How to Hook Up a Battery Charger

Co-authored by Duston Maynes

Last Updated: June 25, 2024 Fact Checked

An automobile’s battery provides the electricity necessary to start the car and to run its electrical equipment. Although an automobile battery is normally charged by the car’s alternator while the car is running, there are times when the battery dies for various reasons and needs to be connected to a charger. When jumpstarting a car you essentially give the dead battery just enough boost to start the engine and then rely on the alternator to charge the battery the rest of the way. When using a battery charger, you allow the battery to charge all the way before it will be used again.

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Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Preparing to Charge Your Battery

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Start with the owner’s manual if your battery is original to the car. This should answer important questions such as what the voltage requirements are for charging your battery and whether or not you should remove it from the vehicle before charging.^{[1]
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Research source} Almost all car batteries are 12 volt, but the charging voltage can vary depending on the amount of charge your battery currently has and the temperature.^{[2]
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There will be a manual with your battery charger that provides details for the appropriate use of the charger.

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Working in a well-ventilated area will help dissipate the hydrogen gas that batteries generate from the sulfuric acid within their cells. Also, make sure to keep any other volatile substances, such as gasoline, flammable materials, or ignition sources (flames, cigarettes, matches, lighters) away from the battery at all times.
Glasses, gloves, and other protective gear is a good precaution. Hydrogen released within the battery quickly converts to a gas and expands, this can cause the battery to explode if venting mechanisms fail. Once the hydrogen is in contact with the oxygen in the air, it is highly flammable and can be ignited even by static electricity.
These accessories draw power from the battery and should be turned off before removing or charging the battery.^{[3]
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Most batteries will be found either under the hood of the vehicle or in the trunk. It is also possible that your battery may be under the rear seat, and sometimes the battery can only be accessed from underneath the side of the car.
7
Identify the positive and grounded posts on your battery. One post will be grounded by being connected to the vehicle’s chassis. The other post will be “hot,” meaning that current will flow from it to the grounded post in a circuit. There are a few ways to tell which is which:
- Look for labels such as “POS,” “P,” or “+” for the positive post and “NEG,” “N,” or “-“ for the negative (grounded) posts on the battery case.
- 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.^{[4]
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Disconnect the vehicle battery cables. Disconnect the grounded terminal (negative), then the ungrounded terminal (positive) before removing the battery.
9
Remove the battery from the vehicle. Some vehicles require that you remove the battery before charging, others do not. Follow the instructions provided in your owner’s manual or with your battery.
- Typically if the battery you’re charging is for a boat, you must take the battery out of the boat and charge it on shore. You can charge the battery inside the boat only if you have a charger and other equipment that is specifically meant for doing so.^{[5]
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- Using a battery carrier to move the battery from the vehicle to the place where you will connect it to the charger is recommended. 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.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Hooking Up the Charger

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1
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.
2
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.
- Replace the cell caps after filling. Most U.S. batteries, they are equipped with flame arrestors. If your battery does not have flame-arresting caps, put a wet cloth across the top of the caps.
- If you have a battery that does not need filled with water (known as maintenance free batteries) or if your battery caps are sealed then you should ignore this step and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for charging your battery.
3
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.^{[6]
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4
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 the required voltage isn’t posted on the battery case itself, it should be in the vehicle owner’s manual.
- If your charger has an adjustable rate of charge you should start at the lowest rate.
This step is the same whether the battery is removed from the vehicle for charging or not.
6
Connect the second charger clip to ground. There are two different cases for connecting the ground.
- If the battery has not been removed from the vehicle, connect the battery charger’s grounding cable to a heavy-gauge metal part of the engine block or chassis. 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.
- 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.
7
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). An adapter should not be used.
- Use an extension cord only if absolutely necessary. If an extension cord is necessary, it should be a grounded (three pronged) extension cord and be the proper wire size to accommodate the amperage of the charger. An adapter should not be used between the charger and extension cord or the extension cord and the wall.
You can tell this by using the recommended charging time for your battery or looking to see if the charge indicator shows the battery has been fully charged.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Disconnecting the Charger

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Once your battery is fully charged, you will need to systematically unhook your components. Start by unplugging the charger from the outlet.
Disconnect from the grounded terminal first. Again, this will be the negative terminal on the battery if the battery was removed and will be the clip attached to a metal component of the vehicle if the battery was not removed.^{[7]
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3
Disconnect the positive clip from the battery. This will be the clip on the positive battery post.
- Some battery chargers have an engine starting feature. If your battery charger has one, you can leave it connected to the battery when you start the vehicle’s engine; if not, you must disconnect the charger before you start the engine. In either case, avoid moving engine parts if you start the engine with the hood raised or cover removed.
This will only be necessary if you had to remove your battery for charging.
Connect to the ungrounded (positive) terminal first, then to the grounded (negative) terminal.

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Question

I have a tri-power charger, will it work?

Community Answer

Yes, the first stage is Bulk Charge, the second stage is topping or Trickle Charge and the third stage is Float/maintenance Charge. Usually, those units are 1.25 amp and take at least 24 hours to bring a battery up to good charge level. Sometimes they have an "analyze" portion when you first connect to the battery to make sure it's not sulfated or shorted.

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Can I connect the charger to the battery without disconnecting the battery from the car connections?

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Yes, but always connect positive first, and the negative battery charger clips to the engine block to prevent explosions and injuries.

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What do I do if there is no post on the battery?

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Check the owner's manual for instructions or visit your local battery supply store for direction.

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Tips

Your battery may also have indicator eyes. These do not indicate the condition of the battery, only the present charge of the battery. Indicator eyes are also less accurate once the vehicle has been driven. They are primarily used during manufacturing and to provide the dealership information about the charge of the car prior to selling it.^{[8]
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Charging times for car batteries are based on their reserve capacity ratings, while charging times for motorcycle, garden tractor, and deep-cycle batteries are based on their ampere-hour ratings.

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When connecting the charger clips to the battery, rock or twist them several times to make sure they are well-connected.

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Warnings

Never allow a metal tool to touch both battery posts simultaneously.

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Have plenty of soap and fresh water on hand to wash away any leaking battery acid. Wash away immediately any acid that contacts skin or clothing. If you should get battery acid in your eyes, flush them with cold water for at least 15 minutes and seek medical help at once.

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Take off any rings, bracelets, wristwatches, necklaces, or other personal metal jewelry before you work with a battery and battery charger. Any of these could cause a shot circuit, melting the item and burning you severely.

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Although higher levels of current will charge the battery faster, too high a rate of current will overheat the battery and damage it. Never exceed the recommended rate of charging, and if the battery gets hot to the touch, stop charging and let it cool before continuing to recharge it.^{[9]
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Things You’ll Need

Battery charger
Jumper cable or 6-gauge battery cable (when charging a battery outside a vehicle)
Grounded extension cord (if necessary)
Battery carrier (if battery has to be moved any distance to be charged)
Safety glasses or goggles
Soap and water