I think some people have a frozen and discharged battery mixed up with a charged battery thats not frozen. Im going to wager that a frozen battery is now junk. For one deep discharging them aint good and freezing will break the plates im guessing
frozen battery charge?
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Originally Posted By: Kuato
Guys, the battery in your car charges as you drive. If there was an issue charging a battery in subzero temps, they would be exploding all over the northern US, wouldn't they?
I wouldn't put a rapid charger on it, but jumping the vehicle and letting the alternator do the job of recharging should be fine. UNLESS the dynamics/chemistry of a completely dead battery are different than a partially uncharged battery.
Freezing point changes with state of charge. A charged battery will not freeze until it's very cold. A battery with low charge will freeze at fairly high temperatures, close to that of water.
Guys, the battery in your car charges as you drive. If there was an issue charging a battery in subzero temps, they would be exploding all over the northern US, wouldn't they?
I wouldn't put a rapid charger on it, but jumping the vehicle and letting the alternator do the job of recharging should be fine. UNLESS the dynamics/chemistry of a completely dead battery are different than a partially uncharged battery.
Freezing point changes with state of charge. A charged battery will not freeze until it's very cold. A battery with low charge will freeze at fairly high temperatures, close to that of water.
Originally Posted By: Kuato
All good points 2cool. Reason un swollen batteries explode is because when charging they produce hydrogen. If you are smoking around a charging battery you are a little soft upstairs.
The other reason batteries explode is that when you charge the battery, most people just do it battery to battery instead of to a ground on the discharged battery and that creates sparks. It's the sparks that ignite the hydrogen gas. You normally get the sparks when putting the cable on or taking it off. It's why goggles or a face shield should be worn when charging a battery, there's between 5000-10000 cases of batteries exploding each year.
All good points 2cool. Reason un swollen batteries explode is because when charging they produce hydrogen. If you are smoking around a charging battery you are a little soft upstairs.
The other reason batteries explode is that when you charge the battery, most people just do it battery to battery instead of to a ground on the discharged battery and that creates sparks. It's the sparks that ignite the hydrogen gas. You normally get the sparks when putting the cable on or taking it off. It's why goggles or a face shield should be worn when charging a battery, there's between 5000-10000 cases of batteries exploding each year.
+1 on Wolf359 and 2cool.
This thread should be edited down to their 2 comments. This particular danger needs to be underscored. Kira
This thread should be edited down to their 2 comments. This particular danger needs to be underscored. Kira
Originally Posted By: Kuato
Originally Posted By: KB2008X
Originally Posted By: Kuato
Guys, the battery in your car charges as you drive. If there was an issue charging a battery in subzero temps, they would be exploding all over the northern US.
I wouldn't put a rapid charger on it, but jumping the vehicle and letting the alternator do the job of recharging should be fine.
That isn't a very good idea, in fact that is bad advice. What you are suggesting is like playing Russian Roulette. Charging systems are not all created equal. Some don't seem to be affected by driving around on a low battery. Other vehicles are quite sensitive and will be ruined by doing this. Especially a battery that it is flat out dead.
An entire vehicle, ruined by driving on a low battery? What references do you have for this, and do you have anything from the owner's manual of any vehicle telling owners not to drive below a certain voltage? I thought this condition was what voltage regulators (in older cars) and computers(in newer) were for.
No......it will not ruin the entire vehicle. Jeez. lol I did however neglect to spell that out, so thank you for pointing that out. To be specific your advice was bad because expecting a vehicles charging system to recharge a dead battery is a job that charging systems are not designed for. Some can handle it some of the time, some can't. There are many variables that affect whether that tactic leads to a damaged
alternator or not. Sometimes it results in more than just a damaged alternator. Sometimes charging a dead battery with that vehicle's charging system leads to nothing but a charged battery and a blissful driver.
My reference is decades of actual, automotive repair experience.
Originally Posted By: KB2008X
Originally Posted By: Kuato
Guys, the battery in your car charges as you drive. If there was an issue charging a battery in subzero temps, they would be exploding all over the northern US.
I wouldn't put a rapid charger on it, but jumping the vehicle and letting the alternator do the job of recharging should be fine.
That isn't a very good idea, in fact that is bad advice. What you are suggesting is like playing Russian Roulette. Charging systems are not all created equal. Some don't seem to be affected by driving around on a low battery. Other vehicles are quite sensitive and will be ruined by doing this. Especially a battery that it is flat out dead.
An entire vehicle, ruined by driving on a low battery? What references do you have for this, and do you have anything from the owner's manual of any vehicle telling owners not to drive below a certain voltage? I thought this condition was what voltage regulators (in older cars) and computers(in newer) were for.
No......it will not ruin the entire vehicle. Jeez. lol I did however neglect to spell that out, so thank you for pointing that out. To be specific your advice was bad because expecting a vehicles charging system to recharge a dead battery is a job that charging systems are not designed for. Some can handle it some of the time, some can't. There are many variables that affect whether that tactic leads to a damaged
alternator or not. Sometimes it results in more than just a damaged alternator. Sometimes charging a dead battery with that vehicle's charging system leads to nothing but a charged battery and a blissful driver.
My reference is decades of actual, automotive repair experience.
Originally Posted By: bmwjohn
I should have thought of that. obvious choice. probably can't get to vehicle in time. results of putting jump starter on battery for 15 min and then starting?
If you can't avoid it freezing, bring a new battery and tools with you when you finally get to the truck.
As others have noted, freezing destroys the battery by destroying the structure of the plates and separators, even if it is an absorbed glass mat design.
Even if you manage to revive a frozen battery, it will not be long for this world.
I should have thought of that. obvious choice. probably can't get to vehicle in time. results of putting jump starter on battery for 15 min and then starting?
If you can't avoid it freezing, bring a new battery and tools with you when you finally get to the truck.
As others have noted, freezing destroys the battery by destroying the structure of the plates and separators, even if it is an absorbed glass mat design.
Even if you manage to revive a frozen battery, it will not be long for this world.
Originally Posted By: KB2008X
Originally Posted By: Kuato
Originally Posted By: KB2008X
Originally Posted By: Kuato
Guys, the battery in your car charges as you drive. If there was an issue charging a battery in subzero temps, they would be exploding all over the northern US.
I wouldn't put a rapid charger on it, but jumping the vehicle and letting the alternator do the job of recharging should be fine.
That isn't a very good idea, in fact that is bad advice. What you are suggesting is like playing Russian Roulette. Charging systems are not all created equal. Some don't seem to be affected by driving around on a low battery. Other vehicles are quite sensitive and will be ruined by doing this. Especially a battery that it is flat out dead.
An entire vehicle, ruined by driving on a low battery? What references do you have for this, and do you have anything from the owner's manual of any vehicle telling owners not to drive below a certain voltage? I thought this condition was what voltage regulators (in older cars) and computers(in newer) were for.
No......it will not ruin the entire vehicle. Jeez. lol I did however neglect to spell that out, so thank you for pointing that out. To be specific your advice was bad because expecting a vehicles charging system to recharge a dead battery is a job that charging systems are not designed for. Some can handle it some of the time, some can't. There are many variables that affect whether that tactic leads to a damaged
alternator or not. Sometimes it results in more than just a damaged alternator. Sometimes charging a dead battery with that vehicle's charging system leads to nothing but a charged battery and a blissful driver.
My reference is decades of actual, automotive repair experience.
LOL sorry I felt the need to pick on that one point.
. Over the years I've jumped tens of cars with dead batteries. How dead? Dunno. But each and every one of them, once started, charged the battery, whether it was 10 below or 100 above, regardless of make or model or whether it was a 1970's vintage or 2010.
No one should ever try to charge a battery that was leaking, cracked, or deformed in any way.
Thanks to all for the education on the changing dynamics/chemistry of batteries depending on state of charge.
Originally Posted By: Kuato
Originally Posted By: KB2008X
Originally Posted By: Kuato
Guys, the battery in your car charges as you drive. If there was an issue charging a battery in subzero temps, they would be exploding all over the northern US.
I wouldn't put a rapid charger on it, but jumping the vehicle and letting the alternator do the job of recharging should be fine.
That isn't a very good idea, in fact that is bad advice. What you are suggesting is like playing Russian Roulette. Charging systems are not all created equal. Some don't seem to be affected by driving around on a low battery. Other vehicles are quite sensitive and will be ruined by doing this. Especially a battery that it is flat out dead.
An entire vehicle, ruined by driving on a low battery? What references do you have for this, and do you have anything from the owner's manual of any vehicle telling owners not to drive below a certain voltage? I thought this condition was what voltage regulators (in older cars) and computers(in newer) were for.
No......it will not ruin the entire vehicle. Jeez. lol I did however neglect to spell that out, so thank you for pointing that out. To be specific your advice was bad because expecting a vehicles charging system to recharge a dead battery is a job that charging systems are not designed for. Some can handle it some of the time, some can't. There are many variables that affect whether that tactic leads to a damaged
alternator or not. Sometimes it results in more than just a damaged alternator. Sometimes charging a dead battery with that vehicle's charging system leads to nothing but a charged battery and a blissful driver.
My reference is decades of actual, automotive repair experience.
LOL sorry I felt the need to pick on that one point.
No one should ever try to charge a battery that was leaking, cracked, or deformed in any way.
Thanks to all for the education on the changing dynamics/chemistry of batteries depending on state of charge.
Last edited:
How to charge a car battery with a chain saw:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vroaQjGCkc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vroaQjGCkc
thanks for the info. I have to be at work 3pm tomorrow and my outside outlet won't work. used it only once this summer - ever - has gfci w/red light - always - tried reset and also fuse box several times w/no joy.Hadn't used it since initial electrical install/check and 1 time 2 prong summer use. if I can string a cord out window tomorrow it will be possible to put heat lamp on and perhaps unfreeze battery and hopefully jump start. Then bite bullet and get new battery if anyone has one. my 3 year AAP warranty ran out 12/13. -15 this am, -1 now, not counting windchill. tomorrow am will trend to 28? by early afternoon. I hate it when I am not prepared. Makes me feel like I am a welfare client, never planning correctly!
Originally Posted By: Vikas
what is the actual temperature for a charged battery to freeze? I am suspecting it is very low, should be even lower than your coolant.
More than you would ever want to know:
Battery Freezing Math
.
what is the actual temperature for a charged battery to freeze? I am suspecting it is very low, should be even lower than your coolant.
More than you would ever want to know:
Battery Freezing Math
.
Originally Posted By: bmwjohn
thanks for the info. I have to be at work 3pm tomorrow and my outside outlet won't work... I hate it when I am not prepared. Makes me feel like I am a welfare client, never planning correctly!
Don't worry about it, winter's a buttkicker!
Your battery may still be okay/ not frozen, even if it won't start your car. Treat it tenderly!
thanks for the info. I have to be at work 3pm tomorrow and my outside outlet won't work... I hate it when I am not prepared. Makes me feel like I am a welfare client, never planning correctly!
Don't worry about it, winter's a buttkicker!
Your battery may still be okay/ not frozen, even if it won't start your car. Treat it tenderly!
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