BY Nick Bulanda
Published May 9, 2020
Power Wheels have been a hit toy with kits for well over 30 years now. They offer hours and hours of fun and enjoyment, as well as a number of developmental benefits for children. One of the only things that might be a hang-up preventing you from buying one for your family is the rumors about batteries only lasting several months or a year before dying out.
If this sounds like you, we’ve got good news. The rumors of the Power Wheels battery’s quick death have been greatly exaggerated, or at least can be prevented. The primary issue folks run into when they find their battery dying out so quickly is that they unfortunately didn’t give the battery the care it needed through its life span. Using this guide, you’ll know exactly how to make Power Wheel battery last longer. Let’s get started.
The Initial Charge
When you first purchase a Power Wheels model, we know that it can be tempting to unbox it and let your little one go wild. However, there are some important steps you have to take when you are charging a Power Wheels battery for the first time. If you’ve bought a Power Wheels toy for your family, we encourage you to get it out of the box before you give it to your child or children. Make sure you read through the included manual, and follow the instructions closely when charging the battery for the first time.
It specifies that you must charge the battery for at least 18 hours on the first charge, and absolutely no more than 30 hours. This is to ensure the battery has everything it needs to function correctly throughout its lifespan. It’s very important, and if you want a long and healthy battery life, you’ll need to make sure to follow these instructions directly.
Standard Charging Process
In addition to that first charge, there are important guidelines you’ll need to follow throughout the battery’s lifespan if you want to keep it functioning in top shape. One of the most important things for you to remember: never leave the battery on the charger for more than 30 hours. At that point, the battery will likely start becoming overcharged, which is one of the main things that will cause the lifespan of the battery to shorten. If you want to learn how to make Power Wheels battery last longer, this is going to be one of the key steps to follow.
One really useful accessory you can buy is a Power Wheels battery charger that offers smart charging. This setting will ensure that the toy’s battery doesn’t become overcharged, as it has protections in place to stop it from charging when the battery is full. Many of them also feature an LED light that will let you know when the battery is ready to go. Then you will know exactly when the battery is ready to be taken off the charger without a worry.
Storing the Battery Properly for the Winter
Most families will find themselves storing their Power Wheels toy in the winter, and it’s just not viable for the kids to spend much time outside playing. However, unless you know the proper way to store your Power Wheels battery, there’s a decent chance you’re going to come out of the other side of winter and the device will no longer work properly. Follow our tips, though, and you should figure out how to make Power Wheels battery last longer.
There are two major steps that should be taken if you want to keep that battery juiced up. First, make sure not to store an empty battery. If your battery is drained and you let it sit dormant for several months, it’s going to lose its charge and the battery charger won’t be able to power it up once you try it again. By giving the battery a full charge before you set it on the shelf, you’ll be helping make sure it has life remaining when winter is over.
Additionally, one last thing you can do to help: if you’re able, grab the battery off the shelf once or twice during the dormant period. If you charge it up even just for a few hours, it should do wonders to keep the battery working in the future.
We hope these tips are helpful for you! Let us know if they assisted you in keeping the battery lasting longer in the comments below.