How Long to Charge a Dead Car Battery

Everyone has been there – you step out to your car to start your Traverse City commute, just to find that your battery is dead and you need a jump start. Maybe you’re aware that the jump-start by itself will not fully charge the car battery. How long does it take for a battery to charge when you drive it around after being jumped? What about using other methods, like a multi-stage charger? How long to charge a dead car battery can vary by method of charging. Our service department wants to keep you informed, so let’s talk about the different methods below.

Driving Around to Charge a Car Battery

After getting your car jump-started, you will want to drive your car around for a little while Bellaire highways to fully charge the car battery. How long does it take for a battery to charge using this method? This will take about 30 minutes of highway driving. You could charge it while driving on city streets, but it will take longer.

Using a Linear Battery Charger

A linear charger is a simple charger that plugs into a household wall outlet, making it the easiest, if not the fastest, way to charge a car battery. How long does it take for a battery to charge with this method? It can take up to 12 hours.

Using a Multi-Stage Charger

A multi-stage charger costs more than a linear battery charger, but it is far more efficient. It can fully charge a battery in as little as 1 hour.

Trickle Charger

Some of our Kalkaska customers have asked about how long to charge a dead car battery using a trickle charger. These chargers are not meant for charging a dead battery, due to their low output. It’s mostly used by drivers who store their cars for weeks or months at a time without starting them. This charger will prevent the batteries in those cars from dying.

How Long to Charge a Dead Car Battery by Method

• Charge by driving around – 30 minutes
• Linear battery charger (plug into wall) – up to 12 hours
• Multi-stage charger – as little as 1 hour
• Trickle charger – not meant for charging a dead battery.

Trust Your Car to the Battery Experts at Serra Traverse City

If your car’s battery needs to be jumped started once, you probably just left your lights on. If it needs to be jumped multiple times in a row, that’s a problem, and you should get it checked before it dies permanently. The trained professionals in our service center will be happy to help with that. So, schedule an appointment. And, if you found this tip to be helpful, check out our post on how often you should rotate your tires. Remember, we’re just down the road from Lake City, and we’re here to help. So, drop by or contact us today.