Lawn mowers are essential pieces of equipment for many homeowners and renters. However, unless you live in a tropical or subtropical climate, you likely don’t need to worry about charging your lawn mower battery. In this article, we will discuss how to charge a lawn mower battery and give some tips on how to extend the life of your lawn mower battery.
When to Charge Your Mower’s Battery
Mowers are convenient, and many homeowners never think about when to charge their battery. However, most manufacturers are recommend that, charge your lawn mower battery at least once a month during the summer and at least once a week during the winter.
Anyway, Here are some of the most common times you should hook your battery up to a charger:
When the mower is new: Before using your new mower, it’s important to charge its battery. This will give the machine a good initial start and optimize its performance.
When the mower needs service: If your machine starts having trouble cutting grass or if it doesn’t seem to be doing what it used to, check its battery first. Many times, simply charging the battery will help restore functionality.
When you’re finished using the machine: Always unplug your machine when you’re done using it so that the battery can rest and recharge.
The Problem with Older Lawn Mower Battery Chargers
There are a few problems with using older lawnmower battery chargers. The first issue is that they often aren’t as efficient as newer models, which means that they’ll take longer to charge your lawnmower battery. Secondly, some older chargers are specifically designed for use with lead-acid batteries, and they won’t work with lithium-ion batteries.
And their current potential isn’t enough to maintain the high voltages, so most of the battery is damaged.
Features of Modern Battery Chargers
Battery chargers today are much more efficient than they were in the past. A modern battery charger is capable of multiple modes of operation, including a slow charge mode to help preserve battery life, a fast charge mode for faster charging, and a jumpstart mode for quickly starting a dead or frozen lawn mower.
These modes can be easily accessed through the charger’s integrated charging timer, ensuring that connections are made properly and preventing improper connections that could lead to damage to the battery or lawn mower.
They’re also better at maintaining battery voltage to prevent overcharging, and they can now charge lithium-ion batteries. Lastly, modern chargers have a variety of features that make them convenient and easy to use.
Step-By-Step Instructions for Lawn Mower Battery Charging
- Safety: To charge your battery, turn off the lawn mower and unplug the power cord from the outlet.
- Battery location: If you have a gas-powered lawn mower, the battery usually sits underneath the seat. If your lawn mower has an electric motor, the battery is usually located in or near the handle. Some newer models have removable batteries that can be placed in various locations on the machine. So best way is read the mower’s manual and find the battery location.
- Remove the battery: Then remove the battery from its housing.
- Placing it clean surface: Place it on a clean surface so that all of its terminals are facing down.
- Move the battery: Move the battery nearest outlet so you can ensures that the battery gets a good charge.
- Connect the terminal: Connect the red terminal to the positive (+) terminal on your battery. Connect the black terminal Connect the black terminal to the negative (-) terminal on your battery.
- Match the voltage: The voltage of your battery is indicated by an amp (ampere) rating. The higher the amperage rating, the more current can flow through it. The voltage of the battery is also indicated by a voltage rating. The factory-installed battery will have the same voltage as your car, which is usually 12V. If your battery has a higher or lower voltage, you will need to adjust this from the settings menu.
- Plugin the charger: Plug the charger in. Make sure that the cable is securely connected to your battery, and not touching any other metal parts inside or outside of your lawn mower. Connecting it incorrectly may damage your battery and/or charger.
- Start charging: The charger will indicate if it is charging or discharging.
Lawn Mower Battery Charging Time
Lawn mower batteries typically charge at a rate of 10 amps for about an hour. It’s important to maintain this standard as it’s safe for the battery and helps extend its life. If your lawn mower battery is not charging at the normal rate, there may be something obstructing the charging cord or it may be damaged. Contact a professional to check whether the battery needs to be replaced.
How to Extend the Life of Your Lawn Mower Battery
Properly maintaining your lawn mower battery will help it perform at its best and last longer. Here are the few tips that will help you to extend your lawn mower battery life.
- Store your lawn mower battery in a cool, dry location.
- Do not operate the lawn mower with a dead battery.
- To avoid damage to the battery, turn off the lawn mower and unplug it when taking it indoors.
- Do not store the lawn mower battery in a large container. Keep it in a small plastic bag or container. The best location to store the lawn mower battery is under the seat of your lawn mower.
- Do not leave the lawn mower battery on the lawn mower all day long. This will cause your lawn mower to overheat, shorten its life and damage your lawn mower. Always charge your lawn mower battery at least once a month.
- Do not put metal objects, such as nails or screws, into the lawn mower battery. These objects will short out your lawn mower and cause it to damage itself.
- Never use your lawn mower while it is in the charge. This will damage your lawn mower and cause it to overheat.
- Never use the lawn mower battery to jump start a car. Doing so will damage your lawn mower, which will not be covered by warranty.
- Do not charge your lawn mower battery on a wet surface or in an area that has been exposed to rain.
- Do not allow your lawn mower battery to freeze. You can prevent this by storing it inside a closed container in temperatures below -40°F (f).
- Always remove the lawn mower battery from the charger when it is fully charged or once it has reached 100% charge.
- Avoid charging or using a lawn mower battery in areas where it is subject to extremes of temperature.
- If a lawn mower battery is not equipped with a charger, be sure to store it indoors when you are not using the lawn mower.
Hopefully, these tips helps you to extend your lawn mower battery.
Conclusion
In conclusion, charging a lawn mower battery is not as difficult as it may seem. By following the simple steps outlined in this article, you can have your battery charging in no time. Be sure to always use caution when working with batteries, and always read the manufacturer’s instructions.