Remove cables before charging?

[Hans]

Hello,

A number of people talk about charging the battery while still in the car.

Is it possible or advisable to connect a trickle charger with the battery leads connected?

This seems like a silly question. In searching I have yet to find an answer.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Slingshot]

Yes (leave battery in car) and no (disconnect the positive lead); look here

[This message has been edited by Slingshot (edited 16 February 2003).]

 

[Tony Montoya]

If you have gone so far as to remove the positive terminal I would remove the battery and charge it out of the car.
This year I have a Schumacher changer connected to the battery which is still in the car. How it can charge the battery without wrecking the electrical system I have no idea but I guess 1.25 amps is too low to cause damage.
Was your charger plugged in before you hooked up the alligator clips because hooking a charger directly to a battery is no problem in my other car.

 

[Hans]

Oh my. A case of RTFM!

Thanks!

[This message has been edited by Hans (edited 16 February 2003).]

 

[nsxtasy]

Can the charger be connected using the fuse box terminal and ground in the engine compartment (like the FM says to do for jump-starting the car) or do you have to connect a charger to the battery itself?

 

[Hans]

Hi Ken,

That would be really nice and easy. Do any of you tech pros have an answer?

 

[Lud]

The owners manual specifically recommends jumping at the battery and NOT at the jump start terminal.

The owners manual also says: "NOTICE: Charging the battery with the cables connected can seriously damage your car's electronic controls. Detach the battery cables before connecting the battery to a charger."

It also says you should not charge the battery in the car due to the increased possibility of a hydrogen gas explosion.

Doesn't the charger have to be connected to both + and - ? There is only + at the jump start terminal in the fuse box anyway.

[This message has been edited by Lud (edited 17 February 2003).]

 

[nsxtasy]

Originally posted by Lud:
The owners manual specifically recommends jumping at the battery and NOT at the jump start terminal.

Uh... you mean charging, not jumping, right?

Originally posted by Lud:
The owners manual also says: "NOTICE: Charging the battery with the cables connected can seriously damage your car's electronic controls. Detach the battery cables before connecting the battery to a charger."

Well, my onboard charger is permanently connected. But the amount of charge is small (trickle charge) and regulated (to prevent overcharging) so I think I'm okay.

Originally posted by Lud:
Doesn't the charger have to be connected to both + and - ? There is only + at the jump start terminal in the fuse box anyway.

The reason there is only a + is that you can use any major bolted-on part (such as clamping to the engine block or the alternator housing) as a ground, for the -.

 

[Lud]

I'm just telling people the owners manual says to charge the battery with it disconnected and removed from the car. Do as you see fit!

[This message has been edited by Lud (edited 17 February 2003).]