This remains a popular question in automotive circles today. Here, we’ll explore many of the factors that can affect how fast your battery charges.
We’ll take a look at when it’s best to rev your engine to help charge the battery, whether jump-starting the battery helps to charge it, and whether revving the engine hurts the car. We’ll also explain how you can safely rev your engine in order to charge the battery.
From engine temperature to alternator amperage, we’ll explore the different benefits of revving your engine to charge the battery.
Does Revving the Engine Charge Your Battery Faster?
The short answer is yes. Revving your engine does charge your battery faster, but only when the battery is in a significant state of discharge. Automotive engineers design car systems to ensure that the battery remains charged throughout extensive use.
Lead-acid batteries, which are used most commonly in cars, require only the amperage provided by the alternator while the car is idling. The exception to this rule occurs when the battery reaches a low state of charge.
At that point, the battery will be primed to receive more amperage than when the alternator runs in idle. Revving the engine will charge the battery faster because the alternator increases this amperage. When you rev the engine, the alternator begins to run faster, which helps charge the battery.
Does Revving the Engine Charge Your Battery Faster When Jumping?
Revving the engine can charge the battery faster when jumping. When a battery requires jumping, it has reached a significantly low level of charge. At this point, the battery is in an ideal state to receive increased amperage (and therefore charge) from the alternator.
Once the alternator is engaged above idle speed, it means that it has reached its full output potential. The battery will then charge faster. Revving the engine causes the alternator to run faster, engaging it above idle speed consistently.
It is advisable to rev the engine to between 1200 and 2000 RPM for around five minutes while the jumper cables are connected. This ensures that the battery will be warm, which makes charging whicker. It also helps add a surface charge to a battery in a low state of charge.
A surface charge will elevate the voltage of the battery. This will make it ready to receive increased amperage from the alternator. After revving the engine to charge your battery, make sure to take your car out for a drive.
Driving for at least half an hour will continue to charge the battery, ensuring that you won’t need another jump start.
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Noco GB40
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Does Revving the Engine Hurt the Car?
You must be careful when revving the engine to charge the battery because revving the engine can hurt the car. This will only happen if the engine is cold or if the car is in neutral.
Revving the engine in either of those states can cause excessive engine wear. It is also advisable to avoid revving the engine too frequently. Ensuring the temperature of the engine doesn’t spike can help prevent damage from revving the car.
Warming your engine up beforehand makes revving less dangerous and can also help charge the battery faster. Unfortunately, you’re unlikely to have a warmed engine if you’re attempting to start a car with a dead battery. In this case, be careful when revving the engine to avoid damaging it.
What is the Safest Way to Rev the Engine?
You can rev your engine safely by considering a few factors, including the temperature of the engine. Here are some steps to help you rev your engine safely:
Step 1: Start your car and put it in neutral. You may not be able to do this if your car’s battery is completely dead and requires a jump-start. If you are jump-starting the car, start the engine and put the car in neutral immediately.
Step 2: Let the engine idle for a few seconds. After you start the car, you should allow the engine to idle for about a minute. This allows the oil in the engine to properly circulate.
Having oil circulating in the engine while you rev it can help prevent engine damage.
Step 3: Next, rev your car. Press down on the accelerator pedal until the needle on your tachometer is on the red end of the gauge.
The needle dipping into the red indicates that your car has reached maximum safe engine speed (as recommended by the manufacturer).
Step 4: When you are finished revving your car, slowly release the pressure on the accelerator pedal until the engine returns to idling.
Conclusion
As we have shown, revving the engine does charge the battery faster. When the battery is at a low state of charge or completely discharged, the engine’s speed will increase the alternator’s amperage. The result is that your battery charges faster.
Be careful about how much you rev the engine and try to rev the engine in ideal engine conditions to avoid damage.
