No, it's generally not a good idea to leave a battery in a lawn mower during long-term storage because it can lead to battery sulfation, which damages your battery over time. Maintenance for battery-powered lawn mowers can be left by the wayside when you store the battery and your lawn mower away for the winter. However, keeping your lawn mower battery in your mower for long periods can negatively impact your lawn mower's lifespan.
We are Mowrator, one of the leading companies behind remote control lawnmowers. We've put together this guide to help you understand the specifics of battery maintenance and storage and what improper battery care can do to your lawnmower's lifespan.
Key Takeaways
- Do not leave your battery in your lawn mower during mower storage, as it can damage the battery and reduce its lifespan.
- The best way to store a lawn mower battery is in a cool, dry place with low humidity and easy access for maintenance checks.
- If your lawn mower sounds strange or has difficulty starting, it may be due to issues with its battery.
Can I Leave a Battery in a Lawn Mower?
No, remove the battery of your lawnmower if you're planning to store it for long periods. Not only does long-term storage lead to battery sulfation, but it can also cause charge loss. Battery sulfation occurs in lead-acid batteries, when sulphate crystals form on the battery terminals and lead plate. Charge loss is the reduced capacity of your battery to keep a charge. For example, a lithium-ion battery will lose around 12 to 24% of its capacity after 500 charging and discharging cycles.
What is the Best Way to Store a Lawn Mower Battery?
The best way to store your lawn mower battery is separately from your lawnmower. It's essential to choose the location of your lawn mower battery wisely and practice continued maintenance throughout its storage time.
How to Choose Where to Store Your Lawn Mower Battery
Storing your lawn mower battery, whether a riding lawn mower or an electric mower, means choosing the correct location. The best place to store your battery is indoors, preferably in a cool, dry place with good ventilation and humidity below 50%. Ideally, you should store your battery pack between 0 and 27 ℃ to reduce the risk of damage and maintain your lawn mower battery for as long as possible.
Places in your home that will suit for battery storage are your utility room, garage workbench, storage closet, or basement storage area. These places typically offer ways to keep your lawn mower battery charging without fear of damage and where you can work on any battery maintenance.
How to Maintain a Lawn Mower Battery While in Storage
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Proper Charging Protocol Before Storage | Fully charge and remove battery before storage. Disconnect cables starting with the negative, cover lithium-ion terminals, check for rust or sulfation, and ensure voltage exceeds 12.6V using a voltmeter. |
| 2. Check on Battery's Protective Measures | Store away from metal objects, use a dedicated container, and wrap it in cloth for added protection to prolong its lifespan. |
| 3. Periodic Maintenance Every Few Months | Conduct maintenance checks on stored batteries every few months, use a Smart Charger or Battery Management System for monitoring. Pay extra attention to lead-acid batteries, which are more prone to wear, dirt, and corrosion. |
| 4. Winterise Your Battery (Optional) | For winter storage, keep your lawn mower battery charged to at least 70%. Check its voltage every few weeks and use a battery tender for continuous maintenance. |
Here is our step-by-step guide on how to maintain your battery and charger while it's in storage.
1. Proper Charging Protocol Before Storage
Ensure your battery is fully charged before storing and removing it from the lawnmower. Disconnect the negative terminal cable and from the battery before disconnecting the positive cable. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission also recommend that you store lithium-ion batteries by covering or isolating the battery’s terminals.
Check for any rust or sulphation on the terminal's connections, and then use a voltmeter to assess the voltage levels of your battery (it should be above 12.6V).
2. Check on Battery's Protective Measures
To properly store a lawn mower battery, you should follow extra safety precautions while your battery is in storage. Keeping it away from metal objects, storing it in its dedicated container, and wrapping it in cloth for additional protection are all essential to keeping your battery-powered electric lawn mower working for years. If you’re wondering lawn mower battery how many volts your battery should be for optimal performance, ensure you're following the recommended voltage specifications for your specific model.
3. Periodic Maintenance Every Few Months
Once your battery and charger have been properly stored, you'll only conduct maintenance checks every few months. Some batteries will require more frequent checks, especially if you're planning on maintaining your battery levels by using a Smart Charger or a trickle charger. As you explore options in the cordless lawn mower lithium battery market, be sure to consider models that offer advanced maintenance features for longer battery life.
Battery Management Systems (BMS) are also extremely useful for monitoring the state of your lithium-ion or lithium-iron-phosphate batteries. Lead-acid batteries, in particular, require special attention for wear and tear as they are more sensitive to damage, dirt, and corrosion than lithium batteries.
4. Winterise Your Battery (Optional)
If you plan to store your lawn mower battery over winter or long periods, then you must undertake special winter care procedures. For example, you'll want to keep your lawn mower battery charged to at least 70% during winter months, check its voltage more frequently (every few weeks), and use a battery tender to provide continuous maintenance throughout the off season.
Can Proper Battery Storage Improve Battery Lifespan?
Yes, proper battery storage and usage are essential for improving battery lifespan, as proper storage can extend your battery life by up to 20%. So, following as many protocols and maintenance tips as possible is important for saving you both time and money. If you’re ever in doubt about whether your battery is properly charged or functioning, you might ask, do lawn mower batteries come charged upon purchase, or if they need a full charge before first use.
The key to extending the time your lithium-ion batteries should last for lies in the rate at which it loses lithium. Data collected by the SLAC-Stanford Battery Center in the U.S. showed that charging lithium-ion batteries using high currents before leaving the factory can increase their lifespan by 50%.
What are the Warning Signs that your Battery is damaged?
Warning signs that indicate your battery is damaged include physical damage to the battery, performance issues like failing to start, and decreased battery efficiency.
| Visual Signs | Terminal Issues |
|---|---|
|
|
| Starting Problems | Electrical Signs |
|
|
| Audible Warnings | Operational Issues |
|
|
FAQs on Can I Leave a Battery in a Lawn Mower?
Can you store a lawn mower battery in the house?
Yes, you can leave a lawn mower battery in your house. If your garage is not an ideal location to store and charge the battery, your house is an excellent location for battery preservation. As long as you keep it in a well-ventilated, temperature-controlled room and away from flammable materials, you can safely store it.
Can lawn mower batteries overheat?
Yes, lawn mower batteries can overheat in certain conditions. Excessive charging, high temperatures, internal short circuits, and poor ventilation can contribute to your battery overheating. Certain types of batteries, like LiFePO4, have a reduced risk of overheating compared to lead-acid and lithium-ion, so it may be worth upgrading if your battery consistently overheats. LiFePO4 batteries are used in innovative lawn mower models like the S1 Remote Control Lawn Mower 4WD to withstand temperatures between -20 ℃ and 60 ℃.
Back to Top: Can I Leave a Battery in a Lawn Mower?
