Can you charge a battery while it is in the car?

[NoOne]

I know it might be a dumb question, but I've never done it. My 960's
battery needs charging. In the past, I've always taken the battery
out of the car and put it on a charger (either at 10AMPS or 2AMPS).

But I would like to do it while the battery is in the car and
connected to the car. Can I damage something if I do it while it is
connected to the car? I guess I'll do like when I boost it and
connect the negative cable to the engine bloc?

Thanks.

 

[Gary Heston]

I know it might be a dumb question, but I've never done it. My 960's
battery needs charging. In the past, I've always taken the battery
out of the car and put it on a charger (either at 10AMPS or 2AMPS).

I've never removed a battery just to charge it, unless I'm swapping a
charged one in to use while charging the oroginal.

But I would like to do it while the battery is in the car and
connected to the car. Can I damage something if I do it while it is
connected to the car? I guess I'll do like when I boost it and
connect the negative cable to the engine bloc?

Connect the charger directly to the battery, then plug in the charger.
This avoids arcs while connecting, thereby avoiding voltage spikes in
the electrical system.

When you're done, unplug the charger, then disconnect from the battery.
Ensure adequate ventilation.

Thanks.

You're welcome.


Gary

 

[Roadie]

I know it might be a dumb question, but I've never done it. My 960's
battery needs charging. In the past, I've always taken the battery
out of the car and put it on a charger (either at 10AMPS or 2AMPS).

But I would like to do it while the battery is in the car and
connected to the car. Can I damage something if I do it while it is
connected to the car? I guess I'll do like when I boost it and
connect the negative cable to the engine bloc?

Thanks.

You can do it that way and chances are you will get away with no
damage. If it were me I would remove the battery completely and
charge it in an open area. Be sure to check the water level first and
clean the posts. I would use this as an opportunity to also clean
the outside of the battery, cables and battery compartment.

 

[c.fiedler]

You can do it that way and chances are you will get away with no
damage. If it were me I would remove the battery completely and
charge it in an open area. Be sure to check the water level first and
clean the posts. I would use this as an opportunity to also clean
the outside of the battery, cables and battery compartment.

Well, gee, over more than 30 years I have had occasion to charge a
battery while in a Volvo. It generally came because the alternator or
regulator were bad or the battery had reached the end of its effective
life. The only time I removed a battery from the vehicle was to put
the vehicle in storage.

Chuck Fiedler
Nothing but Volvo since 1974

 

[Roadie]

Well, gee, over more than 30 years I have had occasion to charge a
battery while in a Volvo.

Yes I agree, most of us have charged a battery while it was in a car.

It generally came because the alternator or
regulator were bad or the battery had reached the end of its effective
life.

Yes, those are common reasons for a battery running down. Leaving an
interior light on for an extended time will do it too.

The only time I removed a battery from the vehicle was to put
the vehicle in storage.

Well, I've had to remove batteries when they wouldn't hold a
charge. I've also learned to periodically remove a batttery to clean
any oxidation from the battery compartment. Reduces the chance of
oxide from the battery rusting through the body.

 

[Stephen Henning]

Well, I've had to remove batteries when they wouldn't hold a
charge. I've also learned to periodically remove a batttery to clean
any oxidation from the battery compartment. Reduces the chance of
oxide from the battery rusting through the body.

Using bicarabonate of soda (Arm And Hammer Baking Soda) is even better.
It neutralizes the acid and will get to places where you can't clean.
You can just sprinkle the powder around the battery. Don't cover the
battery with it. If it gets wet it can pull down the battery since it
forms a conductive electrolyte when it gets wet. I do sprinkle it
around one terminal if it shows corrosion, but not both.

I always charge my batteries with them installed in the vehicle. I use
a trickle charger on my garden tractor/snow plow and a Kawasaki Mule
utility vehicle all winter. Batteries will freeze and crack if they are
allowed to discharge. They say to remove the caps when charging to
allow hydrogen to escape so the battery doesn't explode. Always make
the last connection and first disconnection away from the battery. The
spark can ignite the hydrogen. One way of doing this is to make the
last connection and first disconnection to a ground surface away from
the battery. I use a place on the engine where I can place a clamp.