The last thing you want on mowing day is a battery which will not begin your lawn mower. Fortunately, finding a suitable replacement for a dead battery isn’t difficult since most riding mowers will accept batteries of a typical voltage and size. Variations in battery structure, though, may make a batteries a better option than others, and some replacement batteries may not work on your mower in any way.
Voltage
The voltage rating of a battery is really a measure of how much current can flow through it at a particular time. Nearly all riding lawn mower batteries are 12-volt batteries, as are most automotive and other automobile batteries. Some batteries branded as mower batteries are greater voltage — as much as 36 or 40 volts — but these are usually specialized batteries built to power electric walk-behind mowers and shouldn’t be confused with riding mower batteries.
Dimensions and Root Position
Batteries are categorized by their physical size, and individual size groups are awarded a”group number” from the Battery Council International. Most riding lawn mower batteries are group U1 batteries; they’re about 8.3 inches long, 5.1 inches wide and 7.25 inches high. There are two types of these batteries, differentiated from the place of their favorable terminals. U1 batteries have their positive terminals on the left, and U1R batteries have their positive terminals on the best. The difference is significant because the duration of a mower’s battery wires can prevent a battery using the wrong terminal position in fitting. Always check the terminal place of your old battery before you buy a replacement.
Structure
Batteries are created with metal plates submerged in a sulfuric acid solution, and in traditional batteries, the plates are made from lead impregnated with antimony. The drawback of this type of structure is that batteries have a tendency to eliminate charge over time, even when they are not in use, along with the antimony content of the plates causes corrosion of the battery parts. Some rechargeable batteries incorporate calcium in their plates, which helps to reduce problems with self-discharge and rust; calcium batteries are also less likely to damage from impact and vibration. Absorbed glass mat and gel cell batteries restrict the amount of liquid acid in the battery, so the battery will not trickle if it tips over.
Cold Cranking Amps
Batteries are rated in respect to the”cold cranking amps” they can produce. The CCA rating measures how much current the battery can provide in 30 seconds at zero degrees Fahrenheit; the greater the quantity, the more power the battery can put out at a fast burst at low temperatures. Although you are unlikely to be using your riding mower once the temperature is below zero, the CCA rating may give you a good idea of how robust the battery will be on cold days.