couple days and the battery just gets drained. I went to Checker and their tester thingy said Replace Battery, so the charging system is OK.

The dealer im taking it to is going to pro rate it for 50% off, which is ALOT better then buying a BRAND NEW battery. I WOULD just get an Optima Red Top but they are like $100 locally, double what I'd pay for the pro rated AC Delco replacement.

Thanks for the replies guys!

95gs · Jan 19, 2002

??????

I remember just paying approx. $50-60 for a top of the line battery from Pep Boys.

Jsut get one w/ a higher CCA

ghostKtulu · Jul 15, 2002

Darkstar said:
Thanks LPB, thats EXACTLY what I was thinking bit figured I should ask before I try it out. According to the instructions it says that I should hook up like a 5' cable to the negative post, then hook the - from the charger to the end of the cable. Is this correct?

I think the battery was bad to begin with or something, about 6 months ago it died on me (after I left me headlights on for about 5 mins), I jumped it and it was fine driving everyday. Now, during the winter, my car sits for a couple days and the battery just gets drained. I went to Checker and their tester thingy said Replace Battery, so the charging system is OK.

The dealer im taking it to is going to pro rate it for 50% off, which is ALOT better then buying a BRAND NEW battery. I WOULD just get an Optima Red Top but they are like $100 locally, double what I'd pay for the pro rated AC Delco replacement.

Thanks for the replies guys!

I dont know ac delco's warranty...but if the optimas full replacement warranty is way longer(I think it is 3-4 years full replacement)...and you have a parasitic draw that is killing your battery...maybe you should just go for the optima. here is some info about batteries and personally dollar for dollar it is better than the overpriced regular batteries...just because of the technology...(http://www.autoshop101.com/)

BATTERIES - Antimony, Calcium, or Gel
Several variations of the Lead -Acid battery are used today. Variations to the battery plate material and electrolyte solution provide different battery characteristics. Construction is basically the same; however, the materials used are slightly different.

1. Lead Antimony ( Most commonly used ).
Is commonly used in conventional lead acid battery which uses lead antimony cell plates.

Advantages:
1. Longer service life than Calcium batteries.
2. Easier to recharge when completely discharged.
3. Lower cost.

2. Lead Calcium ( AC Delco maintenance free batteries ).
Is a maintenance free lead acid battery which uses lead calcium cell plates.

Advantages:
1. Larger electrolyte reserve area above the plates.
2. Higher Cold Cranking Amp ratings.
3. Little or No maintenance.

3. Recombination (Gel Cell) ( Optima batteries and some others ).
Is a completely sealed lead acid battery which uses an electrolyte that is a gel (solid) rather than a liquid.

Advantages:
1. No liquid electrolyte to spill or leak.
2. Can be Deep Cycled several time without damage.
3. Totally corrosion and maintenance free.
4. Three to four times longer battery life than regular batteries.
5. More plate surface and closer plate spacing provides a compact case size

MC® · Jan 17, 2002

95gs said:
??????

I remember just paying approx. $50-60 for a top of the line battery from Pep Boys.

Jsut get one w/ a higher CCA

He's refering to the Optima which ranges from $110 - $150

DSCLegend94 · Jan 17, 2002

oh oh....I usually connect pos to pos and neg to neg in the battery. Is that really bad? I've done it a couple of times but everything seems fine. Where's the chasis ground?

chuckee98 · Jun 24, 2002

No, not really. The only reason why they tell you to do that is for safety reasons - if there are any fumes from the battery vents, they can ignite when you make connection at the battery terminals (from the spark that sometimes occurs when you finish the connection to the neg (-) terminal). By connecting to a ground other than the battery terminal, you avoid that spark, or move it far enough away that it is not a risk. People have blown up batteries with an errant spark. Needless to say, not good for you or your car. Same thing goes for when you jump start a car, pos to pos, and neg to ground other than battery.

Chassis ground is anything other than the neg (-) battery terminal - the engine block, the frame, the body, etc. Notice that there are ground straps that tie everything together, the easiest to spot being the one from the valve or side cover on the engine to the body.

ghostKtulu · Jul 15, 2002

DSCLegend94 said:
oh oh....I usually connect pos to pos and neg to neg in the battery. Is that really bad? I've done it a couple of times but everything seems fine. Where's the chasis ground?

I dont think it is really bad...it is just dangerous...if your talking about a jumpstart situation. I dont have a battery charger...so I dont know how those really work. But if you are jumping a car...you shouldn't connect the neg to neg on the battery getting a jump...it could create a spark and possibly explode...so by clamping the neg to a ground...you keep the spark away from the hydrogen fumes

DSCLegend94 · Jan 17, 2002

thanks, you learn something everyday

Darkstar · Mar 16, 2002

If I get my battery replaced with an AC Delco (under their warranty) then they pro rata how much ive used of the battery. Ive had the battery for about 2.5 years (its a 6yr battery) so thats a prorate of about 50%. They take the prorate percentage off the list price of the battery (around $75-80). So, I'd basically pay about $40 for a brand new AC Delco battery in exchange for my bad battery.

The problem with getting an Optima is that not alot of places around me even carry them. Also, I'd pay $110+ for the Optima, versus the $40 Id pay for the AC Delco. Thats a HUGE difference and tends to sway be towards the cheaper. The Optima has a 2 yr free replacement warranty, but thats not a reason to pay the extra $60+.

The AC Delco works fine in the cold weather, I dont have any aftermarket parts that use excessive energy (i.e. a stereo) so I dont necessarily need a TON of (cold) cranking amps.

Merlin the Wrench · Jan 7, 2003

when my 1992 battery went bad I bought a diehard. Great battery but the thing is like 1/8" taller and the positve cable almost broke trying to get it on. Then when the battery on my 1995 went bad I went to Acura and said, give advice. The service manager whom I've known 10 years said - pay us $90 or run over to a parts store and buy a Delco Maint free. Honda re-labels the delcos as Honda. So I bought the Delco for $60, it lasted 4 more years and a month ago before driving to FL I decided to replace it because I could tell it was slowing down on starts. New Battery worked great. Until Sears gets their die-hards the same size as the Delco use a Delco. Figure about $60. Charging system is designed for the Delco too.

Guest · Jan 26, 2003

I have an Acura battery and that thing is awesome!! I know it sounds weird but I've killed it several times and it usually took a beating to die!! One time I left the interior lights on all night and I went out to the car in the morning and they were still on!! They were dim of course but they lasted for a good 8 hours or so!! Plus the battery has an awesome lifetime warranty...and a replacement discount!! I think if the battery ever has to be replaced they will charge me 20 bucks or so and I'll be on my way!!

How do I properly charge a battery???

Darkstar

LPB

MC®

95gs

chuckee98

Darkstar

95gs

ghostKtulu

MC®

DSCLegend94

chuckee98

ghostKtulu

DSCLegend94

Darkstar

Merlin the Wrench

Guest

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