How do i hook up a trickle charger

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  1. When and How to Use a Trickle Charger
  2. The Complete Guide to Trickle Charging: Why and How to Use a Trickle Charger? - media-aid.com Blog
  3. What is trickle charger?
  4. How to Use a Car Battery Charger
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Then, find a suitable ground location before attaching the negative terminal of the trickle charger. The ground location can either be a large bolt connected to the chassis or a part of the frame that is free from grime, dirt or oil. Connect the Cables Prior to connecting any cable, set the appropriate amperage and voltage for your car battery. Then, turn to your alligator clips and look for the red and black clips. Make sure the negative wire is solidly attached to the ground location before you plug your car charger.

Similarly, refrain from touching any of the wires once the charger is already plugged as doing so can result to shock or injury. Lastly, Turn on the Charger Before turning on the charger, double check your manual and make sure you are following the recommended settings for your trickle charger and battery.

Turn the charger on and, if available, read the amp meter. If the meter reading is high, it means that the battery is low or zero in energy.

When and How to Use a Trickle Charger

If, by contrast, the meter reading is low, it may either mean that the battery is sufficiently charged or your ground connection is not enough. In cases like this, turn off the trickle charger for car and try reconnecting the charger. How Does a Car Battery Charger Work Battery chargers have the same working mechanism—they supply an electric current to batteries so the cells can feed on these currents and regain energy.

However, not all battery chargers are created equal. Identify the positive and grounded posts on your battery. There are a few ways to tell which is which: Compare the diameters of the battery posts. For most batteries, the positive post is thicker than the negative post. If the battery cables are connected to the posts, note the color of the cables. The cable connected to the positive post should be red, while the cable connected to the negative post should be black.

Disconnect the vehicle battery cables. Disconnect the grounded terminal negative , then the ungrounded terminal positive before removing the battery. Remove the battery from the vehicle. Some vehicles require that you remove the battery before charging, others do not. You can charge the battery inside the boat only if you have a charger and other equipment that is specifically meant for doing so.

This will avoid putting pressure on the battery ends and forcing battery acid out of the vent caps, as might happen if you carry it in your hands. Clean the battery terminals. Use a mixture of baking soda and water to clean any corrosion off the terminals and neutralize any sulfuric acid that may have spilled on them. You can apply the mixture with an old toothbrush. Alternatively, you can clean off mild corrosion by using a wire brush. Auto parts stores even sell a special round wire brush that fits over the terminals. Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth right after cleaning the terminals.

Wash your hands immediately. Do not touch any white gunk that may appear on the terminals, as this is congealed sulfuric acid. Pour in enough distilled water to reach the fill level on each battery cell. Pouring water into your battery cells disperses hydrogen gas from the cell. Do not use tap water as it will damage your battery over time. If your battery does not have flame-arresting caps, put a wet cloth across the top of the caps.

Place the charger as far from the battery as its cables will allow. This will reduce the possibility of damage to the unit from any airborne sulfuric acid vapor. Never place the charger directly above or below the battery. Set the charger to deliver the correct voltage. This is done by adjusting the voltage output selector, usually on the front of the charging unit. If your charger has an adjustable rate of charge you should start at the lowest rate.

Connect one charger clip to the positive post on the battery. This step is the same whether the battery is removed from the vehicle for charging or not. Connect the second charger clip to ground. There are two different cases for connecting the ground. This prevents arcing at the battery terminal and will not run the risk of causing the battery to explode. Clipping the grounding cable directly to the negative battery terminal can be dangerous.

The Complete Guide to Trickle Charging: Why and How to Use a Trickle Charger? - media-aid.com Blog

If the battery has been removed from the vehicle, you should connect a jumper cable or insulated battery cable at least 24 inches 60 cm long to the grounded post. Then, connect the battery charger clip for the grounded post to this cable. This allows you to be away from the battery when you complete the circuit in case it explodes. It is also a good idea not to be facing the battery when you connect the charger to the jumper cable. Plug the charger into an outlet. The charger should be equipped with a grounded plug three pronged plug and should be plugged into a properly grounded outlet three prong outlet.

What is trickle charger?

An adapter should not be used. Use an extension cord only if absolutely necessary. Don't attach negative clip to the neg terminal on the dead battery unless you want the car's wiring removed from the battery. Attach to clean, unpainted part of frame or engine block bolt. This will keep any possible spark or spark arcing away from the potential gas. The contradictory part of whatever website you wrote from in your original question post was obviously either a mistake or the part where it spoke of attaching to the negative terminal was describing the process of jump-starting from a charged battery to a dead one.

In that case you always attach dead-side first, with negative clamped to frame or engine, but the positive and negative attached to their perspective terminals on the charged battery on the other side of cables.

How to Use a Car Battery Charger

Again, the exception is if you remove the car's wiring. The reason you go from dead to charged is to reduce the risk of spark. You can't take the risk of spark away completely, which is why it's better to attach the negative clip away from neg battery terminal. Same principal with a charger.

Don't plug into power until clips are clipped.


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Just like going from dead to charged when charging from another battery, don't plug in charger until clips are on. Another question I think you had was if there are other types of automotive batteries that don't have this risk. They all hold the same risk. Here is a link to a credible source regarding a study that took place with lead-acid batteries and explosions. It also includes all the other information I stated above about safety measures like hooking the negative to frame or block instead of terminal and the reasons for these safety measures:. Should car wiring be removed from terminals before charging the battery?

Battery Tender/Maintainer/Trickle Charger Installation Video

When working on the electrical system for repairs, you should remove the negative cable off of the terminal, anyway, so you don't accidentally short a circuit and damage an electrical component. The problems can vary from simply waiting for the 'relearn' process to even having to perform manual resets with a scan tool in order to get certain functions working again. Worst-case scenarios can require replacement of ECU altogether in order to get certain functions working again.

Worst-case scenarios are usually only possible with early 's and later. There are pocket lists that specify specific problems with specific models out there, but you probably won't find one big, conclusive list for all problems with all models, so research on your specific model is always a good idea. Obviously, this won't help while charging the battery. So that is the downside to removing the cables from the battery to charge it.


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That and the risk of spark increases. Also, if you remove the cables, you have to connect the charger's ground clamp directly to the negative terminal on the battery instead of the frame or block. My previous edit stated otherwise and, after rereading it, I realized the error in that statement.

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The benefit of removing the cables is that it will be impossible for a power surge to damage anything electrical-related in your car. That's why I say the answer is a double-edged sword, because there are risks either way you go. If it were me, I'd keep the cables connected while charging, but use a GOOD surge protector for the charging device. If you keep the cables connected, follow this process: Plug the charger's positive clip onto the positive battery terminal. Then plug the negative clip onto the frame or engine block as far away from the battery as possible.

Then plug the charger into a good surge protector, followed by plugging the surge protector to the wall outlet. Then turn the charger's switch on. Lastly, turn the surge protector's switch on. If it doesn't have one, buy a good one that does have a switch. A few final points: It's safer to use a lower amperage charger, between amps, than to use a faster charger.

It's bad for your charging system if you don't charge the battery completely, so be sure the charging process is complete. Lastly, I believe it IS necessary to have the car's ground cable connected to the negative battery terminal for the charger to charge it IF you clip the charger's ground to the frame or block. If you want the cable removed, you'll have to connect The clip directly to the battery. I'm sorry if reading my previous edit was misleading.

If you decide to remove the cables, the negative cable ALWAYS goes first to prevent accidentally creating a complete circuit with a tool, jewelry, etc. Always use eye protection while working with the battery.