Abby’s Guide > Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) > Discussions > Blew my battery?
Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions |
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billski
Joined: Apr 16, 2005
Points: 9
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Blew my battery?
Original Message Apr 16, 2005 8:26 pm |
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I have a 3YO Snapper RER mower. For the second year in a row, I left the battery connected and the ignition switch to "on" for the winter. I need not tell you what happened. Again  . Is there any hope of recharging the battery? I manually started the engine and ran it for a half hour. Just a "click" when I turn over the starter. Last year when this happened, I took the battery dealer's advice and just got a new battery. Is the battery toast? I don't want to waste money on a battery charger if the charge won't hold. By the end of leaf cleanup in the fall (end of November), it's quite cold and the last thing I want to do is futz around outside. So, I run the engine till all the gas is gone and push it into the garage. Fergets to switch it to off or remove the battery (don't go there.....) You think I would know better. I have an EE degree to boot. Double-duh. Such is life...  Thanks!
This message was modified Apr 16, 2005 by billski
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Highwind
 
Despite the high cost of living, have you noticed how it remains so popular.
Joined: Jan 13, 2004
Points: 985
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Re: Blew my battery?
Reply #14 Apr 17, 2005 6:18 pm |
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Any battery left in storage will self discharge. One stored at high temperature will self discharge quicker than one stored in freezing temperatures. As Termy noted, you should give a stored battery a charge to keep it as near to full charge as possible. Robmints made a very good point there. As your battery was fully discharged it could have been damaged by freezing. Even if the case didn't crack, the internal plates could have been damaged.
Honda stable: HS 724 snowblower; HRS216 lawnmower; BF2 UWWW; 5 HP, 2200 psi/2.9 GPM pressure washer. Electric: BV2500 B&D Leaf Hog/snow duster; old 12" Weedeater. |
billski
Joined: Apr 16, 2005
Points: 9
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Re: Blew my battery?
Reply #15 Apr 17, 2005 8:47 pm |
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Every engine that uses a battery for electric start, weather its a RV, car, lawn tractor, snowblower, ETC, the battery must be placed on a slow regulated trickle charge. This keeps the battery up to full charge during the winter months. Failure to do so, would result in a dead battery. Would you keep the charger on, 7x24 if you will, all winter, or only every now and then?
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billski
Joined: Apr 16, 2005
Points: 9
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Re: Blew my battery?
Reply #17 Apr 24, 2005 2:14 am |
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Thanks all.
Picked up a $30 slow-trickle automatic charger at Sears. The battery seems to be holding it's charge, so I'm holding my breath that the patient will be ok. The charger came with a "quick connect" plug which when fastened to the battery lugs allows for easy charger attachment. Given this, is there any reason not to leave the battery attached to the mower during the winter months and simply hookup the charger now and then?
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