How Long Does a Car Battery Last After a Jumpstart

You don’t need to fret when you wake up to a dead car battery. A jumpstart will provide sufficient current to start it in no time. However, you must charge it by running the engine for at least thirty minutes. Otherwise, it will not power your vehicle for more than fifteen minutes. 

A prematurely dead battery occurs now and then. It is an indication that something is wrong with it, often old age. Alternatively, you may have left the car accessories running, a reasonably common occurrence. 

Either way, every car owner needs a good pair of jumper cables to avoid getting stranded at home or in the middle of the road. Naturally, you will wonder how long the battery will last after jumpstarting it. We implore you to read on to find out. 

How Long Does a Car Battery Last After a Jumpstart?

A dead battery means there is insufficient juice to power your vehicle. Conventionally, the car powers the engine through the alternator, charging the battery for later use. However, use without running the engine simultaneously will drain the charge on the battery. 

Thankfully, you can provide enough current to start the engine and leave the alternator to charge the battery. Your vehicle needs to run for at least thirty minutes before you can rely on the battery again. Otherwise, it will not power the engine long enough for a turnover. You may also wake up to a dead battery sooner than you expect. 

So, leave the engine running by taking a relatively long drive. 

But again, the duration that the battery will serve you depends on several factors. Some of them include: 

• How long the battery has been without a charge: If your battery has been dead for a significant period, it will take a longer time for it to attain a full charge. Depending on the model of your vehicle, it can take a few hours or days. 

• The model and age of your battery: Dying frequently is reasonably expected for older batteries. If your battery has gone flat because you left the headlights on, it may be time for a replacement. 

• How often you jumpstart it: If you have jumpstarted your vehicle many times in a short span, it may be a sign that your battery is faulty. 

• Corroded terminals: It could also be because of corroded terminals, which prevent it from getting a full and undisturbed charge. One form of corrosion accelerates battery discharge, which may be what is wrong with your vehicle.

• How often you jumpstart other vehicles: Naturally, if your battery is used to jumpstart other cars frequently, it will take longer to achieve a full charge when you rejuvenate the dead battery. 

Does Jumpstarting the Car Recharge the Battery? 

Jumpstarting a battery entails using jumper cables to receive current from a well-charged battery. A transfer of power is just enough to turn over the battery. Afterward, it becomes the duty of the alternator to charge the battery. 

So, jumpstarting the car does not recharge the battery. It only supplies the required current to revive the battery. If you do not keep the engine running, your vehicle will die again in no time. 

How many amps do I need to jumpstart my car?

The average car requires about 400 amps to turn over the engine. If you have larger vehicles like trucks and SUVs, an average of 1,000 amps will suffice. 

Jump starters have been designed to detect the number of amps that will revive a dead battery, so you do not need to bother with the calculations. 

When do I need to jumpstart my vehicle? 

Corrosion is a fairly common challenge for car batteries. Without proper maintenance, battery terminals develop a powdery substance that causes several problems. 

One of them is a fast battery discharge – you will likely meet a dead battery more often than anyone deserves because it eventually affects the voltage strength. 

Alternatively, a dead battery will require a jump start before powering the engine. Afterward, if your battery shows a voltage readout between 12 to 12.4, then you can bring the battery to a full charge with the alternator. It is safe to leave the engine running for a significant period.

However, you must avoid turning on car accessories during the process. 

Is it safe to jumpstart my battery? 

Jumpstarting a battery is a straightforward and convenient method of reviving it. You provide just enough charge to power your vehicle by forcing an electricity flow from a fully charged battery. 

Although the process is relatively safe, you must express concern when dealing with electricity. If the battery is already damaged, connecting jumper cables can be disastrous. 

What can I use to charge a dead car battery?

Frequently jumpstarting a car battery can eventually damage it. This is because the jumper cables supply powerful and sudden bursts of electrical currents. But again, if your battery dies far too often, it could be a sign that it is already damaged. 

Instead of subjecting your automobile to this excruciating process, you can get a car battery charger. This is an excellent option if your voltage reading falls below 12 volts. In that case, a dedicated battery charger will be a safer option because it will slowly charge the battery. 

Unlike jumpstarting, this method offers a slow and steady supply of electrical currents. Depending on how weak your battery is, you may achieve a full charge in a few hours to days. 

Bottom line 

While it is expected for a car battery to die occasionally, a frequent occurrence does not bode well. It consumes time and resources, and jumpstarting it often can be dangerous.

So, when you recharge your car battery frequently, you can check the age to determine if it is time for a replacement.