Chrysler 2005 Crossfire SRT6 Service Manual page 823

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1. Measure the voltage at the battery posts with a
voltmeter, accurate to 1/10 (0.10) volt. If the read-
ing is below ten volts, the battery charging current
will be low. It could take some time before the bat-
tery accepts a current greater than a few milliam-
peres. Such low current may not be detectable on
the ammeters built into many battery chargers.
2. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable.
Connect the battery charger leads. Some battery
chargers are equipped with polarity-sensing cir-
cuitry. This circuitry protects the battery charger
and the battery from being damaged if they are
improperly connected. If the battery state-of-charge
is too low for the polarity-sensing circuitry to detect,
the battery charger will not operate. This makes it
appear that the battery will not accept charging cur-
rent. See the instructions provided by the manufac-
turer of the battery charger for details on how to
bypass the polarity-sensing circuitry.
3. Battery chargers vary in the amount of voltage and current they provide. The amount of time required for a bat-
tery to accept measurable charging current at various voltages is shown in the Charge Rate Table. If the charg-
ing current is still not measurable at the end of the charging time, the battery is faulty and must be replaced. If
the charging current is measurable during the charging time, the battery may be good and the charging should
be completed in the normal manner.
CHARGE RATE
16.0 volts maximum
14.0 to 15.9 volts
13.9 volts or less
CHARGING TIME REQUIRED
The time required to charge a battery will vary, depending upon the following factors:
• Battery Capacity - A completely discharged heavy-duty battery requires twice the charging time of a small
capacity battery.
• Temperature - A longer time will be needed to charge a battery at -18° C (0° F) than at 27° C (80° F). When
a fast battery charger is connected to a cold battery, the current accepted by the battery will be very low at
first. As the battery warms, it will accept a higher charging current rate (amperage).
• Charger Capacity - A battery charger that supplies only five amperes will require a longer charging time. A
battery charger that supplies twenty amperes or more will require a shorter charging time.
• State-Of-Charge - A completely discharged battery requires more charging time than a partially discharged
battery. Electrolyte is nearly pure water in a completely discharged battery. At first, the charging current
(amperage) will be low. As the battery charges, the specific gravity of the electrolyte will gradually rise.
The Battery Charging Time Table gives an indication of the time required to charge a typical battery at room tem-
perature based upon the battery state-of-charge and the charger capacity.
Voltage
BATTERY SYSTEM 8F - 11
Hours
up to 4 hours
up to 8 hours
up to 16 hours