While revving the engine, the alternator produces more electric power than while sitting idle. This current is supplied to all of the car’s major electronic components and the rest of the current charges the battery. This shows that you can charge the battery by revving the engine even though it won’t charge as much as you may expect.
We have organized all the information about how the charging system works so you can understand it properly. Read the whole article to know how you can charge your vehicle’s battery efficiently and safely.
Does Revving The Engine Charge The Battery Faster?
Revving the engine may shortly charge your battery but when you are already charging it, revving can make charging fast & save your time. The alternator produces more power while revving because of the rotor turning faster. This means that more current will be produced while revving.
You can easily charge the battery with the amperage that comes from the alternator while idling. But when the battery is almost dead or at a low state of charge, it requires more amperage than what the alternator can produce while idling. So, you can rev your engine to produce more amperage by running the alternator faster.
Running faster has been a really old trick to charge the battery faster. This means that revving the engine charges the battery faster when the battery is completely discharged or at a low state. If you can properly rev up your engine up to the red line, you will surely be able to charge the battery faster.
Analyzing Engine’s Charging System
A vehicle’s charging system mainly works with an alternator, regulator, and battery. The whole function works by producing the necessary current and supplying them to the battery. This current charge is then spread and used in all-electric components of the vehicle.
The alternator is the main part of the vehicle’s charging system that works with the crankshaft, rotor, and alternator belt. The crankshaft is connected with the engine and it starts production of charging. The crankshaft is also connected with the rotor and alternator serpentine belt.
When you rev the engine, the crankshaft turns and creates motion. This motion moves the alternator belt that is linked to the rotor and allows the alternator to generate current from the engine power. The faster you rev the engine, the more motion will be created and thus, the alternator can generate more current.
The current flow that is generated in the alternator is supplied to the voltage regulator. The voltage regulator allocates the current to the electric components. The current that is left after allocating to electric components is supplied to the battery for charging. There is nothing to worry about if you have allocated more current than necessary because it will only charge the battery faster without damaging the engine or the battery.
It is amusing that revving the engine allows you to allocate more current and charge your vehicle’s battery efficiently. This formula works with the chain reaction of all the components along with the engine and the alternator.
Keep in mind that all of these components have to be in prime condition to provide fast charging for your vehicle’s battery. If any of these components do not work properly, then you won’t be able to charge the battery by revving.
Read also: Does revving your engine help when jumping a car?
How To Rev The Engine To Charge The Battery Faster?
To charge your battery faster by revving, you need to know the proper steps to perform revving. You can’t just hit the gas and think that just revving improperly would also do the work. Here are some steps and tips that you need to follow:
1. Turning On The Engine
A lot of people forget that you can not run or accelerate the engine without turning it on. You have to turn on the engine before charging and also warm it up to avoid cold starts that can damage the engine.
2. Engine Oil Circulation
After you turn on the engine, it takes a few seconds for the engine oil to lubricate all engine components. You should wait for around 10 to 20 seconds before accelerating so that the engine oil is properly circulated. Don’t get restless and start accelerating before engine oil is circulated because it would only damage your vehicle’s engine and produce engine wear.
3. Acceleration
Accelerating is the main process of revving the engine. Before pressing the accelerator, you have to make sure that your other foot is on the brake pedal. You have to press the brakes while revving even if the vehicle is in neutral because the vehicle may be front and back even when it is in neutral.
While accelerating, keep your eyes on the rpm meter (tachometer) to make sure that the speed doesn’t touch the redline. A car can create a lot of current by revving over redline but it may also cause damage to the engine.
You have to keep releasing the accelerator right before it reaches the red line. You need to perform revving like this for a few minutes at least.
is it good to Revving The Engine Charge The Battery When Jump-Starting?
We have already informed you that the faster you rev up the engine the faster the battery will charge. When jump-starting, the engine runs to its maximum torque which allows the alternator to run faster and produce more current. After jumping, driving for at least half an hour will completely recharge your vehicle’s battery.
If your vehicle’s battery requires jumping, then it is in the ideal state to receive that extra amperage from the alternator. Jump-starting takes the alternator to its full potential and produces charge at a faster speed. A jump start will allow surface charge which will also increase your vehicle’s battery voltage.
To get the most output from revving, it is recommended by the manufacturers to keep the speed between 1200 to 2000 RPM. This speed is ideal for maximum alternator speed and a faster charging process. You should maintain this speed for around 5 minutes while making sure that the jumper cables are connected.
This will allow the battery to draw more power from the alternator and also increase the surface charge when your vehicle’s battery is low.
Does The Car Battery Recharge While The Engine Is Idling?
Yes, the car battery keeps recharging even when the engine is idling. A vehicle’s alternator keeps working on mechanical action even when the engine is idle. The engine crankshaft keeps turning and the alternator also keeps producing charge for ac which makes charge the battery when the engine is idling.
How Long Should You Idle Your Car For Revving?
Not all cars need to idle before charging the battery. Most modern cars don’t need to idle at all before charging the battery. However, if you are using an old car, you can idle the engine for around 15-20 minutes to completely charge the battery.
However, it is not recommended to idle your car’s engine because it can cause damage to the engine.
Can A Battery Be Too Low To Jump-Start?
No battery can be too low to jump start. You can jump the battery even if it is in the lowest state of charge. If the battery is completely dead, you can still jump start and charge the battery just by revving.
How Long Can Your Car Sit Without Being Driven?
A car can sit without being driven for 1-2 weeks. There are some guidelines that you can follow to prevent your battery from dying from sitting for a long time. You can store your car for more than a few months without any issues if you follow some tips.
If you find your car’s battery dying within a few days of your car sitting, then there must be a problem with the battery and you should change it.
Does Revving Damage Your Car?
Revving the engine doesn’t cause serious engine problems but it does cause unnecessary engine wears to occur and decrease engine performance. You can safely rev up your engine for charging but you should not do it frequently.
Read Our Full Guide >> Can you ruin your engine by revving it? Everything you need to know
closing thoughts
You can surely charge the battery by revving the engine and also make the battery charge faster. You can rev up the engine to charge the battery no matter how low the battery is.
We have also shown you all the necessary steps you should take to rev up with minimal engine damage.
Just follow the steps accordingly and remember to not rev up the engine too frequently to ensure engine performance.
