Disconnect lawn mower battery. Can You Jump Start a Riding Lawn Mower with a Car? Guide with pics

How Long Does it Take to Charge a Lawn Mower Battery?

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If an energy-efficient cutting tool is what you seek, buying a battery-powered lawn mower isn’t a bad idea. However, the charging process of a lawnmower battery isn’t as easy as it sounds.

Many factors may indeed affect a battery’s charging time. But generally speaking, how long does it take to charge a lawn mower battery? Read along as our experts explore answers to this dilemma.

Charger Features

It’s not a secret that most lawn mowers whether it is the best 30-inch riding mower. run with a lead-acid or lithium-ion battery. But besides knowing which type of lawnmower battery you have, being well-versed in its charger features can help maintain your lawnmower batteries.

Voltage

If you’re an avid lawnmower user like our team, you’d know that many lawn tractor options in the market operate with a 12-volt battery. However, there are also recently released electric lawnmowers that come with 6-voltage batteries.

Getting a charger that suits the voltage requirement of your lawnmower is very crucial. Because if you get a mower battery connected to incompatible charger cables and adapters, it may cause damage to the battery and possibly lead to undesirable accidents. It can also be the reason why your riding mower won’t start working.

Amperage

The specification that dictates battery charge speed is the amperage. If you double-check the chargers sold in today’s market, it’s not hard to notice that most have a maximum capacity of ten amps.

We also recommend using a charger with a lower amperage as a higher specification could inflict damage on your lawn mower battery and the charger itself.

Charging Modes

Another useful feature you should look for on your lawn mower battery charger is its multiple mode settings.

With this capability, the methods of charging the mower’s battery can vary from slow charge, fast charge, and floating modes.

Additional Features

Besides charging your lawnmower battery to a full capacity, chargers are meant to enhance its convenience and lifespan.

For example, some recent lawn mowers have charger cables with jumpstart configuration. You may not know, but it brings your dead mower batteries back to life.

Chargers with timers can stop your lawn mower batteries from charging once it’s detected as fully charged. We recommend getting this type as it helps you avoid overcharging and damaging the batteries.

Standard Charging Time

Whether you are using a brand new or second hand lawn mower, the charge duration is still crucial as it indicates how long you can charge the battery. If the electric lawnmowers run with a lithium-ion battery [1], charge durations depend on the type of mower you’re using.

Getting batteries completely charged for a self-propelled mower will take two hours. On the other hand, push mowers with lithium-ion batteries only takes half an hour when plugged into an appropriate charger.

Besides that, there are also light mowers that take about an hour and a half before fully charging their batteries. Depending on the brand, bigger mowers charge for several hours.

Now, how long does it take to charge a lawn mower battery under the lead-acid category? Unlike the previous battery type, small lead-acid batteries need to be plugged into the charger for 12 to 16 hours. If you’re dealing with a bigger lead-acid battery, it can take up to 36 hours of charge time.

Given that lead-acid batteries have a higher full charge duration, our experts recommend using chargers with higher charge currents to reduce the time between 8 and 10 hours.

Can You Jump Start a Riding Lawn Mower with a Car? Guide with pics

A flat battery must be the most common riding mower complaint. It’s so annoying to hear the click, click, click. Let’s get it figured out right now!

So, can you jump-start a riding mower with a car? You can jump-start a riding mower with a car. Most mowers operate a 12-volt system. Put the jumpers on in sequences 1, 2, 3, 4, and start your mower. With the mower running, remove the jumpers in reverse order 4, 3, 2, and 1.

Not sure you have a 12-volt system – check the battery details on your mower. A sticker or stamp on the casing of the battery will indicate the voltage.

Common locations for batteries to be found – are the underhood, under-seat, under-drink holder, behind-the-wheel, and lots of other hard-to-find places.

Safety

Before attempting to jump-start, check that the battery is secure and not leaking. Leaking battery acid will burn your skin, so if the battery is wet, use gloves and eye protection. Check also that the terminals are secure and not damaged. Damaged or loose terminals will cause arcing and prevent power flow to the starter.

Dirty Battery Terminals

If your battery posts are dirty, clean them before jump-starting. First, kit yourself out with protective eyewear and gloves. It will look like a white crusty build-up on the terminals and battery posts.

Dirty, corroded, or loose terminals create resistance to the flow of power from the battery to your starter and, in return, prevent the recharging of the battery by the alternator.

Sprinkle some baking soda on the terminals and add a small amount of water. This will neutralize the acid and remove the corrosion.

Use a wire brush to clean the surface. Now remove the terminals and clean around the poles and the terminals. Apply a coat of petroleum jelly to help protect against corrosion.

Cleaning The Battery Terminals

Battery terminals (connections) often come loose because of mower vibration, and as you know, corrosion is also common. If your battery terminals are damaged or badly corroded, replace them. Damaged cables may have broken wires within. This causes excessive resistance.

Often you may notice the cables getting very hot while you’re attempting to start the mower. This is a sign of high resistance. Replace with good quality leads and terminals.

Cables – Damaged, worn, or dirty cables will mimic a flat battery. Always check battery cables and terminals before condemning the battery.

Jumping / Boosting Your Mower

The jump/Boost start procedure is very simple; obviously, you’ll need a set of booster cables. If you need to buy boosters, buy a good quality set. Poor quality cables won’t make a good connection and make the whole job a lot more difficult.

I recently bought a set of Cartman boosters recently. I like cables that remain flexible in cold weather and jaw clamps that grip firmly, my guess is I’ll have the years, but I’ll keep you updated, and if I like them, I’ll post a link on the “Small engine tools page.”

Connecting Jumpers

Battery poles are sometimes colored red for positive and black for negative. However, batteries will definitely be marked for positive and (-) for negative. You may need to clean the battery a little to find the markings.

Battery post markings – Look out for positive and negative markings on the battery casing.

Move your vehicle close to the mower and pop the hood to access the battery. You will likely have to remove a plastic shield from the car battery terminals.

Simply match the color and polarity of the leads. Always begin by fitting the Red jump lead to both battery poles first, but it’s all covered below. Just follow the sequence, and you’ll be mowing in jig time.

Jump Start Preparation Jumper Sequence

A ground source is any bare metal. There are always a ton of good places on the engine to clamp to. Clamping the final clamp to the battery negative pole isn’t advised. Doing so may cause arcing, which could ignite battery vapors. It’s a small risk, but it is possible.

Check – All modern mowers run a 12-volt system, and it’s perfectly OK to jump-start from your car. If you are unsure, check the battery casing, it will be marked 12 volts (V).

Tight – Mower blades and engines cause a lot of vibration, and bolts come loose from time to time. Check both connections. Positive red and negative black (-) are clean, tight, and in good condition.

Jumpers – Use good quality jump leads. These are my old worn-out ones.

Connect – Start by connecting the positive red of the mower (1) to the red of the car (2).

Now connect the negative black (-) on the car (3) to a ground (GRD) source on the mower (4). (Any bare metal will work)

Start – After starting the mower, allow it to run for a couple of minutes while still connected.

Remove the jumpers in reverse order, 4, 3, 2, and 1.

Mower Just Clicks

If you tried jump-starting your mower or the battery tested OK, then you may have a starter solenoid fault. These guys give lots of trouble, so it’s highly likely, but it’s not the only possible cause of the click sound. Check out this simple, easy-to-follow guide, we’ll test the solenoid, and I’ll show you the other common causes of the click sound – “Won’t start just clicks.”

Mower Won’t Start No Click

If you tried jump starting or the battery tested OK, but the mower makes no sound at all when you turn the key – You may simply have an open safety sensor, like not sitting on the seat or brake pedal not pressed, or you could have a more complex issue.

Anyway, I wrote a guide to help you find the problem. Check out all the most likely causes here “Mower won’t start – no click.”

Tractor Battery Function

The function of a lawn tractor battery is to start the engine. Once started, the alternator then produces the power required to run electrical systems and recharge the battery. Batteries are designed to give, receive and store electrical power.

A strong, healthy battery is critical to starting a lawn tractor mower. A mower engine only creates enough energy for the spark plug to fire if the engine cranks over fast enough, min 350rpm. So if your mower cranks but won’t start, try jump-starting to eliminate the possibility of a faulty battery causing a slow crank speed.

Once the engines are running, a bad battery isn’t so important. That’s why a mower with a bad battery still runs after you remove the jumper leads. See crank testing the battery below.

Battery Testing

Checking for a full 12.65 volts on a battery at rest is fine for giving you an indication of the state of charge, but it’s not a guarantee that it’s OK. To test a battery for faults, it needs to be loaded, and by loaded, I mean worked hard.

• 100% charged is 12.7 – 13.2 volts
• 75% charged is 12.4 volts
• 50% charged is 12.2 volts
• 25% charged is 12.0 volts
• Discharged (Flat) 0 – 11.9 volts

The fast and easy way to check the battery is to use a voltmeter set to 20 volts DC.

I’ve listed a voltmeter on the tools page. It’s a good meter you’ll have for years that won’t break the bank “Small engine repair tools.”

Battery Crank Test – To test a battery, it needs to be loaded with a voltmeter set to volts DC, red to red, and black to black. Have a helper crank over the engine. If the meter drops below 9 volts, the battery is faulty.

Charging System Test – If you have a voltmeter, checking your charging system is easy. With the engine running, set your meter to volts DC and connect the red to red and black to black. Any reading above 12.65 volts means your charging system is OK.

What Battery Type

There are many different types of batteries, wet, gel, and AGM…. Let’s keep this simple.

Don’t buy a wet battery; you’ll know a wet battery – has fluid top-up plugs across the top of the battery. These batteries leak and are usually all over the connectors causing corrosion. It needs to be topped up regularly, and if you don’t, you’ll kill it and void the warranty.

They can’t be stored indoors safely. It can’t be shipped with acid, so if you buy it online, you’ll have to go to an auto store and buy acid. Then using suitable gloves, eye protection, and a mask (because this stuff is nasty), fill the battery cells individually, careful not to overfill them.

Now you’ll need to charge the battery, so you’ll need a charger, back to the auto store……

Instead, buy a sealed battery; they’re easy to handle, have no risk of leaks, no topping up of electrolytes needed, and can be shipped and arrive locked and loaded. Check out the Amazon link below for great deals on mower-sealed batteries delivered to your door already charged and ready to roll.

12 Volt Battery

A typical lawn tractor battery is 12 volts. They are made up of six individual cells, each producing 2.10 volts. This makes a total of 12.65 volts when fully charged; however, referred to as a 12-volt battery. Within each cell are opposing lead plates of cathode and anode submerged in an electrolyte. The chemical reaction of these opposing lead plates causes electrons to flow – producing electricity.

Check Your Battery Shape

Batteries are classified by the shape, size, and orientation of posts and are given a group code, such as U1R. This code will be marked on the battery. If you get this wrong, the battery would still start the mower OK but may not fit in its location, or the leads may not reach the battery posts.

If you don’t want to mess around with codes, just measure the battery height, width, and depth, note which side the posts are and if they are negative or positive. Go online, and you’ll be juiced up in no time.

How Many Amp Battery?

The bigger your mower engine, the more amps will be required to turn that engine over. The output of the battery is very important. When diagnosing electrical systems and thinking about Volts, Amps, and Resistance within that system and how they all relate to each other, I find it helpful to think about energy as water in a garden hose.

• Volts are the water pressure in the garden hose.
• Amps being the water flow rate from the garden hose
• Resistance is the size of the garden hose

Amps

A single-cylinder lawn tractor starter motor will draw 80 – 100 Amps when starting the engine. The more mechanical resistance in the engine, the larger the draw.

For example, in cold weather, when the engine oil is thicker, it’s harder for the starter to turn the engine, and so it draws more energy (amps).

Excessive Amp Draw

A starter pulling excessive amps will mimic a flat battery. The reasons a starter pulls excessive amps vary; common among them include:

• Excessive valve lash
• Hydro-locked engine
• Faulty starter motor
• Over full oil level
• Oil too thick
• Internal engine damage

Measuring amp draw is simple. However, you will need a clamp meter.

A typical lawn mower battery will be amp-rated and marked on a sticker 12 V – 32 Ah – 280 A.

12 v = 12 Volts32 Ah = Means this battery can supply 1 Amp for 32 hours (1 Amp would be equivalent to a small light)280 A = Max amount of Amps available

Other common reasons for a larger amp draw: are worn starter motor; binding starter motor; engine damage; engine hydro-locked; overfull oil level; wrong oil type; valve lash off; failed compression release assembly.

Many of these problems are on the spendy side to repair, so it may be time to assess the overall condition of the old girl before spending money, it may be time for a new set of wheels.

How To Charge Mower Battery

To charge your riding mower battery, you will obviously need a battery charger. You don’t need to remove the battery from the mower, but you will need to remove the black negative (-) cable terminal connection.

Your mower may be fitted with a sealed, maintenance-free battery or a regular lead-acid battery; both can be charged with a normal charger.

I prefer to use a Smart charger; they’re safe to leave on your mower all winter and can also be used as a normal battery charger.

Totally Flat Battery Charge Hack

If your battery is fully discharged, the battery charger will not charge it; it’s designed that way. To hack this, we need to fool the charger, simply connect the flat battery to a charged battery with jump leads in the normal way, then connect the charger and charge.

The jump leads, and donor battery can be removed after an hour.

Wet Battery Charging

A regular lead-acid battery will have a fluid level indicator and removable cell caps, as per the pictures below. A wet battery will need the cell caps removed and the fluid level checked before charging.

Top up with distilled water or rainwater caught in a plastic container. Do not fill past the max level. If you find any of the cells dry, then it’s likely the battery is junk. Advise using protective eyewear and gloves.

Sealed Battery Charging

The sealed battery is much less work; you only need to remove the negative terminal before charging (you don’t need to disconnect it if using a Smart charger). You’ll recognize a sealed battery; it won’t have the fluid caps or fluid level indicator.

1 Volt – A fully charged 12 v battery reads 12.65 volts. Any reading below 12.4 means the battery needs a charge.

2 Remove – Before charging the battery, remove the negative terminal. No need to remove the positive terminal.

3 Fluid – If you have a regular lead-acid battery, you will have a fluid level mark. Check the level; it can be seen through the casing.

4 Top Up – Remove all plastic caps. Top up with distilled water or rainwater caught in a plastic container. Fill to the max. Use safety glasses and gloves; ACID WILL BURN CLOTHES AND SKIN

5 Sealed – You don’t need to remove a battery to charge it, but sometimes removing it can be easier. A sealed battery is maintenance-free; just disconnect the negative wire and charge.

6 Charger – The charger is connected red to positive and black to negative, as per the picture. Charge time – about 2 hours.

What Is A Smart Charger

Consider buying a Smart/trickle charger; these chargers are connected to your mower when not in use. They put out a low amp charge of 1 to 3 amps which maintains your battery.

I treated my own tractor mower last year to a new Smart charger; I bought the Noco Genius Smart charger; you can check it out on the “Small engine tools page,” I’m very happy with it so far, it’s simple to use and works on all battery types, but I’ll keep you posted.

Trickle Chargers

There are different types of trickle chargers:

• Manual, which needs to be turned on and off.
• Smart auto charger – turn themselves on and off as the battery requires.
• The hybrid version will double as a high amp charger when needed.
• Solar trickle versions are also available.

Using Trickle Charger

Connecting them is simple, pop on the color-coded crocodile clips and plug them in. This leaves you with a fully charged battery every time you turn the key. Batteries work best and last longer when their state of charge is maintained; off-season charging is always advised.

How Long to Charge Mower Battery?

This will depend on the size of the battery, how depleted that battery is, and the type of charger you using. There are fast chargers, trickle chargers, and Smart chargers; all will vary in charge time. Usually, 3 to 4 hours is enough for most chargers to lift a flat battery.

Amp Rating

Chargers are amp-rated, so, for example – the mower battery is a 32 amp-hour (Ah) and totally flat. Using a 10 amp charger to fully charge it will take approximately 3 hours.

The Hybrid Smart chargers are the best and, of course, are more expensive; they are designed to charge and maintain your battery when the mower isn’t in use. They will turn off and on as needed.

Related Questions

Do riding mowers charge the battery? Yes, all riding mowers have a battery charging alternator and regulator; they monitor and charge the battery when the engine is running.

Can I use a car battery in a lawnmower? Yes, you could use a car battery to start a riding mower, but car batteries are much larger, and so may not fit in the mower battery tray.

How Long Does It Take to Charge a Lawn Mower Battery?

How long does it take to charge a lawn mower battery is a very good question commonly asked by mower owners.

It can potentially be as little as 25 minutes and as much as 240 minutes! It can be a tricky thing to understand the charging time of a lawn mower battery. so read on to learn more!

• What Is the Battery Charging Time of Your Lawn Mower?

• Types of Mowers
• Battery Charger and Output
• What are the Differences Between Lead Acid Battery and Lithium-ion Batteries?

• – Follow Safety Protocols
• – Check for Possible Damage
• – Look for the Battery
• – Connect the Cables
• – Allow the Battery To Rest Before Disconnection
• – Disconnect the Charger
• – Reinstall the Battery
• – Maintain the Overall Health of Your Lawn Mower Battery

• 1. Can You Start a Lawn Mower While You Are Charging the Battery?
• 2. How Often Should You Charge Your Lawn Mower Battery?

What Is the Battery Charging Time of Your Lawn Mower?

The battery charging time of your electric lawn mower largely depends on its model specifications – it can be 25 minutes all the way up to 240 minutes. While there are many brands out there, they do have similarities when it comes to the type of lawn mower battery.

While a lawn mower itself can be classified as a small model or a large model, the charging time is largely dependent on the size and the type of battery used. Here are some examples of the types of mowers and their charging times using lithium-ion batteries.

Types of Mowers

A small push mower with a lithium-ion battery can take 30 minutes to charge and operate for around the same time. A small light mower with the same battery type will take around 90 to 120 minutes in order to function for 45 minutes. On the other hand, it takes 240 minutes to power up a small sit-on mower for 60 minutes.

Big self-propelled mowers need 120 minutes to charge on a 50-minute operation time. A big sit-on mower, however, takes almost twice the time at 240 minutes in order to function for 90 minutes.

Battery Charger and Output

It should be noted that it is always best to look at your owner’s manual for safety guidelines when it comes to charging your lawn mower’s battery. Users should also consider that the estimated charging time depends on the battery charger and its output.

If you have a lawn mower with a rechargeable sealed lead acid battery. the charging time is different. For example, 135 minutes is how long to charge lawn mower battery 2 Amp. assuming your battery is 6-Volt. For 12-Volt batteries, it takes 1,800 minutes to charge at 2 Amp.

Now, 45 minutes is how long to charge lawn mower battery 6 Amp for a 6-Volt, 4.5 Ah battery. For the 12-Volt, 35 Ah version, it takes 345 minutes to charge at 6 Amp.

At 10 Amps, a 6-Volt, 4.5 Ah battery needs 25 minutes while one at 40 Amps only needs 5 minutes. For a 12-Volt 35-Ah battery, it takes 210 minutes at 10 Amps and 50 minutes at 40 Amps.

If you are wondering how long to charge a lawn mower battery at 40 Amps. it takes around 5 minutes for a 6-Volt battery and around 50 minutes for a 12-Volt one. Older lawn mowers, especially before and leading up to the 1980s, function on a 12-Volt battery. Newer models are usually powered by a 12-Volt battery.

For users asking, “ Can you charge a lawn mower battery with a 12-Volt charger?” You definitely can, as long as your battery is also a 12-Volt one. Now, if you charge a 6-Volt battery with a 12-Volt charger, you run the risk of running the battery dry and creating a dangerous heating issue.

Users should always remember that these are estimates and do not represent a set period of time. As always, it is best to consult the owner’s manual for the appropriate charging time for your specific lawn mower model.

What are the Differences Between Lead Acid Battery and Lithium-ion Batteries?

The differences between lead acid battery and lithium-ion batteries lie in their lifespan, their time to charge, and their level of safety. Lithium-ion batteries charge more quickly than lead acid ones. These are the two types of batteries found in lawn mowers these days.

Lead acid batteries tend to be found in older models while lithium-ion batteries are typically installed in the newer mowers. Here are the most basic differences between the two types of batteries.

Lead acid batteries have a shorter lifespan and requires regular maintenance, but they cost less. These types of batteries can take more time to charge to full capacity, and can cause damage to the user or to the unit through gas emissions.

On the other hand, lithium-ion batteries have a longer lifespan and higher efficiency, but can cost more. They can charge quickly unless the battery is damaged, and new lithium-ion batteries rarely heat up or explode.

What Does Trickle Charging Your Lawn Mower Battery Mean?

The trickle charge method means that you can charge it for longer if you are Powering the battery of a lawn mower through this method. This type of charger provides batteries with low-voltage charging that is intended to improve the battery life and reduce the risk of overcharging.

However, just because you can leave it on longer does not mean that you should leave it on for more than what is recommended. Left unattended and on too long, this type of charger can lead to overheating. Oftentimes, this leads to two results. One is a dead battery. and the other is the battery catching fire and exploding.

What is the Difference Between a Normal Battery Charger and Trickle Charger?

The difference between a normal battery charger and a trickle charger is that a regular charger for batteries is designed to provide a high constant voltage to the battery. This allows the battery to charge faster. Trickle chargers, on the other hand, deliver a slower amount of charge.

Usually, trickle chargers operate at two Amps, extending the charging time to several hours longer. This makes trickle chargers ideal if you plan to leave your lawn mower batteries to charge for extended periods of time.

Trickle chargers provide a current that counteracts the battery’s self-discharge rate in order to keep it plugged in fully charged. The low Amp output can maintain the battery charge level but is not the best option to quickly charge the battery to full capacity.

How Do You Charge Your Lawn Mower Battery?

To charge your lawn mower battery, you need to first of all follow safety protocols; you should check for possible damage, look for the battery in the mower, connect the cables, allow the battery to rest, disconnect the charger, and reinstall the battery when you are done.

– Follow Safety Protocols

This includes using the correct tools, equipment, and machine aside from wearing personal protective clothing.

As much as possible, read through the owner’s manual for the specifics on charging the batteries of your lawn mower unit.

– Check for Possible Damage

Inspect your lawn mower for signs of damage, such as loose wires, leaks, and other concerns. This will help you anticipate any possible issues.

– Look for the Battery

The location of the battery is entirely dependent on the make and model of the lawn mower.

Although, most have their batteries hidden under the seat. The user’s manual will help you locate the battery quickly. Avoid charging bloated batteries as it can catch fire or explode.

– Connect the Cables

Once the battery has been found, look for the red charge cable first and connect it to the positive battery terminal. Next, the black cable should be connected to the negative battery terminal.

This will start the charging process. Do not switch the order of the red and black cable connection to prevent any malfunction.

– Allow the Battery To Rest Before Disconnection

Lead acid batteries usually produce gases while charging and these gases can damage you or your mower. Once charged, wait around five minutes for the gases to disperse, and then detach the charger cables.

For lawn mowers with lithium-ion batteries, this step can be disregarded.

– Disconnect the Charger

To safely unplug the charger from the wall socket. disconnect the black or negative charger cable first. Next, disconnect the red or positive charger cable from the battery.

– Reinstall the Battery

Place the battery in the allocated housing of the lawn mower. Connect the positive terminal first before the negative.

– Maintain the Overall Health of Your Lawn Mower Battery

You can maintain the overall health of your lawn mower battery by always using them as specified, matching the battery to the correct charger, and not overcharging them. The batteries found in your lawn mower can vary, especially when you compare old ones versus new ones.

Here are some tips for you to consider.

• In terms of voltage, most modern lawn mowers incorporate sealed 12-Volt lead acid batteries.
• Older models sometimes use 6-Volt batteries, so always check your battery.
• Match the battery type to the appropriate charger.
• Generally, 10 Amps is the maximum output for most lawn mower chargers.
• Look for battery chargers with additional features, such as battery lifespan extension or improved charging convenience and safety.
• Another feature to look for is a jumpstart setting that can bring new life to a dead battery.
• To fully charge your batteries safely, look for a charger with an automatic charging shut-off.
• Additionally, try to look for chargers that offer hookup failsafe, changeable Amp rates, and built-in charging timers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Start a Lawn Mower While You Are Charging the Battery?

Yes, you can start a lawn mower while charging its battery. Simply connect the positive charger cables to the terminal to operate your mower with the correct amount of power. This is not advisable though, and under this condition, you should always practice safety precautions.

How Often Should You Charge Your Lawn Mower Battery?

How often you should charge your lawn mower battery is dependent on a couple of things – however the norm is at least once monthly – it depends largely on the model you have and the manufacturer’s recommendation. The instruction for charging frequency should be included in the owner’s manual.

The summer months may require more charges due to the frequency of use. For the winter months, the general recommendation is at least once a week.

Conclusion

Sometimes we wonder how long it take to charge a lawn mower battery that we can become paralyzed by the lack of information. Based on what we know, charging times are easier to estimate and anticipate. Let’s recap everything:

• The charging time of a battery largely depends on the type of battery, its voltage, and the amperage of the chargers.
• You can use trickle chargers to load your battery, although you should refrain from overcharging it.
• When charging batteries, always follow the owner’s manual instructions and proper safety protocols.

With all this information in your hands, charging your lawn mower battery is as easy as cutting grass!

How to Charge Your Lawn Mower Battery, Power Tools and

Behind every healthy lawn is a healthy lawn mower battery.

Actually, every house project relies on batteries. The drill you used to hang the TV runs on a battery. So does your cordless sander. Batteries take your tools farther than any cord, as long as they’re healthy.

Here’s how to get more life out of your batteries.

Why you should charge your lawn mower battery before spring

You can get years more out of your lawn mower battery, if you follow two simple steps:

Your riding lawn mower comes with the same essential parts a car has. It has an internal combustion chamber, an alternator, a 12-volt lead-acid battery, etc. A riding lawn mower with an especially small engine may have a 6-volt battery. The lawn mower’s alternator keeps its battery charged. A few hours of mowing recharges it the same way hours of highway driving can keep your car battery mostly charged.

You might not mow the lawn in winter.

That means your lawn mower battery may be totally drained.

Lead-acid batteries drain themselves when they’re not used. That’s bad news. They need to stay charged or they’ll lose the ability to hold electricity. You can try to charge them if that happens. Still, they may be too weak to start an engine.

How much longer will your lawn mower battery last?

Let’s check! Bring your lawn garden battery to any Interstate Batteries ® location for a battery test. Let’s see how many summers your battery has left.

Lithium-ion batteries drain themselves, too, when they’re not in use, just not as quickly. Keeping your rechargeable lawn mower fully charged for months isn’t healthy for the lithium-ion battery inside. Letting it drain to zero percent damages it, too.

Whether your lawn mower uses a lithium-ion battery or a lead-acid battery, charge it in January or February. Charging your lawn mower battery keeps it healthy for years.

• Leave the battery in the mower. You don’t have to uninstall the battery to charge it.
• Clean the terminals. Use baking soda and a dry cloth.
• Check the voltage and amp settings. Your battery’s label will say if it’s lithium-ion or if it contains lead. You’ll also see if it’s 12 volts or 6 volts. Set the charging amps to less than 2 amps if the charger has the settings for it. Charge slowly to protect the battery.
• Follow the charger’s instructions. The manual gives you any other steps your charger needs.
• Last-minute safety check. Take off jewelry. Put on gloves and safety glasses. Make sure there’s decent airflow around you.

steps to charge your lawn mower battery

A trickle charger makes it easy to keep your lawn mower battery ready. It charges lead-acid batteries for days at a time to protect the battery’s lifespan. You could leave your lead-acid lawn mower battery on the charger all winter long if it has a float setting. The charger will top off its charge for months and keep it from losing power while it sits on the shelf.

A Smart charger will recharge a lawn mower battery in hours. Adjust the voltage and amp settings if you’re charging a 6-volt lawn mower battery instead of a 12-volt one.

Want to protect your lead-acid lawn mower battery? Keep it 100 percent charged.

Want to protect your lithium-ion lawn mower battery? Leave it 70 percent to 80 percent charged while in storage. Being fully charged or totally depleted hurts lithium-ion batteries. Check the manual for charging instructions.

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The nice part is you can just recharge your lithium-ion lawn mower if it doesn’t start. You’ll never need to jump-start a riding lawn mower with a lithium-ion battery.

Now, you can jump a lawn mower if it has a lead-acid battery. Here’s how.

How you can safely jump-start your lawn mower battery with your car

You can jump your lawn mower with your car. It’s the same steps as a regular jump-start — with three big differences.

• Turn off the car before connecting cables to your lawn mower. The car’s alternator generates too many amps and can damage the mower’s parts, including the battery. Never jump-start a lawn mower battery from a running car. Don’t even leave the key in the ignition.
• Protect the positive cable from touching anything but the battery terminals in the car and mower. The positive cable is usually the red one. You’ll connect it first to the mower, then the car. Otherwise you could damage your car battery.
• Run the mower for at least two hours after disconnecting the cables. John Deere, Ryobi, Cub Cadet — all gas-powered riding lawn mowers have an alternator. Mowing will charge their starting battery.

Jump-starting should be the last resort. Wait if you can. Connect your lawn mower’s battery to a charger. Then do a different home project with your other power tools.

Time to talk about your other power tools.

Tips to make your power tool battery last longer

Take care of your power tool batteries, and your tools will be ready any time you need them.

Power tools run on three different types of batteries:

• Nickel cadmium or NiCd batteries
• Nickel-metal hydride or NiMH batteries
• Lithium-based, including lithium-ion or lithium-polymer batteries

Now, each battery type needs different care. It’s easy to assume one tip for one battery type will work for all batteries. The truth is each battery type needs something different.

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The right way to care for your NiCd battery

A NiCd battery needs to be run hard. Charge it up and drain it to zero percent every month or two. Then store your NiCd battery when it’s fully drained.

NiCd batteries are one of the few types that like being stored on empty. They also drain themselves quickly when they’re not in use. Don’t bother recharging it if you only used it for two minutes.

Fast charging doesn’t stress a NiCd battery. So put it on the charger right before you run your leaf blower or cordless sander. Then use every bit of energy before putting it back.

Sitting on a charger can damage a NiCd battery. Its insides can crystalize and resist turning back into electricity. That might be why your NiCd battery doesn’t last as long as it used to. A pulse charger can heal your NiCd batteries if you’ve kept it charged too long. You might not get the battery back to perfect health, though.

Instead, keep fast-charging your NiCd battery and draining it to zero.

Exercising it protects the material and gives your cordless power tool batteries a much longer lifespan.

The right way to care for your NiMH battery

A NiMH battery needs to stay out of the heat, to charge with its original charger and to be drained to zero percent every few months.

If you’re using your power drill for a few hours every day, a NiMH battery is perfect. NiMH batteries are handy for power tools. They weigh less, carry more power and last longer between charges than a NiCd battery.

They don’t do well in storage. NiMH batteries will drain themselves. It’s not as quick as a NiCd battery. All the same, you’ll want to use your NiMH-powered drill every other day to get the most life from the battery.

Recharging NiMH batteries uses a special algorithm. Don’t use a NiCd charger on a NiMH battery. It can hurt the battery’s lifespan if not overcharge it. Keep the charger that came with the power tool. You can replace it, but make sure it’s specifically made for NiMH batteries.

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NiMH batteries struggle with heat. That’s a problem because a NiMH battery will heat up as it runs power or charges. Be gentle with it. Take it off the charger early if the case feels warm. Also, let it cool down before you recharge after it charges.

You can expect a long, full life out of your NiMH battery by keeping it in use and near its original charger.

The right way to care for your Li-ion battery

Lithium-ion batteries weigh the least and offer the longest life overall, but they’re sensitive to getting dropped, overheated or overcharged. How you protect your phone battery would work on your lithium-ion power drill:

• Keep it away from heat.
• Don’t leave it on the charger.
• Don’t let it ever run down to zero percent.

Store a li-ion battery at 80 percent power, not 100 percent. This battery type doesn’t drain itself that quickly. It’ll hold charge for weeks.

The way to take care of your lithium-ion battery is to charge it before it drops to 20 percent. Keep it charged between 40 percent and 80 percent. You can top it up to 100 percent before you sand the deck or trim the hedges. Just don’t leave it fully charged.

Staying at 100 percent corrodes the active materials, which means the battery can’t hold as much electricity as before. The same happens if it ever drains to zero, but faster. Check the power level while you work. Stop and recharge it if you’re close to 25 percent left.

Take care of your lithium-ion battery, and it’ll keep powering on.

Leaving your power tools on the charger does not help the battery.

Trying to charge a battery that’s already full can damage it. Most battery chargers will stop charging if the battery is full.

The built-in protection means it should be safe to leave it on the charger, right? Not quite.

Only lead-acid batteries like to stay fully charged. The other battery types need exercise. They’ll drain themselves, even if sitting on a shelf. That’s okay, depending on the battery type. All battery types need exercise. Leaving them on the charger robs batteries of that exercise.

A battery on the charger will go through short run-and-recharge cycles. It’ll drain to 99 percent, recharge, drain again and recharge again. Those short cycles hurt most batteries. Instead, your power tool batteries need to keep the electrons flowing.

Consider it another good reason to do those house projects today.

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How to Clean Lawn Mower Electrical Connections Terminals

Unfortunately, lawn mowers are notorious for rusting and getting dirty due mainly to the working conditions and storage that they are subjected to. As a result, problems like a faulty blade engager switch, a dead ignition, or lights that don’t work are all typical problems most mower owners experience. Usually, these issues can be traced back to weak or poor connections within the electrical system. So, rather than installing expensive replacement parts, here are some simple steps for cleaning lawn mower electrical connections and terminals to keep your mower operating smoothly.

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How to Clean Lawn Mower Connections Terminals

To clean lawn mower electrical connections and terminals, you first need to remove the cables from the battery. Then, spray the connection/terminal with an electrical contact cleaner. Next, use an abrasive tool to remove the corrosion/dirt from the connection/terminal. Finally, clean off the connection/terminal. Do this process for both sides of the connection.

Why You Need to Clean Lawn Mower Connections Terminals

If an electrical connection is either corroded or dirty, the electrical current and voltage become degraded and can’t flow as intended. As a result, the electrical devices on your lawn mower will either only partly work or will not work at all.

For example, if you have a poor electrical connection to your lawn mower headlights, they will not receive the full power needed to illuminate fully and instead appear dull. If you have LED headlights, they may not work at all since they need a specific voltage to operate, such as a constant 12v.

Another example is the blade on/off button. The lawn mower’s electromagnetic clutch will not engage if the button doesn’t receive full power. So even though the mower’s lights and ignition system work, the clutch engager button may not.

Depending on where in your electrical system the connection or terminal is corroded or dirty, you may have more than one issue. For example, if you have a corroded battery terminal, then it’s likely that none of your lawn mower’s electrical systems will work, and this can be one of the reasons why your riding lawn mower won’t start.

Diagnosing Corroded Dirty Electrical Connections Terminals on a Lawn Mower

When figuring out if you need to clean one of your electrical terminals or connections, you’ll first need to diagnose if you have a voltage drop. Here are a few lawn mower electrical troubleshooting examples.

In the first example, let’s test the voltage between the battery post and the battery cable. Your multimeter should read approximately 12-12.7 volts if the battery is fully charged. To test this:

• Connect the multimeter’s black cable to the lawn mower battery’s negative post.
• Connect the multimeter’s red cable to the battery’s positive post. Get a voltage reading.
• Connect the red cable to the cable connected to the battery’s positive post. You should get the same reading.

If you get a lower reading when connecting the red cable to the battery cable, you have diagnosed that something obstructs the voltage passing between the battery post and the connected battery cable.

Another example would be to test the voltage reaching the lawn mower’s electromagnetic clutch. You should have 12v traveling down the cable to the clutch and 12v passing between the cable connector and the terminal when the clutch is engaged. To test this:

• Connect the multimeter’s black cable to either the battery’s negative side or a bare part of your lawn mower’s frame.
• Connect the multimeter’s red cable to the connector of the clutch power supply.
• Move the multimeter’s red cable to the clutch’s terminal. The results for both parts of this test should be the same.

If you don’t receive an equal reading on either side of the connection in either of these two examples, you will have diagnosed that both parts of the connection need to be cleaned to restore power to its full voltage.

What You’ll Need to Clean Lawn Mower Electrical Connections Terminals

To clean and remove dirt and corrosion from your lawn mower electrical connections and terminals, you’ll first need to gather a selection of tools and products. Here is a list of everything you’ll need:

How To Clean Dirty Electric Terminals on a Lawn Mower (Step-By-Step)

These eight steps will have you covered if you are looking for how to clean dirty electric terminals or how to clean corroded electrical connections. Let’s go through the steps.

Disconnect the Battery

Before starting any electrical work on your lawn mower, I recommend you first remove the connections from your battery. First, remove the positive connection followed by the negative connection. Lawn mower batteries are usually held in place with either a nut and bolt or a nut and screw. So, use a socket set or a screwdriver to complete this first step.

Disconnect the Connection

Next, disconnect the faulty electrical connector from your lawn mower. Use a pair of pliers to assist you if the connection is too small or too tight to do by hand.

Spray the Affected Area with Electrical Contact Cleaner

Spray the connector and the terminal with your spray electrical contact cleaner, such as WD-40 Specialist Contact Cleaner, and allow it to soak for a minute or two.

Remove the Dirt Corrosion

Next, use an appropriately sized tool to remove the corrosion and dirt from your lawn mower’s connector and terminal. For larger tasks like battery posts, you should use a wire brush, and for smaller connectors like spade connectors, you can use sandpaper and a small metal file.

Inspect Your Progress

When you’re satisfied with your work, wipe down the connection and inspect it. If there is still some dirt and corrosion, spray and clean the area again. When you’re done, wipe down the connections and terminals.

Make the Connection

When you’ve finished cleaning, reconnect the connector to the terminals and make sure they are securely in place.

Reconnect the Lawn Mower Battery

Start by connecting the negative cable followed by the positive cable. Make sure that the nut and bolt or nut and screw are secured tightly. A loose fixing will result in a poor connection and a voltage drop.

Test the Connection

Finally, run through the test you used to diagnose the original electrical issue and confirm that you have the same voltage on both sides of the connection. If you have the same voltage on both sides of the connection, you have successfully diagnosed, repaired, and tested your faulty connection/terminal.

How to Prevent Electrical Connection Corrosion on a Mower

Usually, when you pull your lawn mower out of storage after a long winter, you are faced with various problems. For example, you could find electrical corrosion and dirty connections and terminals. This usually happens if you missed some steps during the winterizing process. To solve these problems in the future, I recommend you give the terminals and connections a good coat of protective spray. I’ll outline some of my go-to sprays below.

What to Spray on Electrical Connections to Prevent Corrosion

There are products available to protect battery terminals and posts or other large connections, such as the starter solenoid connection. For example, you can use products like Gardner Bender terminal grease or higher-quality products that last longer, such as NOCO battery corrosion preventative spray.

You can use a product such as Strike Hold Marine Corrosion Inhibitor or CRC Electrical Silicone Lubricant for smaller connections like headlights and blade engager buttons. Again, both of these products are of high quality and can be applied sparingly. But WD-40 Original Formula does the same job, and you’ll just have to spray it more often.

Using any combination of these products will give you one less thing to worry about when it’s time to get your lawn mower ready for spring.