How to Check Your Mower's Battery Health with a Multimeter
When it comes to maintaining your mower, it's crucial to check periodically that its battery is still in good condition. A multimeter is a versatile tool and might be just the ticket for completing this task.
Keep reading as we walk you through the process of testing your mower's battery using a multimeter.
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Understanding Your Multimeter's Settings
Different multimeters come with various sections, but for this article, we are focusing on two primary settings: The dedicated battery setting and the DC (direct current) setting.
Dedicated Battery Section: Some multimeters, like the one shown below, have a setting specifically for testing 12-volt, 9-volt, or 1.5-volt batteries. This makes the process straightforward.
DC (Direct Current) Setting: If your multimeter doesn't have a dedicated battery section, look for the symbol 'V' with a solid line on top and dots below, as seen here. This represents the DC (Direct Current) setting. To test a 12-volt battery, set it to 20, allowing the multimeter to test up to 20 volts. Do the same for other voltage testing.
Testing the Battery
The first step in testing your battery using this tool is to switch the multimeter to the correct setting. Depending on your multimeter, this will look different. As explained above, this will be set to 12-volt battery on the dedicated battery setting, or set to 20 on the DC setting.
Then with the multimeter ready, take the leads and connect them to the battery terminals. The red lead will go to the positive terminal, and the black will lead to the negative. Next, check the multimeter's reading. A healthy battery should give you a reading of around the 12-volt mark.
(Note: If you accidentally switch the leads (positive to negative and vice versa), the multimeter will still give a reading but with a minus sign. If this happens, simply switch the leads and test again.)
Why a Multimeter is Beneficial
While some battery chargers provide voltage readings, a multimeter is a more versatile tool that can help diagnose various electrical issues beyond just checking battery health, though that capability is what this article is referencing. If you don't already own one, we highly recommend adding it to your toolkit.
Maintaining your mower's battery health is essential for its longevity and performance. With a multimeter in hand, you can easily monitor and diagnose potential issues, ensuring your mower is always ready for action.
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And that’s it! You have now successfully checked your mowers battery health with a multimeter! If you have questions about any of the steps outlined above or are just more of a visual learner, head over to our YouTube channel and watch our step-by-step video (also attached below)! Leave a comment or question and receive a personal reply from Brent, our resident John Deere expert. Be sure to subscribe!
