A vehicle’s battery is primarily used to change chemical energy into electrical energy when you start its ignition. The battery also is a part of the process that powers accessories such as alarm systems, clocks, and the radio. When your car has not been driven around the Belleville, IL area, the battery does not have the chance to recharge, which can lead directly to a dead battery. This is why driving regularly is essential.
Leaving your vehicle’s battery while parked for an extended period of time is an easy way for the battery to go from fully charged to dead in two months. Experts recommend driving your vehicle for at least 30 minutes a week in order to keep your battery recharged. A new car battery can last around two weeks without recharging. When it comes to not brand-new car batteries, it depends on how your vehicle is stored, how old the battery is, and how your vehicle is used.
How To Keep A Car Battery Fully Charged When Not in Use
In order to protect your vehicle’s battery, we suggest driving your vehicle regularly. However, there are other actions that you can take in order to keep it charged while it is not being used. These methods include:
- Remove the Car Battery Entirely: if your vehicle is not being driven for a long period of time, removing the battery entirely is a great way to prevent it from dying. Be sure to keep the removed battery in a dry, well-ventilated area that has a steady temperature between 40 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. This will allow the battery draining rate to be slower and it will need to be charged when you want to use it again.
- Disconnect the Negative Battery Cable: The negative car battery terminal is located on the top of the battery. When you disable this cable, you are preventing your battery from being drained. Carefully loosen the negative connector by turning it in a counterclockwise motion. Once it is loose, pull it off and set it aside the battery carefully. Once this is done your battery’s negative cable is disconnected, which will help keep your battery going.
- Disengage the Security System: If your vehicle is parked in a safe location, disabling your vehicle’s security system is a great way to preserve your battery. Leaving this system on will drain your car’s battery more quickly than when it is disabled.
If you are unsure of what to do with your vehicle’s battery if you are not driving too much, give our team at Rowan Tire & Auto Service a call today!
