The car battery is necessary for the vehicle to move. The battery has a lifespan, after which it will need replacement. You might be wondering whether you will have to charge a new battery if you buy one, right?
Do you need to charge a new car battery? NO. You do not have to charge a new battery before using it. The battery leaves the manufacturer’s premises when charged to capacity and you need to have it fixed in your car and get going. Even though the battery might lose some charge while on the shelf, the percentage of power loss is not tangible enough. The battery will have at least 95% of its rated charge capacity.
When the new battery is fixed in a vehicle that is used regularly, the engine will start and thereafter the alternator will fully charge the battery.
However, in a case where the battery will not be in regular use, it is advisable to have it charged to full capacity because if it is not in use often, the charge will reduce with time through self-discharge.
How Do I Determine Charge Level In New Battery?
For you to know the level of charge in the new battery you can measure the battery voltage across the terminals. This can be done by the use of a multimeter. Before using the multimeter, you need to select the right voltage range that is usually up to 20 Volts DC.
While taking the measurements, you need to connect the positive terminals of the battery to the positive probe from the multimeter, and the negative terminal to the negative probe of the multimeter. The probes of the multimeter are color coded with color red being the positive and color black being the negative. You can also look for the (+) and (-) signs at the top.
For the battery, the positive terminal has a plus (+) sign on top and the negative terminal has a minus (-) sign on it.
Why Are Batteries Shipped And Stored Dry?
This is done so that the lifespan of the battery is prolonged. The batteries are transported and stored while dry. Dry storage in this case means a new battery that has not had electrolyte added into it before. When batteries are stored dry, they last for several years without any damage.
Once the battery is purchased, an electrolyte of the right specific gravity is added to it. This means that the electrolyte added should have the right concentration of acid. For instance, the electrolyte needs to have a specific gravity of 1.26 to 1.28
There will be enough potential after around 10 minutes for the battery to read 90% of the rated battery capacity only if the acid concentration is right.
Can A New Car Battery Fail?
Before batteries are shipped to the dealers for sale, they are always tested by the manufacturer. Even though, during the testing phase there may be some defects that can go undetected and they might make a new battery fail
As the battery is being transported there are some damages that might occur that can lead to its failure even when still new. Such defects are in most cases hidden in the inside and cannot be seen in plain sight.
In some cases, the battery might be new but the environment in which the battery is being used can cause its rapid degradation.
The internal defects can cause a new battery to go flat and this is where warranty comes in. You must buy a battery from a store where you will be given a warranty so that in case of such eventualities, you are covered.
Can I Charge A New Battery?
We have mentioned earlier that in case you buy a new battery and it is not going to be in use regularly, then it is advisable to have it charged to capacity.
You can have the battery charged at a voltage that is slightly higher than the rated voltage but when this is done you need to be on the look out for overcharging. The batteries will likely require 12.9 volts to get fully charged. When the battery is charged at a slightly higher voltage of 15 volts, monitoring should be done to avoid damages and overcharging.
The best option available is to have a trickle charger connected or an automatic charger that is capable of detecting when the battery is charged fully and will give just the floating charge to keep the battery charged to capacity
As indicated earlier in some of our articles, the trickle charger is temperature-compensated and can ensure that the health of the battery is in check.
Should I Add Water To a New Battery?
NEVER. The battery needs to be topped up with battery acid. The acid when having the right specific gravity will provide a conducive environment for the chemical reactions to occur.
As the battery is charged and discharged, the electrolyte levels reduce. During charging the water in the electrolyte breaks down into hydrogen and oxygen gases. These gases escape and leave a more concentrated acid.
You can check the level of the electrolyte by looking at the plates. When the plates are exposed and are no longer covered by the electrolyte then it is time to add distilled water to the battery.
NEVER should you add acid into the battery because you will end up with a more concentrated acid which can cause corrosion and the battery plates will be corroded.
How Long Will The Alternator Take To Fully Charge New Battery?
As mentioned earlier, a new battery comes fully charged however as the battery stays on the shelf before purchase it experiences self-discharge.
When you add battery acid to a dry battery, it will not have a full capacity charge, or rather the charge percentage will be at approximately 90% of the rated charge level.
Once the battery is plugged in the car, it is likely to take from 2-20 minutes to charge to full capacity. However, the timing is affected by external factors like temperature and how efficient the battery alternator is.
Final Thoughts
A new car battery comes charged to capacity but depending on how long it stays on the shelves it will lose some charge. A new battery however can be fixed into the car immediately and have the car start.
If you buy a new battery that will not be used often, it is advisable to charge it to full capacity before storage. This will minimize any damage.