Car Battery Gets Hot When Charging - Is It Dangerous?

 Car owners are often worried about their car battery getting too warm.

If the car battery gets hot when charging, it could be a sign of danger. But, it does depend on a couple of factors which we're going to cover in this article. 

Car Battery Gets Hot When Charging - Is It Too Warm?

It's normal for car batteries to get a little warm when charging, as there is electricity flowing into them. 

However, the problem arises when it gets too hot, this could be dangerous.

Below, we've gathered some recommended temperatures that your car battery should not exceed. If it does, then you're probably best off buying a new battery or seeing a mechanic.

You can also consider letting the battery cool off with intervals when charging. This may help as well, but if your battery is damaged it can be risky.

Type

Max recommended heat

Lead-acid

50 °C (122°F)

NiCd, NiMH

65 °C (149°F)

Li-ion

60°C (140°F)

Source: Battery University 

If your battery is exceeding these temperatures, you should be careful. There may also be other causes, which we have covered below.

What Other Causes Could There Be?

There could be several other causes for your battery overcharging. We've explained some of them below, so you can avoid them in the future.

  1. Overcharging/ Charging incorrectly

If you are charging your car battery for a longer period than recommended, it could cause damage. Another reason would be if you are charging the car battery with the wrong settings, this could also cause it to overheat. 

2. Heavyweight placed on it

If you place items that have a heavyweight on your car, it can often position it incorrectly. Try not to place any weight on it at all, and if you do, make sure it's not heavy.

Also, avoid keeping them on your car battery for a longer period. 

3. Heating from the engine

If your battery is getting too hot, it could also be from the surrounding engine or heaters. There isn't too much you can do about this, other than to make sure there is enough air going through the car. 


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