BY Nick Bulanda
Published May 3, 2020
It’s not secret that Power Wheels toys are growing in popularity once again. With new models being introduced all the time with all kinds of upgrades, we aren’t surprised! We also know that it’s tempting for your child to get right into the vehicle and start moving as soon as they lay their eyes on it. However, there are some pretty important things that need to be done with the battery before operating, so it pays off to be prepared ahead of time, especially if you’re giving the toy as a gift. This guide will tell you all you need to know about charging Power Wheels battery first time.
Before we move on, if you are in need of a replacement battery or Power Wheels battery charger, or you want a spare to have on hand ready to go, that linked guide will be the place to look. There you’ll find a list of our product recommendations and reviews, along with a buying guide that features more tips for your purchase. While the guide is primarily focused on chargers, you’ll also find a few replacement battery options on there as well.
Charging Power Wheels Battery First Time
When you first receive the Power Wheels toy, it’s important that you read over the owner’s manual. If you don’t have a copy on hand, you can find the information on the battery right here. One of the most key elements to notice is the first time charging requirements. The first time you charge the battery, it needs to remain on the charger for 18 hours. Additionally, you have to make sure not to leave it on the charger for more than 30 hours. Doing so will start to drain the battery of life, and will likely cause you to need a replacement sooner or later.
While you only need to keep the battery on the charger for 18 hours the first time you charge it, the 30 hour rule applies for the entire life of the battery. If you want to maintain the longest life possible for your Power Wheels battery, it is important to remember to take it off the charger once it is fully charged.
Additionally, we recommend giving a thorough examination of the battery the first time and each time you go to charge it. Make sure the battery isn’t damaged at all, otherwise battery acid could leak and damage the area where the battery is resting, or it can malfunction. It never hurts to be too careful, especially when it will only take a few moments.
Other Power Wheels Battery Maintenance Tips
Once you’ve finished charging Power Wheels battery first time, it is important to keep up good maintenance. By doing this, you’ll help ensure that the battery continues to function for years to come. With that in mind, we wanted to share a few more tips that will help you out!
Take the Battery Off the Vehicle While Not in Use
While it’s easy enough to let the vehicle sit with the battery still attached after the kids are done playing, it’s a lot better for the battery to take it off and store it. Unlike many other toys operated by batteries, Power Wheels will still drain the battery while not in use. When left attached to the toy for long stretches of time without being used or charged, the vehicle can completely drain the battery of power and make it impossible to charge back up again. That’s why you should always keep in stored even when it doesn’t need to be recharged quite yet!
Make Sure the Battery is Charged Before Putting Away for the Winter
If you plan on stowing the Power Wheels away for any period more than a month, be sure to charge the battery before you do so! If you don’t, you could wind up with a useless battery at the end of the winter. If batteries get below a certain voltage threshold, the charger will not be able to charge them back up. Additionally, if you have the extra time, you may want to head out to the garage, shed or down to the basement during the winter just to check the life of the battery and see how it’s doing. By putting the battery on the charger just for an hour or so at a time during storage months can do wonders to elongate the life of the battery.
Getting the Most Out of Power Wheels Batteries
One of the most common complaints when it comes to Power Wheels is the lifespan and quality of the batteries. While there are replacement options out there, you may be surprised at just how much proper maintenance can do to keep the batteries working as intended for years. By charging Power Wheels battery first time correctly, you’ll be doing a lot to maintain its life. As long as you follow our other maintenance tips, we don’t think you’ll run into problems any time soon.
It is important to be aware that these batteries can be touchy, however. If you intend to use this toy for more than 2 or 3 years, there’s a solid chance you will have to replace the battery and/or charger at some point. As we shared before, you can find all of our recommendations for the best replacements right here!
Ride Toy Zone is the site to visit to find the best reviews and product recommendations when it comes to toys. Along with that, we put together helpful guides like this one that remind you of the right way of charging Power Wheels battery first time. These toys are excellent gifts for kids, even if you have a pair of siblings to buy for. In addition to providing countless hours of enjoyment, they can even help encourage creativity and offer strong motor development. We hope that this guide helped you get up and running the correct way, so the toy will be around for years to come.