The Basic Ingredient - Lawn Mower Batteries
Batteries are used in almost all the lawn mowers expect for the electric lawn mowers. Here also the batteries may be used for remote control of the lawn mower.
The Lead Acid Battery
The lead acid batteries are basic batteries in any equipment, this was the only battery available for use until the Ni-Cad batteries, and the NiMH batteries came on the scene.
The lead acid batteries are used extensively for many purposes all over the world, these batteries are cheaper compared to the Ni-cad or NiMH batteries, and they continue to be used for many purposes including the starting for engines of lawn mowers. However, here we will talk of the batteries for cordless lawn mowers.
Lead Acid Batteries For Lawn Mowers
Lead acid batteries are used in many cordless lawn mowers and they work effectively as the maintenance free Ni-cad batteries. The lead acid batteries require topping of the battery with distilled water at regular intervals and this is the only drawback of these batteries.
The well-attended batteries give you a trouble free service for a long time, but as the humans have tendency to neglect the proper working equipment until it breaks down. This is the reason why lead acid batteries are neglected lot even when they are workhorses of the world.
Ni-Cad Batteries
Ni-Cad are maintenance free batteries and require very little attention other than the topping up at intervals of 6 to 8 months and charging only when the batteries go down.
Memory Effect For Ni-Cad Batteries
Memory effect in Ni-cad batteries is responsible for the batteries holding less than an optimum charge. This phenomenon is difficult to explain here but suffice it to say that it occurs when you start charging the batteries that are not completely discharged. When you habitually charge batteries every day irrespective of the condition of battery, the memory effect takes control and reduces the level of battery full charge.
The Ni-cad batteries are to be charged only when they are completely discharged. If you suspect that the batteries are not getting charged completely, you should discharge the batteries completely and recharge them to full extent before using them.
Actually, the individual cells of battery batteries are to be discharged, but the batteries are sealed and as such, a common person does not have the facility for discharging individual cell.
Therefore, prevention is better than cure. Nicad batteries are to be used as per manufacturers recommendations and that means discharging them completely before charging. This has to be followed scrupulously every time.
Battery Dos And Don'ts
In order that your battery serves you to full extent of its capacity, follow the following dos and donts.
Recharge batteries only after they are completely discharged
In lead acid batteries, do not top up the battery completely. Leave space for hydrogen generated to escape
Do not allow the batteries without charging. Charge as soon as possible
Do not add acid at any time. Adding acid might overcharge the batteries
When the engine is running do not disconnect the battery