How can I check the charging of my automotive battery?

[Ulli]

I have dismantled my automotive battery, because it was discharged. (We have here frost since weeks - The climate change is a lie!)

Then I have connected the battery to an old battery charger a friendly older guy borrowed me.

There is only one analog display "charging  current". It goes from 0-6 arith and from 0-9 eff.

I wanted to know how I can see if the battery is charged and ready for use again.

The battery charger has 12 Volt and 6 Amp. The battery has 12 Volt and 61 Ah.

Thank you for the help in advance.

[Irish Zionist]

Ask here
http://www.justanswer.com/car/uk?r=ppc

[Ulli]

Ask here
http://www.justanswer.com/car/uk?r=ppc

Thank you for the link, but no. 

I got everytime I asked a question a good answer on JTF. If somebody else has questions about the things I know, I will answer too.

Perhaps if someone will find the questions and answers on google we can "lure" him/her to our nice forum.

 

[Rubystars]

If the friendly guy let you borrow the charger maybe he would know how to use it and could answer your question.

[Ulli]

If the friendly guy let you borrow the charger maybe he would know how to use it and could answer your question.

Yes, but I don't have his number and I don't know were he lives. I knew him, because he works near my location, we greet each other usually in the morning. He saw, that I had problems to start the car so he gave the charger to me.

[looserivet]

Can you be more specific about the problem. Does your battery go flat over night or while you drive. I will presume it's overnight and you have checked that the Battery has been topped up with distilled water and the Battery terminals are free from corrosion?
There are two possibilities: 1.) The battery has started to short internally, which means it is time to get a new battery. or 2.) There is a small ground in the positive side of the wiring system, which slowly drains the battery when the alternator is off. The way to test for the latter is to disconnect the positive cable from the battery, and, using a multimeter set to check resistance, check between the positive cable and the frame of the car. If there is a ground (Usually a worn spot in some wire's insulation) you will know immediately. If that is the case, then you will obviously have to trace down the spot that is grounded, good luck. The interim remedy is to disconnect the battery every time the car is stopped. If there is no ground detected, then it is the battery, go get a new one.
If you go to a specialist shop that just supplies Batteries for vehicles they will normally check your battery for you for free if you take it in.

[Secularbeliever]

you can try putting it back in the car and see if the car starts.  If you get the car started let it run for awhile and the alternator will recharge to a proper level.  In the old days you could take the car to a Sears battery center and they would check your battery, alternator and voltage regulator for free.  Good luck.

[Cato]

Ask here
http://www.justanswer.com/car/uk?r=ppc

I got everytime I asked a question a good answer on JTF.

Any luck with the Elephant?

[Ulli]

looserivet, the problem with the battery is, that in the morning at cold days like we had the last weeks, the starting process of the diesel-engine takes a long time. Pre-glowing, then turning the starting motor on and finally repeat the process two-three times. I already use a special spray, "start pilot", that I put into the air intake of the engine. The van is a little bit older. If I drive only a little bit the day, I think, that the starting process consumes more energy, than later during use the generator can produce. Plus in cold days the power of the battery is lower than during normal temperatures.

But in order to be shure I will drive in the next days to a garage in order to let them check for the ground in the wiering system.

Secularbeliever, I think I will do it like you said. I let the battery tonight connected with the charger and tomorrow morning I will put it in. The battery is then room-warm too, so the load will be better than yesterday or today.

I don't think the battery will explode or something else bad will happen if it is connected a few hours too long or too short to the charging unit. I have connected it now for a few hours and it didn't feel even warm.

Cato I told my friend about the things ACK wrote about the gravure. He was very thankfull. He got for the elephant in the end some money.