While a trickle charger is often the most appropriate way to charge a car battery, you can’t always guarantee access. There are several other ways to prepare as backups, but if you have an inverter in your home, it can help you charge your car battery quickly without any issues.
Throughout this guide, you’ll learn how to charge a car battery at home with an inverter appropriately. It will also highlight the alternatives that can offer desirable results with standard equipment, especially when you still need to get a dedicated car battery charger.
How To Charge Car Battery at Home With Inverter?
A domestic inverter often uses a lead-acid battery, similar to what you find in most cars. As such, you can use it to charge a car battery without any problems. Although, you do require some additional equipment to make the process safer and more efficient. A few of the essential tools are listed below.
- Portable multimeter
- DPDT toggle switch
- Alligator clips
- 5 mm wire of adequate length
- Fuse box, backup fuses, and wire casing
- A PVC box to store all of the above safely
If you’re not familiar with electricals, you might also want to get yourself a couple of insulating gloves and goggles. Once you have all the tools ready, you can follow the below steps to charge your car battery.
- Check the output voltage from the inverter by connecting both ends of the multimeter to the output cables. Most inverters work around 13V to 15V, enough to charge the car battery. In case the voltage is any lower, you may need to adjust the output from the inverter panel.
- Turn off the inverter and disconnect the cables from the battery. Remember the positive and negative ends, as it will help you connect the car battery correctly.
- Clean the terminals of your car battery and connect it to the inverter cables using the alligator clips. Ensure the positive and negative ends are connected appropriately.
- Once the connections are secure, plug in the inverter to the main power supply, and your car battery should start charging.
It won’t take long for the car battery to charge. Still, it is best to use the multimeter to check the voltage every half an hour. You can turn off the inverter and disconnect the battery when the voltage reads 13V.
See full this video: How to charge motorcycle/car battery at home with inverter
How Can I Charge a Car Battery at Home?
The electricity supply to your home is delivered in the form of AC (Alternating Current). That’s different from what you have in your car battery, which is DC (Direct Current). Thus, you can’t charge your car battery directly from a primary power outlet without causing an electrical fire.
It helps to convert that current to the required output using an inverter or, better yet, a suitable car battery charger. The latter is less expensive and can be customized to the precise specifications of the battery, letting you get the most out of its life cycle.
How Can I Charge My Dead Car Battery at Home Using an Electrical Outlet?
A car battery can be considered dead when it goes beyond its depth of discharge. For most versions, that occurs when the terminal voltage drops to less than 8 Volts. A dead car battery must be handled carefully, as connecting it to a high-density power source can cause a short circuit.
It is best to use a trickle charger for the job. You can modify the current and voltage output precisely, letting you charge the battery safely without reducing its lifespan. It also reduces the chances of the electrolyte leaking from the terminals. A few trickle chargers contain a diagnostic mode that informs you whether the electrodes are undergoing excessive sulfation.
How Do I Determine if My Inverter Is Charging My Battery?
Your inverter should work as intended, regardless of whether you connect your car battery or its original lead-acid pool. Still, using a multimeter, you can ensure that your inverter is charging your car battery. You need to connect the positive end to the battery’s positive terminal and vice versa. Set the voltage range to 20V and turn the multimeter on.
You can repeat the process and note the increasing voltage each time you take a reading. If the charging is too slow or negligible, you might need to ensure all the connections are firm or swap out the setup for a trickle charger instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I charge the car battery with a home inverter?
Yes, but it helps to ensure that the inverter can deliver the charge within a suitable range. A higher current density can short-circuit the battery, whereas a lower voltage won’t recharge it to complete.
Can you charge a dead car battery at home?
Yes. It’s best to use a trickle charger or battery maintainer to revive a dead battery, as they can automatically adjust the output with the charging level. That way, you don’t risk overcharging the battery. So, you get a decent life span even if the battery went dead a while ago.
How can I charge a car battery at home if I don’t have an inverter?
If you don’t have an inverter at home, you can use the following methods to charge a car battery safely.
- Jump Leads
- Solar Panel and Solar Charger
- UPS Inverter
- Charge the Battery By Putting It Into Another Vehicle
- Car Jump Starter
- Battery Isolator
How do I charge a car battery without a charger?
You can charge a car battery at home using an inverter or a similar power backup system, provided it can deliver enough charge. However, dead batteries are best treated with a trickle charger or a battery maintainer.
Can I use a car battery for a home inverter?
Yes, although it will offer you little power backup if you plan to simultaneously run more than a couple of table fans and lights. Moreover, you can’t operate heavy appliances like a fridge or microwave with a car battery.
Conclusion
Several electrical systems in the modern household let you charge your car battery back to its full potential. Knowing a few essential facts about electricals can get you a long way in solving several problems. We hope this guide on how to charge a car battery at home with inverter helps you out of a tight jam when required.
References
