How long engine running charge battery

Delete as applicable. Also its not good to let an engine idle for long periods. No alarm to drain and not possible to get a charger to it. Junkyard Free Member. You need an intelligent charger that fits to the alternator to take accurate battery measures and false load the battery to produce charge A solar charger is not a bad practical solution I lived on 12 volts for about 8 years on a boat.

HoratioHufnagel Free Member. Depends how big your alternator is,. Drac Full Member. Drac if it lasted for a day or two it was not fully charged was it? A Long drive it is Posted 7 years ago. Stoner Free Member. A lot of covers now have see through pockets in them for just such a thing Posted 7 years ago. MSP Full Member. A brand new battery will still drain slowly, more so in cold months. So each time you start and leave it to idle, the charge will get lower and lower and lower.

Even if you're driving every day, but only for short trips to the store, you're shortening the life of your battery because it never fully recharges. That's because fewer people are making those long commutes that give the system a better chance to do its job properly. So how do you prevent the battery from dying? If the car is going to be stored and won't be used at all for a few months, you could disconnect the battery negative cable, says Stephen Leroux, professor at Centennial College in Toronto.

That will stop the car's electrical system from drawing power from the battery. That's probably not realistic if you're living in a condo and still might need to drive — in that case, Leroux recommends installing a smart charger. Unlike a traditional charger, which can eventually overcharge a battery, a smart charger only delivers as much power as your battery needs — once the battery is fully charged, it will turn off the current.

They can stay in the vehicle all year round — you end up with a plug hanging out of the front of your vehicle, just like with a block heater.

Really the battery is charging every time the car is running. The alternator keeps a constant flow of AC power running to the battery. The alternator is producing power every time the car is running. Ergo the battery is being charged the entire time the car engine is running. I highly encourage you to watch the following, very entertaining video, that explains it in great detail:.

It should be noted that this is assuming the car battery is in good health. Now some of you may be wondering do car batteries charge while the car is idling?

Again, assuming that the battery can still hold a charge. Again, I encourage you to watch the video above, this answer will make more sense. As long as the mechanical action of the alternator is taking place; that is, being turned by the engine crankshaft.

Then the alternator is producing AC current, thereby charging the battery while your car is idling. Do you need a new battery? Or can you salvage your old car battery? Click the button to learn more. So this is an interesting question, that came up during my research. During these times of the Coronavirus many of us have our vehicles sitting much longer than they ever had.

So is it a good idea or even worth the energy spent to let your engine idle to recharge your battery. In this article from Jalopnik , they interview an electrical engineer who tested a Toyota Tacoma. Want to find out more about how to maintain your car?

Then head over to our guides page for information on vehicle maintenance. Ready to secure the very best lease deal on your next car? You're in the right place Moneyshake has over 3 million live prices on site right now! Compare lease deals now.