How would life feel like without the so-called lawn mowers? Of course, it would sound tiring. Dealing with the long grass manually can prove challenging. Thanks to the mowers, today, you can have your compound cleaned regularly. Whatever mower you opt to invest in, you must have in mind that it runs on battery. The fact that you use this tool seasonally means that you are likely to end up with a flat battery often.
So, can you jump a lawn mower battery using the battery of a car? Yes, you can jump a riding mower using the battery installed in your vehicle. Most mowers run on a 12-volt system. Therefore, the jumping procedure should be somehow similar to that of jumping a car.
However, in this scenario, you ought to be extra cautious not to fall a victim of battery explosions. Without saying much, here is a guide on how you can perform the jumping like a professional.
7 Steps to Jump-Start Your Lawnmower Battery by Using a Car Battery
1. Take the Necessary Precautions
Don’t get it twisted. Jump starting a mower may sound the same as starting a car. But, you must understand that these two are different settings. One thing that you should have at your fingertips is that mowers operate on small capacity batteries. Therefore, unless you don’t mind blowing their cell, you should be careful not to overload the battery. Another thing that you ought to consider is the fact the mower’s batteries are usually hidden somewhere deep.
There are not set as it’s in a car. Therefore, when accessing them to connect the jumper cables, you should be careful not to touch any metal. Otherwise, electricity may flow, and you may end up causing some short. Hence, you should observe the following precautions for the correct procedure.
• Some goggles and gloves may be ok if they came in handy. Like the other batteries, the battery in your mower is made up of a strong acid. This acid isn’t safe if it came into contact with your body. It’s for this reason that you are always advised to put on some gloves and goggles. You never know, the battery may explode on your while jump-starting.
• Never stand directly over the battery. When connecting the jumper cables, don’t make the mistake of standing over the cell. The position can see your face fried. Remember, when attaching the wires, some sparks may form, and one of them can cause an explosion.
• Switch off your car before starting the mower. Jump starting a mower is different from jumping a vehicle in that for a mower, the car should be switched off. Turning the car on before starting the mower means that the engine is running and so the alternator may instantly overload the battery of your mower. This is one mistake that most people tend to forget, and that leads to more damages.
2. Move Your Car Close to the Mower
Once you have all the precautions at the back of your head, your next move should be to move the mower and the car close to each other. The vehicle will be much easier to move as compared to the mower, which won’t start. You can drive the vehicle as far as the jumper cables can reach. However, you should ensure that they don’t touch each other. By doing so, you may end up causing a short, thus damaging your mower, car, or even both.
3. Deal With the Battery Corrosion on Both Ends
Once you are sure that the distance is safe, next, you should go ahead and deal with the rust around the battery terminals. Based on how often you check on your battery, rust is likely to form around their terminal posts. You must, therefore, clear this formation before moving forward with the procedure. You can use a wire brush or steel wool to clean the areas thoroughly.
4. Connect the Batteries
Once the terminal posts are sparkling clean, your next step should be connecting the two cells. As it’s in a car situation, connecting the battery of your mower should be done in a precise order. You begin with the red cable, which is the positive side of this scenario. Connect one end of this wire to the positive terminal post of the car battery.
Next, connect the loose jumper cord (positive one) to the terminal post of the mower’s battery. Go ahead and fix the black cable on the battery in your car. The other end of the black wire should then be connected to a sturdy part of your mower. You should ensure that the piece you choose isn’t painted or rusty. The part should act as the ground.
5. Start the Car
Once you are that the connection is tightly held, go into your vehicle and turn on the ignition. The idea here is to give you more some time to charge. When starting the car, you should be cautious about anything that might happen.
In case you notice something cheeky, turn off the car and start by unplugging the positive cable from your car battery and then you mower’s battery. By doing so, everything will be safe. If nothing happens, allow the car to run for a few minutes and then turn it off.
6. Start the Mower
After some time, your mower’s battery should have enough charge to start the engine. You should go ahead and turn the ignition from that end. If it doesn’t start, give it some more time to charge before trying again.
7. Withdraw the Jumper Cables
Once the lawnmower begins, it’s time to get working, and that means you have to unplug the jumper cables. When disconnecting, you should carry out the process in reverse order. You should start with the black wire on the mower’s battery, followed by the black cable on the car’s battery. You should then go ahead and withdraw the red cable on your and then finish with the one on your car’s battery.
Like it’s in a car setting, you need to give it time to charge the battery. (here is how). Therefore, you should let the mower run for not less than fifteen minutes if you are not using it right away. The time allows the battery to stock enough charge that you need during your next start.
