Insights- How Do I Know When My Power Wheels Battery is Charged
Well, I was wondering how do i know when my power wheels battery is charged? Power Wheels are a popular toy for young children, and they use batteries. Many questions surround the battery powering a Power Wheels toy. It includes specifically how to identify if the battery is healthy, charging properly, and when it needs to be replaced.
Power Wheels toys under 3 years old have a relatively healthy battery. But, keep in mind that the older and more frequently used and charged they are, the shorter their battery life.
We will go through the battery that powers Power Wheels ride-on toys so you and your child get the most out of the device. If you want to know more, keep reading!
Introducing Power Wheels Battery
Power wheel batteries are perfect for kids aged one to seven. But before you go out and buy one of these entertaining toys, you need know about the batteries that power them.
First, it’s vital to understand the batteries these gadgets require. Unlike your smartphone, which utilizes a lithium-ion battery, Power Wheels come standard with a lead-acid battery. Batteries, unlike Lithium-Ion batteries, can be overcharged.
Overcharging a lead-acid battery causes it to overheat, forming oxygen and hydrogen gasses that produce internal pressure.
Power Wheels have a 12v battery that lasts 2-4 hours and takes up to 18 hours to fully recharge (more on this later in the article). They do drain quicker than they charge, so charge it after each usage so it is ready to go when your youngster wants to use it.
Know If Power Wheels Battery is Charged or Not
Remember that Power Wheels take a long time to charge compared to other battery-operated devices like smartphones. Charging a Power Wheel from empty to full takes between 14 and 18 hours, which is virtually a full day.
Remember this to prevent plugging in the toy for 3 hours and letting your child play with it just to discover that the battery dies in 15 minutes. The time it takes to charge a power wheel is a battery quirk, not a product flaw.
Unlike lithium-ion batteries, which can be kept on a charger forever (which is why “desktop replacement” computers and the Nintendo Switch may be left on a charger without harm), lead-acid batteries can be overcharged.
So, when will my Power Wheels battery be fully charged? Simply leave it on the charger for the suggested period using the supplied charger.
For example, a youngster may only use a Power Wheel for 15-30 minutes before hopping out, in which case you need still charge it, but for how long?
After 15 minutes of use, return the toy to the charger for 5–7 hours to ensure it is fully charged but not overcharged. Remember that these toys’ batteries drain much quicker than they recharge, thus 5 – 7 hours is reasonable.
Techniques for Extending Battery Life
Here are some really simple techniques to help you extend the life of your batteries:
1. Avoid charging the battery for more than 12-15 hours in a single session. Overcharging is a problem that might damage the battery.
2. If you are storing the batteries for more than 2-3 months, we recommend removing the cells from the toy.
3. To compensate for the battery’s regular discharge rate, charge it for at least eight hours every two to three months. This will keep the batteries alive and allow your charger to charge them.
Find the Best Power Wheels here.
Charger Types
There are primarily two types of batteries used in power wheels: 6 volt and 12 volt. Today, a variety of chargers are accessible on the market. And the two most popular power wheel toys require two types of chargers: a wall plug and a smart charger.
We are all familiar with the standard wall charger that is used to power the majority of our electronics today. It is a trickle charger that continuously supplies the required voltage capacity at a low current. This continues till you turn it off. The wall chargers are unable to detect the battery level and will continue charging until the switch is manually turned off.
Power wheels always caution users not to charge batteries for more than 15-20 hours at a time. This will result in overcharging, which will eventually ruin the battery and render it useless.
Why a Battery Can Die or Stop Working?
A long-unused battery stops working, yet is not dead. Even if fully charged before to storage, the natural drain rate slows. So the cell is entirely emptied after a year.
A dead battery can nitrate. Loss of operational capacity. Power wheel batteries are generally designed to last 3-4 years with proper care.
Learn on making Power wheels battery last longer.
Reviving a Power Wheels Dead Battery Charge
Parallel charging can revive an almost dead battery. To do it right, follow the steps below.
Step 1 – Fully charge another battery. This battery’s voltage must match the power wheels’. It should be 6-12 volts.
Then connect the two spade connections from the Power Wheels batteries to the charged battery. The positive and negative ends should meet at the charged cell’s terminals.
It should start drawing voltage from the other power wheels battery. Based on battery capacity, this reduces overall voltage to 12 or 6 volts.
Step 4 – Now insert the charger into the loop, which is now uncharged. When the indicator turns green, remove the parallel battery. Attach the charger clamps to the charging heads of your old battery.
Wait until the charging indicator turns green before turning it off. This means the power wheel’s battery is fully charged.
Final Thoughts
The last thing you want to do after a year is spend money on replacement cells. Usually, the toy hasn’t been used in months, so you end up replacing the batteries. We hope you’ll give it a shot. This can easily extend battery life by 2-3 years. Make Power Wheels go Faster.
Also, when buying a new toy for your child, follow the charging and battery maintenance directions carefully. This is required for long-lasting batteries.
Remember, a battery can only be revived if it is not defective. If you received damaged batteries, contact the manufacturer for a replacement.