Jump Starting

Mitch Buchannon

Hey guys,
Like a fool I left my side lights on yesterday afternoon and my car battery was flat this afternoon when I went to start it. I have just jump started it and i'm wondering how long I need to run it before the charge is fully back in the battery.
Would sitting in it and leaving it run for 30 or so minutes be enough ?

Thanks in advance for tour help.

colm_mcm

Take it for a spin, high revs are better than just idling.

Atlantic Dawn

Drive it for about 20 miles rather than leaving it idling, should charge it enough for you.

johnayo

If the battery is in good condition(other than being flat), then the 30 minutes should be fine.

biko

Get a coffee at McD drive through and drive around for 20 mins should sort it.

Big Nelly

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Drive it for about 20 miles rather than leaving it idling, should charge it enough for you.

20 miles?????

Good spin around the cornor with radio etc all turned off and should charge it up no problem. 20 miles is way too much

subway

At idle, the battery probably won't charg as th alternator won't be producing enough voltage.
As the lads say, short spin will get you more than enough charge to get her started on te next attempt.
Regular driving will get it back to full in a day or two depending on how much distance you cover

Mitch Buchannon

Thanks lads, I'll take her out for a spin so.

Thanks for your help.

CiniO

subway wrote: »

At idle, the battery probably won't charg as th alternator won't be producing enough voltage.

I might be wrong, but I thought that main idea of alternators is that always produce the same voltage, no matter what the engine RPM.

It's just with bigger RPM it's bigger Amperage possible, however voltage remains the same.


Anyway - it will be quicker to charge the battery while driving, comapring to idling.

Big Nelly

Big Nelly wrote: »

20 miles?????

Good spin around the cornor with radio etc all turned off and should charge it up no problem. 20 miles is way too much

.... not when it was fully drained overnight.

eth0

With the price of petrol these days you'd be as well of buying a charger instead of driving it or leaving it idle just to fill the battery

MugMugs

biko wrote: »

Get a coffee at McD drive through and drive around for 20 mins should sort it.

I think the McD owners may get pi$$ed if you do a 20 minute circuit of their drivethrough :pac: