How Long To Keep Car Running After Battery Died?

When the engine of your car is running, the alternator relays charges to your battery and by that keeps it sufficiently charged so that it can effectively start the car, whenever you switch off the engine. If for some reason the alternator fails to work, then your battery is at the receiving end, because it will not be charged.

The length of time it takes to charge a depleted battery depends on the charge in the battery before charging it, the status and specifications of the battery itself as well as the quality of the alternator that charges it.

Charging a car battery can be done through several means or processes such as jump-starting the battery using another car with a charged battery, through the use of electricity at home, a home UPS, or with the help of auto service centers.

So how long to keep the car running after the battery died? As the engine of your car revs, the voltage of your battery will begin to appreciate the help of your alternator, which transfers electric charges to it.

Though many factors determine how long to keep your car running after the battery died, on average, it will take about thirty to forty-five minutes to get your battery fully charged with the engine of your car running at about 2000 RPM or more. (Read Also: How To Charge A Car Battery With RC Battery)

How Long To Leave A Car Running To Charge Battery?

If the battery does not have any defects or faults and your alternator is also functioning normally, it will take an average of about thirty minutes or a little more than that to get your battery fully charged, provided your engine runs at an RPM of between 1500 to 2000.  

Although sometimes the battery may be so depleted that it is likely to take longer than the time projected, generally, the time taken hardly exceeds what was stated earlier. (Read Also: How Long Will A Car Battery Stay Charged If Disconnected?)

What Causes A Car Battery To Die Quickly?

There are many reasons why a car battery will die prematurely, and one of those is a faulty alternator. When your alternator is faulty such that it causes the battery to overcharge, the battery may become hot. Due to the heat generated by overcharging the battery, the water mixed with electrolyte in the battery can be dissociated thermally, leading to the production of oxygen and hydrogen gases.(Read Also: How To Charge A Car Battery With A Laptop Charger)

The progressive accumulation of these gases will constitute very high pressure in the battery which makes the battery to look warped, ooze out its electrolyte content, explode or even ignite in extreme cases. All these lead to the death of the battery quicker than normal.

Another situation is when the battery is kept for some time without being used. When this happens, the acidic electrolyte will begin to eat up the lead plates in the battery leading to the production of lead sulphate, which may harden and ultimately kill the battery.

Vehicle batteries are liable to get irreversibly damaged in very hot climates,  in much the same way to what happens when the battery temperature rises, thus leading to the accumulation of gases in the battery. That a battery is dead does not necessarily mean permanent death, since even a totally flat or dead battery can be recharged and brought back to life.(Read Also:How To Test A 12-Volt Battery Charger?)

Having said that, a car battery may die if you have a faulty alternator that fails to charge it as it should. Mistakenly leaving your headlights, taillights, and other accessories on, after parking and turning off the engine, may lead to the death of your car battery albeit temporarily.

What To Do If Your Car Battery Dies

It is not unusual for your battery to die, but what matters is whether this battery death is permanent or temporary. Yes, permanent or temporary battery deaths,  because car batteries can die either way.

We shall restrict our discussion to temporary car battery death which can be reversed, but as for permanent death, the only option is the replacement of the battery. When you are certain that your battery is dead, your first thought is to get it revived by charging it with any of the methods discussed earlier. (Read Also: Can I Start Car With Battery Charger Attached)

However, it is equally important to determine the cause of death because if you are not able to identify the cause of battery death, it may become a recurring decimal. Whatever the cause, find and neutralize it. Some of these causes of battery deaths may be faulty alternators or voltage regulators, excessive heat, and a host of others.

How Long Can You Leave A Dead Battery In A Car?

The most advisable thing to do the moment you know that your car battery is dead is to look for a solution by way of getting it charged as quickly as possible. This means that you should drive to the nearest vehicle service center to get it fixed if you do not have what is required or the skill to do it yourself.

This implies that you should drive for not more than just a few minutes to where you can get help. Essentially, therefore, do not keep a dead battery in your car for longer than it is necessary to drive to where you can get it repaired.

This is because the longer you keep the battery in the car, the higher the chances of sulfation taking place in it, which may eventually lead to irreversible or permanent damage to the battery.

Can A Dead Battery Be Completely Recharged By Just Jump Starting The Car And Driving Around?

Certainly, a dead battery can be completely recharged by simply recharging and driving around. This, however, depends on how good both your alternator and the battery are.

To jumpstart a dead battery,  you need the help of another car with a charged battery,  which will transfer its electric charges to your car and awaken your battery. The moment your battery is given a jolt of life and because of this it is able to start your car, you may run the engine for a short while and thereafter drive around for some time.

In this way, your battery can eventually get fully charged and any degradative processes might have been reversed to give you a sound battery once again.

What Is A UPS And What Should I Know About It With Regards To Battery Charging?

UPS stands for Uninterruptible Power Source or Supply and there are two types of it; the home UPS and the computer UPS. The home UPS can be used to charge car batteries but not the computer UPS, which is meant to charge only small batteries.

Before you can use your UPS to charge any battery, you will have to charge the UPS battery itself. To charge the UPS battery, simply plug it into the alternating current(AC) mains wall socket, turn the socket on and leave it for at least twelve (12) hours. This will give UPS enough charge to be of good service to you.

Should I Keep My UPS Plugged In The Main Outlet Always?

Absolutely, because it is highly recommended that you keep your UPS battery charged all the time since most power interruptions put demands on the battery so quickly that you may not even be aware of it.

For example, if the power from the grid in your house browns down( falls below 110 Volts), your UPS will make up for the deficit. How pretty invaluable, I must confess! However, the moment you observe that your UPS battery no longer supports your equipment, it is time to start thinking about changing its battery.

Additionally, all UPS batteries should be changed once they have reached a certain age or they have clearly depreciated in available run-time. Finally, you are advised to turn off your UPS at such times when you are not making any use of them. Doing this is going to extend their life expectancy.

You should also know that when the UPS is unplugged, its batteries are bound to self-discharge and that a line-interactive UPS does not have much of its inner components on whenever the power supply is believed normal and its batteries are fully charged because it is keeping the battery charged as well.

Recommended Products

Though there may be complaints despite every precaution and possibly even after applying the best human effort, our choices, care, and strict maintenance of all modern appliances enable them to last longer than they otherwise would.

It is customary that after every in-depth discussion on all appliances, we always introduce you to products that enjoy excellent reviews from customers worldwide due to their exemplary qualities.

For this reason, and as should be expected, we have certain products related to the issue discussed that are almost a must-have for all drivers, such as:

• DB Electrical ADR0215 Alternator: This alternator is suitable for charging most types of batteries and in as short a time as possible since it is built to meet all OEM specifications for vehicles like Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, and so on. This is in addition to the fact that it is supplied to customers under friendly terms and at considerate prices too.
• New DB Electrical Alternator AD0335-C: This alternator is a product of intense research which fits a wide range of vehicles in everyday uses,  that not only satisfy all OEM requirements and specifications but also enjoy great commendation among users for its durability and ease of use. Additionally, it is sold subject to very considerate terms that are meant to protect you in the way of impressive warranty and guarantee agreements.
• New DB Electrical Alternator ADR0035: Also crafted to satisfy all OEM specifications and sold with one year warranty. This alternator is compatible with most types of vehicles and can charge your battery in the shortest possible time. You can refer your problems, complaints, or suggestions about the product to the customer care service which is open all day long and throughout every week.

How Long To Keep Car Running After Battery Died – Conclusion

The instant you have a battery that has run down, your whole bother centers on how quickly you can get it charged. In order to get your battery charged, you have several options available to you, which include the use of a charger, electricity at home, your vehicle’s inbuilt alternator, and lots of other ways.

Though pressing and important charging your car battery may seem, you are still advised not to charge under certain conditions. Take all the necessary precautions as well whenever you have to do the charging yourself at home.

Batteries are fond of gradual depreciation and ultimate self-destruction,  if they are left unattended for lengthy spells of time via a process known as sulfation. It is for this reason that you are told what to do if you do not have to use your battery for any length of time.

This is to simply make sure that you charge such idle batteries at least once every week. Every time you charge an unused battery you are essentially reversing the process of sulfation which will otherwise permanently destroy it. Jump starting a dead battery can be challenging and sometimes even risky because of the chances of mistakes when executing the procedure.

To prevent any untoward accidents, you have been fully informed on how to effectively jump-start a bad battery, starting from the materials needed, how to make the correct connections, and down to correctly carrying out the process.

Conditions under which you must not contemplate jump-start a battery have been listed and explained. For short, this article’s objective has been to make automobile battery uses, maintenance, and complaints just routine issues and nothing worth fretting about. It is greatly hoped that this objective has been met dead on. Thank you.