How to charge a battery: Car to car

Getting started

Before getting our hands onto the battery, we should check its condition in order to prevent any shocks. Two most important factors are that the battery should not be leaking any acid and it should not have any visible cracks on the body.

Now that we are sure against any chance of a mishap, we can begin the process. The car with the charged battery or the donor car should be parked either parallel to the car with the dead battery or facing in front of each other. 

Getting charged

Once both the cars are in position, open the hood of both the cars and take note of the positive and negative terminals, denoted by the Plus (+) and Minus (-) symbols respectively. The order in which one attaches the wires does make a huge difference so do not get distracted, as it could lead to a potential life-threatening situation if things go wrong. 

Begin the connection by connecting the positive jumper cable (usually red in colour) to the dead battery followed by the charged battery. This step is followed by connecting the negative cable (usually black in colour) to the charged battery to either the frame or chassis of the vehicle with the discharged battery. Make sure the point of contact in the car with the discharged battery is free of paint or rust.

Almost there

Go ahead and start the car with the charged battery. The jumper cables will then transfer the charge to the car with the dead battery. We would suggest letting both the cars to idle in the same condition for at least five to ten minutes so that the dead battery can build up a charge of its own. Do keep in mind, it will take fairly longer to fully charge the dead battery.

Once successful, remove the jumper cables in the exact opposite order in which they were connected. This will prevent any sparks or accidents. Once both the cables are removed, allow the car with the dead battery to idle for another five to ten minutes in order for the alternator to charge the battery.

Mission successful

Once you’ve let the car idle for a while, we would suggest that you take the car out for a small drive of about 20 minutes. This would give the battery an opportunity to charge itself a bit more so that you don’t have to face the same situation the very next time you take out the car again.

Do’s and Don’ts

Do

• Check for all the basic tools before getting started
• Check the terminals before connecting the jumper cables
• Check if the point of contact for negative terminal is free of pain and rust

Do not

• Don’t begin the process without checking the condition/health of the battery
• Don’t get distracted while attaching jumper cables as it can be fatal
• Do not touch the battery if there is any kind of leakage