Need battery help for Gator Ride-on toy

TWINKLE_TOES · Jun 15, 2004

Jerry and Brent, I went to Peg Pergo's web site (liscensed by Deere to build the Gator) and found the battery
is sealed lead acid. Battery Care

The battery has a limited warrenty of 6 months. The battery care instructions to never charge for less than 16 hours nor more than 24 hours and to never completely discharge the battery is pretty unrealistic for this application.
Sealed lead acid batteries are unforgiving of overcharge (no way to replace electrolyte). No information was given for the charger, but if it can recharge a 7.5amp hours battery in 16 hours it is delivering about 1/2 Amp @ a charge efficiency of 80%.
This type charger will kill the battery if left on for extended periods.

As I see it you could buy a similar replacement battery and meticulously follow the Mfg. instruction for charging. Explain to your children that they have to quit using the gator after a fixed period of time (even though it is still running just fine. This will only improve on the battery life because of the depth of discharge)

Or upgrade to a Nickel Cadmium Battery and smart charger.

MossRoad · Jun 15, 2004

My brother in law adapted a cordless drill battery for his daughter's off road vehicle(sidewalk terror). He had two of the charger packs, so he gutted one and used it for a socket in the vehicle. So now when the battery dies, he just pops it out of the socket and throws it in the charger. He has another one already charged, so he pops that in. Depending on how hard the kid drives it, she can get about 20 minutes of continuos runtime out of each battery. And the battery charges in about an hour. So with the two batteries, she can run a long time. Another thing is the vehicle was originally a 9V and I think he is using an 18V battery, so it has a little more speed now. The drive motors don't seem to care that they are getting twice the voltage. If you can find this stuff scrap, it is alot cheaper than new. He cruises the well off neighborhoods on trash days and finds all sorts of good stuff that people don't bother donating to charity. Hope this helps.

Mrwurm · Jun 15, 2004

That's neat idea. It's got me thinking /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Kevin37 · Jun 15, 2004

I'm with you there, Jerry. I just discovered my charger is DOA because it got wet. I was afraid to look up the cost to replace that PLUS the wheels! I've got several 14+ Volt cordless tools I no longer use. I'll start tinkering this weekend!!

Kevin

rockyridgefarm · Jun 16, 2004

I think the stock charger is a lot of the problem. I switched my kid's gator over to an onboard auto charger, so they can plug it in and forget it.

But that cordless tool battery answer sounds interesting...

Jim_Fisher · Jun 17, 2004

Jerry,

Do you have a Black & Decker outlet nearby? I just picked up a reconditioned B&D 12v cordless drill for $25.00. Comes with two batteries and a charger. Probably has most of what you need to make the conversion.

Jim Fisher

Mrwurm · Jun 17, 2004

Yes, there is a Black&Decker outlet. I have'nt been in there in a few years, but I believe they only sell reconditioned stuff in there. Good idea /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

TWINKLE_TOES · Jun 17, 2004

Jerry, the "tool" batteries will have about 20% of the capacity of your battery.
To have nearly the same capacity as you current battery a Nickel Cadmimum battery would take 10 F size cells.
An F cell is 1.3 in dia and 3.6 in tall