How to fix a dead battery? The ultimate FAQ guide to dead battery

What is a dead battery

The dead battery refers to the fully discharged battery, which can reuse after charging. In an automobile battery, it will be subject to sulfation over a period. The negative plates of the battery get coated with sulfate crystals resulting in buildups and reducing the battery’s ability to hold power.

If you allow lithium-ion batteries to discharge below their over-discharge voltage, which usually is 2.5 to 2.75 volts, the battery will slip to sleep mode. At this stage, it won’t take up or be unable to get charged anymore. Even if you try to revive the battery, it won’t have the original power capacity and will show quick discharge problems and become useless or non-dependable.

People might confuse dead battery with battery failure. Dead battery was caused by over discharging. But many reasons may kill your battery to declare as failure. Out of the many facts, battery age is a principal reason to become your battery failure. Like lithium ion batteries have a life between 2500-5000 cycles, and proper maintenance can let you enjoy their maximum life.

Signs of a dead battery

When your lithium battery nears to dead, you will get many warning signs. Some warnings will be critical, and some will be mere warnings related to its performance. You cannot ignore specific warnings because they will be hazardous and endanger your safety.
•The capacity of the battery is very low.
•The battery shows high self–discharging rates
•Low voltage
Some of the dangerous warnings are as follows:
•Battery shows excess heat
•Color change on the battery
The symptoms mentioned above are hazardous, and you must discontinue using such batteries immediately

How do you fix a dead car battery

You can adopt any of the 4 methods to revive a dead car battery.

Jumpstart

Using a jumpstart is the most common method to revive a dead battery. The engine of the second car used to jumpstart must be on. Make a serial connection between the two batteries and start the dead battery car engine by turning on the ignition. If the dead battery is frozen, allow it to thaw before you try to start/revive it.

Epsom salt

If your battery is a conventional lead acid battery, add 1 part of magnesium sulfate to 3 parts of warm water and pour into the battery cell until the plates cover ¼ or ½” of the electrolyte. Magnesium sulfate can change the chemical composition and help to revive the battery.

Outcomes of a dead battery

The following are the outcome of a dead battery.
1.No response
When you start the engine, there won’t be any response when you turn the ignition key. It is an indication that the starter motor is not getting the required power from the battery.
2.The engine won’t turn over, but the starter motor cranks
You can sometimes find the starter motor trying to turn, but the engine won’t rotate. There could be two reasons for it. Either the battery is dead or some problem with the starter. If the starter cranks and the engine fail to start, there can be a problem with the spark plug or fuel supply.
3.Poor cranking
The engine will stutter during cold weather because of a weak battery, a starter issue, or a bad alternator.
4.The engine starts but off immediately
It is because the battery won’t have enough power to run the engine.
5.No lights, horn, or door chime
If there is enough power on your battery, when you open the door of your vehicle, it will chime. Also, when you put on a light or sound horn, if nothing works, the battery is probably dead.
6.Corroded battery terminal
Corrosion can be a reason for bad battery life. If the battery terminal shows a blue-green powder coating, that indicates corrosion. The corrosion will reduce the battery’s ability to recharge.

Recharging a dead battery

Lithium-ion batteries may go into sleep mode after being drained for an extended period of time. Even lithium-ion batteries self-discharge at a very low rate. When lithium-ion batteries reach a low-discharge condition, their protective circuits immediately shut down.

In order to restart a protection circuit, certain analyzers and lithium-ion battery chargers need relatively little electrical power. Having the correct voltage in your battery is essential to charging.

Jumping a dead battery

Jumper wires and another fully charged battery may start a dead battery. How to jump start using another battery power is limited by jumper cables and much more so by cheaper, smaller gauge wires. It may take several minutes to jump start with a fully charged battery.

You will risk damaging the computer system if you let the wires ignite when jumping your appliance or automobiles with management systems. Consult the handbook to check whether jumping your appliance or automobile battery is recommended.

Dead car battery functionality

If the battery has some charge, the car can continue to function. but, if the battery and alternator are both dead, the vehicle will not be able to do so.

Dead batteries revival

To revive a dead battery a multi meter is required to verify the battery’s voltage. A very low battery level might be mistaken for a cell’s death. Refusing to take a charge may happen if you leave a battery in its designated load after it has been completely exhausted.

Use a healthy battery and the voltages from the dead cell to build a parallel circuit. In order to connect batteries, crocodile clips may be used. Both the positive and negative terminals must be joined. Crossing wires may result in a short circuit. If a lithium-ion battery’s voltage increases beyond a specific threshold, it may be recharged.

After this charge the battery to its fullest. And then start to discharge it completely. After the battery is fully discharged seal the battery in a plastic bag and ensure there is no moisture. Freeze that battery for 24 hours. After that, take battery out and place it at room temperature for 8 hours straight. Then charge the lithium ion battery with the charger. Hopefully battery will e revived after this process.

Starting a dead battery without another car

There are following ways by which a dead battery of a car can be started without another car.

By push starting

It is a battery-free method of starting an automobile. You’ll need a short stretch of flat or gently inclining road, and a few strong people to help.

By using a jump start case

Jump boxes are portable battery packs with jumper wires. Using these devices instead of jumper wires may protect your car’s electrical system. Safeguards, AC outlets, and USB ports they’re also cheap and easily accessible at hardware shops and online. In an emergency, keep one in your vehicle.

By calling for roadside help

Roadside assistance is often included in automobile or motorcycle insurance policies, but you should check to be sure. The roadside help phone number is usually on the back of your insurance card.

Charging a dead car battery without a charger

By using jumper cables and a donor car battery

The most common approach involves jumper wires and a donor car. If you don’t have a car charger, using jumper wires is the easiest and safest method. The alternator then recharges the battery. Using jumper cables won’t help if your car’s charging system is broken.

Power supply through solar panel application

Solar panels are another way to charge car batteries without charger if there is sufficient solar energy from sun in that region. You can make this charger at home if you understand voltage and amps. But this method of recharging dead battery is not recommended by the experts.

By using a simple home inverter UPS

A UPS is often used a backup power and also used as power supply for dead batteries if charger is not there. For example, inverter batteries may be used as a 12V battery source for a home or business’s backup power. Car batteries may sometimes be charged using a UPS inverter. There are a few things to look out for when purchasing an inverter.

Portable car Jump starters may be used in emergencies to recharge the battery

Rather than charging the battery, the jump starter is used to initiate the process. The alternator will acquire duty for providing the battery with power as soon as the engine is started.

Conclusion

A dead battery is nothing more than a fully discharged one, indicating its voltage is below the required functional level. If the battery’s voltage is below the operational level, the battery cannot serve its purpose. You can recharge a completely dead battery.