How do you test a power wheels battery?
To test a Power Wheels battery, you will need a multimeter. First, set the multimeter to the DC voltage setting. Then, connect the red probe to the positive terminal of the battery and the black probe to the negative terminal. A fully charged 12-volt Power Wheels battery should read around 12 to 13 volts. If the reading is significantly lower, the battery may be weak or depleted and might need charging or replacement. Always make sure the Power Wheels vehicle is turned off and follow the manufacturer's instructions or consult a professional if you're unsure about the process.
Before delving into an in-depth discussion about how to test a Power Wheels battery, let's learn a little about children's preferences and their significance. Do you know what the most common choice for kids is?
Well, I hope you'll agree with me that Power Wheels are the latest trend for children, as they are essential for both mental and physical development. These battery-operated cars have become the most favorite option for kids of different ages. Both boys and girls love riding Power Wheels vehicles.
However, has your child ever faced a situation where they got into a Power Wheel and found that the engine wouldn't start? If so, I think you and your child have a problem. So, what should you do to solve this problem? I believe you need to check the battery of your Power Wheels first.
But I wouldn't be surprised if you don't know how to test your Power Wheel battery. Don't worry; I'm here to solve this problem and teach you how to test a Power Wheels battery successfully and effectively. Let's dive into the details to understand the steps and procedures.
Importance of Riding Power Wheels and Its Battery Test:
- Riding the Power Wheels toy cars could be an excellent source for getting unlimited pleasure and enjoyment. But if the ride-on toy doesn't work well, it leaves a harmful effect on your child.
- When they can't play and make their fun by riding power wheels, they feel lonely, lowering sensory-motor skills.
- The mantel growth is also prohibited if they cannot ride the power wheels in their play-time due to battery problems or others.
- Childs might feel a lack of confidence and fail to sense excitement, joy, and independence if they can't enjoy their rides.
As the children's electric car 2 seaters are battery-operated, the battery becomes the main issue that makes the vehicles off.
Therefore, it is highly essential to test the power wheels battery and ensure your child's physical, mental, and other improvements. So, is it good or bad to check the battery of your ride-on toys? Let's reveal the secrets of this question below.
Want to test your brushless motor for power wheels? If so, then please read this guide.
Is It Good or Bad to Test a Power Wheels Battery?
It is definitely good to test a power wheels battery. We all know how important it is to test the battery for your little one's power wheels vehicles. Children love to play the power wheels, which will develop the overall growth of their children. But the battery dies after a certain period of use.
The concerned parent should keep their close eye to the power wheels as they become prepared to take immediate action and get back to play them again.
It is perfect for testing a power wheels battery to ensure your child's a fun ride in this concern. On the other hand, it is a must for those who want to give their child quality and stress-free ride.
How to Test A Power Wheels Battery?
How to test power wheel battery is not like how to paint a power wheels car or battery. Painting the power wheel battery is a common and outside issue; on the other hand, testing the power wheel battery is ultimately a technical job. Some different factors and conditions can change the results of your battery test.
So it is significant to take all these factors very earnestly before genuinely making an effort to get an ideal reading of your battery's worth. There are several methods given below that help you to test your power wheels battery.
Top 4 Methods: How to Test Power Wheels Battery
Method 1- Remove the Surface Charge:
First of all, you need to remove the surface charge if you want to test the battery in your ride-on toys. It is essential to remove the surface charge because it can make a good battery like a bad or bad battery look good if you don't do that.
You can allow the battery for 4 to 12 hours to sit in a warm room to remove the surface charge around 77° F. Once the surface charge is removed, you can measure the battery charge with a hydrometer. The certain gravity should be 12.65.
Method 2- Load Test on Your Battery:
If you want to know your battery's condition, you might need to perform the load test. You can use a load tester to test the battery. If it is off by 20% to 50%, that is a very significant amount and can make a huge difference in knowing if the battery is good or bad.
- If the battery charge is 75% or higher, you can make a load test on your power wheel battery.
- You want to apply a load equivalent to one half of the cold-cranking amps rating for 15 seconds with a battery load tester.
- Then apply one-half of the cold cranking amps of the power wheel for 15 seconds.
- Turn the engine over for 15 seconds and disable the ignition with a starter motor.
Voltage should not drop below 9.6 during this test. You can recharge the battery as early as possible to prevent sulfation if the battery has passed the load test. It will restore the battery to its perfect condition.
Method 3- Test Your Battery with a Power Probe:
- Remove the positive terminal cover of the battery
- Attach the positive lead of the power probe to the positive terminal on your battery. Usually, the voltmeter's positive lead is red.
- Connect the negative lead of the power probe to the negative battery terminal.
- Attach the probe's point to the positive battery terminal and test the probe for voltage reading.
- Check the power probe reading. The voltage should be between 12.4 to 12.7 volts if your battery is in good condition.
Method 4- Test Your Battery by Starting the Engine:
- Start the engine by turning the ignition until the starter participates in and holds for 2 seconds. You can take an assistant to start the engine and test the battery voltage drop.
- During the engine start, test the reading of the power probe, which shouldn't go below 9.6 volts.
- A power wheel battery with a volt reading less than 9.6 volts implies that the battery is sulfated and not taking charge.
How Long Should A Good Power Wheel Battery Last?
The battery life of a car varies depending on different factors. The most significant points are how you follow the charging and battery maintenance instructions. Besides, the use of batteries has a considerable impact on knowing the life expectancy of a Power Wheels battery.
According to the Fisher-price, the average battery life of a ride-on toy car is 1-3 years.
However, depending on the manufacture and how long it remained in the shop unused, a good power wheel battery lasts for nearly 4 to 5 years.
How Long Does a Fully Charged Power Wheels Battery Last?
It would be easier for you to know how long your child can play when you get the possible answer, "How long does a fully charged Power Wheels battery last?"
Well, according to the automotive experts, the lasting period of your fully charged Power Wheels battery will depend on the two main factors, including:
- The model of power wheel ride-on toys and
- The riding mode or speed mode (how fast they ride the car)
Based on these two factors, a fully charged Power Wheels battery will last approximately 45 to 90 minutes.
Besides, the average time relies on different features such as the rider's weight and the road conditions that can regulate the speed modes.
Usually, a child with a Dune Racer that futures 2.5 MPH mode will last a bit longer than a 5 MPH mode vehicle.
What Causes A Battery to Be Almost Dead?
If your power wheel battery doesn't work accordingly, you don't need to worry that the battery is dead.
1. One of the most common reasons for making the battery to be almost dead is long time immobility. Leaving the toy cars in the garage for a long time, winter to spring, can damage the battery. However, it doesn't mean that you need to buy a new one.
What makes your battery dead if you don't use it for a couple of months? Although before garaging the car, you charge it fully, the automatic discharge ratio will increase and goes to zero within 3 to 4 months.
2. Overcharging a battery or charging a battery for a long time can cause it to be almost unresponsive.
3. Charging the battery after a long time break can also make it dead.
Power wheels batteries are meant for the optimal useful life of around three to four years, provided you employ the off-season's ideal maintenance. The actual useful life, as reported by users, is around one to two years.
Tips and Tricks to Avoid Having an Almost Dead Battery:
Let's take a look at some tips and tricks to avoid having a nearly dead battery:
- Don't charge the battery for more than twelve to fifteen hours.
- Before garaging the car for a long time (3 to 4 months), remove the battery.
- Every 2-3 months, charge the battery up to 8 hours to avoid the natural discharge rate.
How to Tell If The Power Wheels Battery Is Charging Or Not?
Are you worried to know why your power wheels battery isn't charging? Firstly, you should find out if the battery or the charger itself is the issue. Here we go through how to test both battery and charger.
Things You Need:
- Power Wheels charger
- Power Wheels battery
- A voltmeter and
- 2 paperclips
Testing the Output Of Your Charger:
- Change the voltmeter to the 20 dc power supply area.
- Join the electrodes to the ride on toy battery charger (positive to positive and negative to negative)
- Always, you will demand that the voltage is higher than the battery. It implies that if you have a6v battery, then it needs 7+ voltages. On the other hand, if you have a 12v battery, the voltage needs to be over 13.5.
- Anything below these voltages can't charge your battery.
Testing the Battery:
- Testing the power wheel battery is the same as how you test the charger. Set the electric conductor against the battery (positive to positive and negative to negative).
- The charging will not work if the battery is under a specific lower limit.
- The 12-volt battery needs to be at 10.5v+, and the 6 volt needs to be over 5v +. You should change the battery if the volt is lower than the given ratio.
It is a bit tricky to test the red power wheel battery because the electric conductor wouldn't fit into the slots. Firstly, you need to insert the paperclips and then keep the conductors next to them against the battery.
What Should You do If the Battery Dies Overnight?
Well, you need to disconnect the battery overnight. The next morning reconnects the battery. You have a parasitic drain on the battery if the engine starts. The battery cannot hold the charge if the engine does not start. So it would help if you go to a local repair store for repair.
Conclusion:
There you have the guide how to test a power wheels battery. The Power Wheels are battery-operated ride-on toys for those kids who love outdoor adventures.
It is an excellent medium for kids because it makes your child independent, helps to achieve self-confidence, and develops coordination skills. It also makes your child more creative as they need to plan for their daily adventures of fun.
But the power wheel batteries are very susceptible to damage as they are lead-acid types. So it is essential to know the best way to test a power wheels battery and bring a blessing to your child as it is a good option. Have a safe and fun ride to your child.
Feel free to questions us, and we will try to reply to you as soon as possible. If you find any difficulty or any mistake in the article, please contact us or leave your comment below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you test a 12 volt Power Wheels battery?
Testing a 12-volt Power Wheels battery may require a specific method, but it's similar to testing any other 12-volt battery. You can find a detailed guide on testing such a battery at the following YouTube URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rCqQlWqGr8
How do you know if a power wheel battery is charging?
To determine if your Power Wheels battery is charging, you can refer to the Power Wheels® 12V Quick Charger's light indicators. Solid Red means it's in the process of charging. A Flashing Green light signifies that charging is 80% complete, and the toy is ready for use. If the indicator shows Solid Green, the battery is 100% charged, taking between 6-8 hours. Flashing Red or No Light (Plugged into battery) implies a defective battery, while No Light (Not plugged into battery) simply indicates that the charger is standing by. I've seen these indicators in action while charging Power Wheels for my niece, and they are straightforward and helpful in determining the battery's charging status.
How long does a power wheel battery last?
The battery life of Power Wheels depends on various factors, such as the model and speed modes you select. Generally, a Power Wheels battery's duration can range from 45 minutes to 90 minutes before needing a recharge. As a personal note, my neighbor's children have Power Wheels toys, and I've seen how the battery duration can vary depending on how they drive. The playtime usually aligns with the stated time frame.
What is the voltage of a full charge Power Wheels battery?
The voltage of a fully charged Power Wheels battery should be at 12.6 volts or above. However, it's important to recognize that if the battery reads 12.6 volts or above, it doesn't necessarily mean it's in perfect condition. The capacity might have diminished over time, and the toy might not sustain power for an extended period. In my experience with these toys, maintaining the battery by following proper charging guidelines ensures it performs at its best.
How do I know if my 12 volt battery is bad?
Determining if a 12-volt battery is bad can be assessed by its voltage reading. If it reads 0 volts, it likely experienced a short circuit. If it cannot reach higher than 10.5 volts when charged, it probably has a dead cell. If it's fully charged according to the charger but reads 12.4 volts or less, the battery is likely sulfated. I've encountered a sulfated battery in my Power Wheels before and had to replace it. These signs were clear indicators that the battery was no longer functioning properly.
How do you test 12v battery to see if it works?
Testing a 12v battery to see if it functions properly is a common task that can be done with some basic tools. You can find a tutorial on how to perform this test on the following YouTube URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlkYGIMFj48
Why is my 12 volt battery not holding a charge?
There are various reasons why a 12-volt battery might not hold a charge. Commonly, the battery may be old and needs replacement, or it could have been damaged by heat or cold. If this occurs, it's crucial to take action to diagnose the problem. My friend's car battery once failed to hold a charge, and upon inspection, it turned out that the battery was simply old and needed replacing.
How long does it take for a 12v Power Wheels battery to charge?
For a 12v Power Wheels battery, you should charge it for at least 18 hours using the Power Wheels® 12 volt charger before the first use. After each subsequent use, it needs to be charged for at least 14 hours. However, it's vital never to charge the battery longer than 30 hours. In my experience, following these instructions carefully prolongs the life of the battery and ensures optimal performance of the toy.
How do I check if my battery is charging?
To verify if your battery is charging, you can use tools like a voltmeter, commonly found in many battery boxes. Testing the battery with a voltmeter by connecting it to your battery will display the voltage, providing an easy method to check the charging status. I've used this method many times with different types of batteries, and it always proves to be a reliable way to gauge the charging process.