A mower battery is something you should always be concerned about to keep your riding lawn mower working in its full force and lasting longer. So, what is lawn mower battery voltage? If you’re not an electricity expert, knowing the answer can be challenging.
So, here comes our short answer to the question, practical how-to ways to check the battery voltage and symptoms of a bad lawn mower battery to help you understand this critical element from A to Z.
How Many Volts Is A Riding Lawn Mower Battery?
Most lawn tractor battery voltage operates at 12 volts. This rating will keep the users from any severe electrical shock.
Although some ride-on lawn mowers use 6-voltage batteries, this is not as common. The higher the number is, the more powerful and faster the mower will be. So a standard 12-voltage battery can offer enough electrical power for other lawn mower engine accessories such as the electric starter, ignition switch, headlights, cut-out functions, and so on.
Assuming you’re uncertain what type of battery mower is, you can look at the nominal voltage of your old battery or look for information in the machine’s physical or digital manual booklet.
View more: How To Jump Start A Lawn Mower Battery
How To Check The Voltage Of A Riding Lawn Mower Battery?
Before thinking about a battery replacement or buying a new lawn mower battery charger, you should first figure out the volts of the battery. And you don’t need to be an electrician to do it. This method is viable even for people owning their lawn care vehicle models for the first time. Here are four easy-to-do ways.
Check The Battery Label
Almost all batteries have a large label on the side that contains primary and helpful information. There will be a short text with information like 12V35Ah. The numbers indicate that your healthy battery would run 12-volt with a maximum current capacity of 35 amps per hour.
Check The Mower Manual Booklet
The second best way is to find information regarding the lawn mower’s core battery or electrical components. Manufacturers always list the needed power figure to advise what works best for their products. Luckily, this method applies to both mowers with lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries.
Find The Mower’s Serial Number
For those who lost their manual booklet, there’s another way. Walking around and investigating the front, rear, or top of the mower engine will take a little effort. Then, find a series of the model numbers and Google it. This action should bring you to the manufacturer’s page or a digital manual booklet.
Count The Number Of Battery Cells
If the serial number is faded, counting the battery cells is a clever trick. But remember that this only works for lead-acid batteries. As you see the cells on your battery, count the number of plastic cups and multiply by two. That will give you the total lawn mower battery voltage. For example, 12-volt batteries have six cells, while 6-volt batteries have only three cells.
Use a Voltmeter
For the last resort, a voltmeter is here to help. Purchase a voltmeter from auto parts stores. Grab the jumper cables and then connect the volt meter’s positive cable (+) and black negative cable (-) to the corresponding battery terminals (red lead to the positive terminal and black lead to the negative terminal).
Symptoms Of A Bad Lawn Mower Battery
In general, lawn mower batteries last from 3 to 5 years. The longest life expectancy can be up to 8 years. However, they can stop operating efficiently or die out after just one year or less.
As riding on a lawn mower with a dead battery can never be a pleasant experience, you’d better have it fixed as soon as you identify these symptoms of a poor-performing battery:
- Hard-to-start lawnmower engine (perhaps you leave it outside during cold winter months or leaving the ignition key on for too long)
- A low level of fluid in individual battery cells
- Inability to charge the battery completely
- Damaged or swollen battery (No longer compatible to lawn mower battery charger)
- Trouble with battery connections (you don’t keep the battery cables clean)
Related Questions
Should I Get a Battery-Powered Mower?
It depends. But there are some undeniable advantages of a battery-powered mower. It’s easy to operate, environmentally friendly (a more suitable replacement compared to gas-powered engines), and much more economical (since petrol – the main power source – is ridiculously expensive at the moment).
Can I Repair A Lawn Mower Battery?
Yes, of course, you can. But only when you have a thorough understanding of this lawn equipment and safety instructions, or else it will be risky for your safety (lead-acid batteries contain sulfuric acid!) and the operation of the lawnmower batteries. Paying extra cost in having it fixed is a much better option for beginners.
Conclusion
When it comes to lawn mowers with a 12-volt electrical system, it would be best if you always considered the battery voltage to keep the tools and the battery itself working correctly. We hope our instructions have given you an answer to how many volts a riding lawn mower battery has, together with a helpful how-to guide in identifying bad or dead lawnmower batteries.
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