Can a dead car battery be completely recharged by just jump starting the car and driving around?
Yes, but it depends on what you mean by "dead." A car battery is a rechargeable battery. In common usage dead simply means discharged. Once the engine is running it drives an alternator that recharges the battery. There is probably some misunderstanding because people think of batteries like the ones in a flashlight or toy, which are usually not rechargeable, so must be replaced with fresh ones after they run down. The main reason for a battery in a car is to provide energy to the starter motor to start the engine. That takes a fair amount of energy, but since the battery is rechargeable, unless there's a problem with the wiring connections or with the charging system, it is quickly recharged once the engine starts. However, no rechargeable battery invented so far will last indefinitely. They are all based on a reversible electrochemical process, but there are other non-reversible chemical processes that will eventually degrade the battery's ability to take and hold a charge. With automotive lead-acid flooded cell batteries, the useful life is about 4-8 years, depending on the design and quality of materials and manufacture. When it will no longer hold enough charge to reliably start the engine, it's time to replace the battery. Lead-acid batteries deteriorate much faster when discharged due to a chemical process called sulfation, a non-reversible chemical reaction. Sulfation causes deposits on the battery's lead plates that increase internal resistance and interfere with the ability to take a charge. Sulfation happens much more quickly when the battery is discharged than when it is fully charged. That's why it's important to check your charging system if your battery seems to be pooping out. A weak or marginal charging system leads to battery sulfation and premature failure.
How does someone know whether a car battery is dead and needs to be replaced or just needs a jump start?
A majority of car owners have seen bad car days when they have put the key in the ignition just to find that the car is not starting. The first thought that comes to mind at that time is to identify the culprit, which probably is the battery or alternator in most instances.Here are a few tips to help you to verify whether the battery is dead or just needs a jump start:Checking The Car BatteryStart by checking the dashboard battery gauge to find out whether the battery is sending a charge even when the car is switched off. A dim, flickering light indicates that the battery power is being used up by something.Next, check the commonly used connections such as the windshield wipers, automatic window openers, and brake lights. Turn them off and then try to start the car again.In case it fails to start, wipe the corrosion from the battery with a rag. Try using a jump starter to get it started and run the motor for a while and then turn the car off. If it doesn't get restarted, this indicates that the alternator is working and keeping the battery operational while the motor is running. The problem is actually with the battery as it is unable to retain the charge without the alternator's aid.One thing to bear in mind while evaluating the battery's performance is the time it was installed. Typically, a car battery needs to be replaced every three to four years and if your battery has been installed before that, it might be having issues. With age, it loses its capacity to retain a charge due to the corrosion of the metal inside. This is the time when you have to think about buying a battery for your car. You can buy it from any nearest battery retailer/supplier or order it online from an online battery store.
I have a Park Zone 2-3 Cell Li-po Charger but need some tips?
I have a parkzone 2-3 cell LI-PO charger model LP2000-3. I am trying to charge a model number pkz1033 lithium polymer battery. 11.1v 1300ah (14.43wh) how do I set up the charger to charge the battery. It has a dial with .3 - .5 - 1 - 1.5 - 1.75 and 2.0 where should I set it for the battery?
GPS: What is the best car tracking device with no monthly fee?
The majority of big brands that sell vehicle tracking devices charge a monthly fee. This is because the GPS devices use data to transmit the information, which costs money. The quality brands also have their own tracking software, which requires developers to maintain and improve the software, therefore costing more money.Note: for a free review of the top 3 car tracking devices please click here.So what’s your options?Purchase a device from eBay, Amazon etc. These devices are quite cheap however you’ll have to purchase your own SIM card and sign up for a monthly data plan to use the device.Do some research to find a high-quality company that doesn’t charge ridiculously high rates ($25+/month).If you want to go the cheapest option, here’s a forewarning from someone who has used several of these devices..Yes, they are cheap. Yes, the monthly fee is only your data costs ($5/month).BUT, sometimes they’re an endless trap of frustration. You won’t get any technical support if you’re having difficulties with the device. You probably will have some difficulties because the instruction manuals are riddled with terrible English. The devices themselves are cheap - they’re made from cheap components, aren’t reliable and aren’t very accurate. And the software is downright crap.So what’s my recommendation?Find a simple to use tracker, from a quality brand that doesn’t have over-the-top fees. And that’s where the FM3001 comes in, along with my company, Car Trackers Club.We’ve been working 1-on-1 with customers to build a company from the ground-up that services you, our customer. We’ve designed an intuitive-to-use tracking platform and mobile apps, and are now providing an even easier to use tracking device…No setup/installation necessary, works straight out of the box.Huge range of Smart Alerts - Fuel consumption, overspeeding alerts, geofences, crash detection, towing detection, theft alerts, driver behaviour alerts, trip logging and a whole lot more. These alerts can be easily set using our mobile app or online platform.Intuitive Tracking Platform that’s built around simplicity.Quality tested in Europe, 2 year warranty.No contracts, no hidden fees, works worldwide.This device was build specifically for beginners, keeping simplicity in mind. At the same time, we wanted to provide a range of useful alerts that were easy to set.I believe we’ve accomplished this.For more information please take a look at these guides: GPS Car Trackers Club.Cheers, Luca.
Why are Apple and Samsung still not capable of producing batteries which last 3 to 4 days on one charge? It is just a battery?
Apple does not have its own Li-ion R&D or battery manufacturing capability. Apple buys from a (large) dedicated Li-ion battery mfr in China. Samsung has a subsidiary that manufactures Li-ion batteries, along with excellent R&D. Samsung Li-ion batteries are among some of the best on the market; at least in the 18650 cells.Current Li-ion batteries in cell/mobile phones has to compromise between storage capacity and cost. LCO is the most popular chemistry for cell phones, and its specific-energy is around 180 Wh/kg. Tesla uses the highest specific-energy Li-ion batteries (NCA) on the market (250 Wh/kg). If cell phones used the NCA chemistry, then its cost will be about 20–30% more.There are many new battery chemistries that have much higher storage capability than the LCO or NCA that are being developed, but their cycle-life is not good enough for 2-years of cell phone use. Then they all have to go through rigorous testing before they can be commercialized.After the Li-ion experience in fires and explosions during the early years of its commercial existence, new battery chemistries are extra cautious in being rushed to market. Personally, I’m hopeful that the metal-air batteries will overcome their technical snags. These batteries have one-half of itself replaced with air (crude way of putting it), so it’s much lighter, and it can be 2–3 times the current storage capacity. So, it might make it to 3–4 days in your cell phone (not continuous talking or watching movies).Unless you’re out in the wilderness without a solar charging pack or power banks or a hand-generator, you are usually within a short physical distance or short time distance from an outlet or charger. If you have a new energy storage gizmo (new generation supercapacitor) in place of your Li-ion battery in your cell phone that can be fully charged in less than a minute, but only good for about 12–24 hours; would you be willing to have that over a much more expensive battery that’s good for 2–3 days? I’m surveying, so please leave your vote or thoughts in the Comments section, below. Thanks.