how long does it normally take to re-charge a car battery?

[magical thyme]

I got stuck in my driveway coming home from early errands yesterday and stalled an embarrassing number of times while rocking my way through the drifts the plowers had left at the entrance. I let it run for 20-30 minutes before shutting it off to re-charge. It's a relatively new battery -- just a couple years old.

I just went out to run an errand and didn't pump quite enough gas for the battery to catch on the 1st or 2nd try. Then remembered yesterday, so pumped it better, but too late. It turns over still, but doesn't catch.

I'm waiting for triple A now...

[Brother Buzz]

1. Clean your battery terminal connectors!

I mean, really clean them.

[Wounded Bear]

2. Good advice...

you might consider a tune up, too. Being hard to start can have a couple of causes. Cold weather can exacerbate most of them.

[Brother Buzz]

3. Little things do make a difference...

like even cleaning the top of the battery.

[magical thyme]

4. it turns out I'd flooded it.

as I mentioned in my OP, I stalled out many times trying to get back in my driveway. Enough that I was concerned about the battery needing to be recharged since I had to re-start it so many times. I thought I'd let it run long enough to recharge, but in hindsight, it may have only been 15 minutes or so.

I'd forgotten about it and didn't pump enough gas in it to turn it over on the 1st 2 tries, and then remembered yesterday and panicked a bit a nd overpumped.

Even with jumpers it took quite a bit for AAA to get it restarted. It's running now....won't make that mistake again any time soon.

[alphafemale]

5. Check the alternator.

If the battery is new as you say that is my guess.

[magical thyme]

6. the battery is fine. I flooded it. nt

[magical thyme]

7. oh, and it takes ~30 minutes running to fully charge it

I'm letting it run longer because I flooded it and to be on the safe side. He said it will be good to burn up the excess.

[Kali]

8. sit in it and run it a little higher than idle

it will be better and faster for the engine (better yet drive around)

[magical thyme]

10. I just drove it to the supermarket and to top of the tank ahead of

yet another storm. Running like a top. The battery was probably fine. I'm just suffering from frozen body, frozen brain exhaustion. 2 hours of shoveling snow and moving hay from shed to barn shortly after 1 1/2 hours of cleaning barn.

[Nac Mac Feegle]

9. There are more than a few things going on

First, the length of time to recharge the battery depends on the power usage of the engine itself, and its' control systems. Then the output of the alternator, which is related to engine speed.

To really fully recharge a battery can take an hour or two of running, even at highway speeds.

The whole car power consumption also has a bearing on this, too: Stereo system usage, headlights and accessories affect the amount of juice to go into the battery.

You also want the engine to get fully warmed up, too. Water will condense in the crankcase, and when combined with combustion byproducts will create a mild sulfuric acid solution. The engine needs to get warm enough ti evaporate this out and coat every surface with oil to protect itself.

If possible, get a charger designed for car batteries and use that to charge your battery, and learn to use it. They are not expensive, even Harbor Freight has them. They usually come with a switch for multiple output currents, such as 2, 6, or 12 Amps.

Basically all you have to remember is: Red for Positive(+), Black for Negative(-) as printed on the battery. Lower charging rates are preferred; they're safer, but take longer. Keep the area well ventilated, as the process produces hydrogen gas. Clip the leads on the battery first, then turn the charger on or plug it in to the power.

Having a charger on overnight at a low setting is best.