Does Lawn Mower Battery Drain Fast? How To Fix
It was just a few days ago that you charged the battery for your mower. You hauled mulch around your flower beds and zipped around landscaping. The mower worked fine. Fast forward a few days, the grass needs cutting but the battery needs to be charged. Where is this? In short, the same thing happened last time, and it’ll happen again. Are you continuously draining your lawn mower battery? ”
battery drain can take a variety of forms. We’ll walk through some steps to help you diagnose the problem. Also, we’ll show a chart comparing the pros and cons of different battery options if a replacement is needed. As part of our discussion on battery maintenance, we will also discuss extending the battery’s life Lawn mower battery drains fast.
How To Fix Lawn Mower Battery Drain Fast
Maybe it’s time to replace the battery if all the above options have failed. If the battery is beyond repair, it won’t hold a charge long enough to last.
Having an old lawn mower battery that cannot maintain a charge for too long is the most likely cause.
Generally, lawn mower batteries last between three and five years if they are taken care of properly.
Keeping the battery properly cared for requires disconnecting it before winter and keeping it in a cool place.
Additionally, it may be worth the effort to keep the battery in top condition for the upcoming holiday season.
For more certainty, test the voltage your battery is putting out using a multimeter. Batteries that output 11.5 volts or less may need replacement.
In a lawnmower, a battery performs the following functions:
Basically, a lawnmower battery does two things:
Based on this assumption, let’s proceed. Lawnmower starter: To provide the lawnmower with electric power.
Based on the following assumption. Almost all lawn mower electrical equipment needs a reference point (ground).
Consider that the lawn mower’s electrical system and battery are in great shape. As the lawn mower runs, the battery will charge while the engine runs. It is possible for one of these to snag, which may result in battery drain.
This article offers an in-depth analysis of the causes of battery drainage. Is it necessary to use specific testing tools to determine the problem?
Lawn mower charging system malfunction
Once your cables have been arranged, it’s time to check out the lawn mower’s charging system. Nowadays, the market has a limited number of charging systems.
There may or may not be an external alternator attached to your lawn mower, depending on its size. Also, there may be an internal alternator under the flywheel, depending on how bulky the mower is. Almost all lawnmowers have an internal alternator. Your lawn mower will need to be taken to a repair shop or undergo another test to determine what part has failed. Depending on the system, some are 15 amps and some are 20 amps. The size of the engine will vary depending on its manufacturer and specifications.
The test above can be performed on your battery at any time if your cables are clean. It may also be possible to detect a problematic connection by performing this test.
The corrosion of battery posts
An apparent white, powdery crust around a battery’s terminals is a warning sign. The presence of corrosion does not necessarily mean the battery is dead, but it does mean that you should check the battery. A common issue is loose cables connecting to battery posts. A loose connection causes a battery to work harder, resulting in faster battery drain. It is imperative to clean the posts and tighten the connections so that the battery can hold a charge for longer periods of time. Batteries with cracked cases are more serious problems. Through the crack, gas emitted by the battery reacts with the metal battery posts, causing corrosion. If your battery case is cracked, there is only one remedy: replace it.
How to jump start a brand-new battery
Jump-starting your lawn mower’s battery is an easy way to get it started. As long as the mower is running, the battery will continue to charge.
If you don’t have a jump starter but have your car’s battery, you can jump-start it with it. You will need to park your car next to the lawnmower. Check that the lawn mower engine has been turned off.
Using a jumper cable, connect the red positive (+) cable first to the lawn mower and then to the car battery.
Take the black negative (-) cable and place it on the negative post of the lawn mower battery. It would help if you connected the black car side cable to the alternator bracket or frame bolt of the car.
Connecting the cable from the car side to the bracket is fine because you shouldn’t go from battery post to battery post.
Put the car in drive. The lawn mower should be started with the brakes set. After turning on the mower, let it run for a few minutes. After removing the cables, you should be able to use your lawn mower again.
A voltage meter allows you to check the battery’s charging status.
Use a multimeter to check the battery in a lawnmower
Multimeters provide the easiest way to test how well a battery holds a charge. It is possible to measure a number of electrical properties with a multimeter, along with the amount of energy your battery has left in it. Set the multimeter to read DC for these batteries because they are direct current (DC). If a model has a 12V or 6V setting, follow the instructions accordingly.
It may be necessary to remove the battery from the tractor if necessary. The lawn mower battery posts should be checked for corrosion, buildup, or debris to prevent energy loss. Clean them off with a flathead screwdriver or wipe before testing the battery. Keep a record of which post is positive and which is negative while cleaning. There is usually a standard marking on both the positive and negative terminals of the cable.
You will need to connect the red lead of your multimeter to the positive terminal and your black lead to the negative terminal for testing the voltage. The multimeter will then produce a reading, which should be greater than or equal to the battery’s nominal voltage. 12V batteries may read 12.3, 12.7, whereas 6V batteries may read 6.6. All batteries are fully charged. For a 12V battery, however, replacement would be necessary if the reading is less than 11.5V.
What To Look For If You Have A Corroded Battery Post
When a lawnmower battery ages, it produces a bright teal or bluish powdery substance on the positive terminal, which is a sign of corrosion. Battery acid comes into contact with hydrogen gas, causing a reaction.
Whenever you purchase a replacement battery for your lawnmower, be sure to replace the battery every three years. When the old battery expires, you can replace it with a replacement one.
The How-To-Maintain
Wire brushes should be used to clean both the positive and negative terminals. It is advisable to clean the terminals of batteries with battery terminal cleaner to keep the battery acid neutral.
Baking soda can also be used to make your own terminal cleaning solution by adding it to water and adding a teaspoon of it.
Is there a limit to how long a lawnmower battery will last?
More often than three calendar years, you are likely to have a problem with either your battery connections or the battery itself. If batteries are properly cared for, they should last a minimum of three years.
What are your best practices for caring for your batteries? Maintain a clean and tight battery cable, and secure the battery firmly on the lawnmower’s battery plate.
It is very critical for your battery to be securely mounted in the battery tray since it is most likely to malfunction due to vibration. The vibration makes your battery bounce around while you are mowing.
Battery plates are not very tolerant of pounding and can end up dissolving inside the engine, causing your lawnmower’s battery to degrade. I’m sure you wouldn’t want that, would you? You should always do the right thing.
Your battery needs to be replaced
There is another reason why your lawn mower battery keeps draining: it may be reaching the end of its life cycle and dying. Proper care can extend the battery life of a mower’s battery to three to five years. Although you can get the occasional lemon that doesn’t even tick for long, if you can’t find anything else draining your battery, consider replacing it. You can simply replace the lawn mower battery by buying another one. While your wallet won’t be happy about that, once the battery begins to fail, there’s nothing else you can do.
Conclusion
If your lawn mower battery seems to be draining unusually quickly, this may be a solution.
Check out the suggestions and see if it retains its charge.
There you have it, guys!
Even if your lawnmower is incredibly powerful, if its battery drains regularly, there is only so much you can accomplish.
In order to get your lawnmower battery working properly again, this article provides all the information you need to determine why it drains. Please let us know if this is helpful.Lawn mower battery drains fast