As long as the Power Wheels toy is also 12 volts, then yes, you may use any 12-volt battery on it. However, this is not suggested because, among other things, normal batteries do not have built-in thermal fuses, their current output varies, and they are not compatible with Power Wheels battery chargers.
Concerned parents often ask us if they can use any 12-volt battery in their kids’ Power Wheels. Find out the answer, as well as some important safety considerations, in this article about choosing a battery for your Power Wheel.
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Can You Use Any 12 Volt Battery In A Power Wheels?
Yes, you can use any 12-volt battery on Power Wheels as long as it is rated 12 volts. However, this is not recommended for a variety of reasons which include:
Most random batteries don’t have a built-in thermal fuse.
You will notice that most Power Wheels batteries have a thermal fuse built-in. This is a safety feature that keeps the battery from overheating or catching fire if it becomes damaged or overloaded, like on a steep hill or in thick grass.
If there’s no thermal fuse inside of the battery, then chances are pretty high that if something goes wrong, which happens quite often in kids’ toys, especially when they’re being used by unsupervised children who tend to play rough and tumble – this can cause damage to occur very quickly because most 12 volt batteries don’t have built-in fuses.
Regular batteries are not compatible with recommended Power Wheels chargers.
This is another reason why it’s not recommended to use any 12-volt battery.
Most Power Wheel toys are made with specific batteries that include a charger unit which is like an onboard charging system.
Whereas some people try to save money and buy regular car batteries without the built-in charger units, this simply won’t work with your child’s toy because you will need to buy the proper charger unit which is compatible with the battery.
Regular batteries are not designed for kids’ toys.
They’re made to be used in cars and other larger vehicles. This means that regular car batteries can potentially cause problems because of too high voltage output or incorrect current ratings.
It would be quite frustrating if you were to damage your children’s toys if they were no longer covered by warranty if you used a random battery without taking these aspects into account.
Using any battery can void the Power Wheels warranty.
That’s the way it should be, so don’t mess with it. If your child’s Power Wheel is broken because you tried to use a conventional car battery, assuming it would work despite the company’s warnings, the warranty may be null and void.
If you don’t do your homework and use the correct battery for your Power Wheel toy, you might as well just get a new one.
Battery quality is difficult to determine in a random battery.
This one isn’t too much of a problem, but it’s something you need to consider when buying batteries.
Power Wheel toys require specific brands and types for optimal performance, so if you buy some random brand from a discount retailer, then there could be problems with the battery, which you won’t know about until it’s too late and your kid is upset that their toy isn’t working.
Be safe and stick to recommended batteries for Power Wheels toys. It’s not worth saving a few dollars or taking a risk because what makes these toys work so well, aside from the design, is that they are made by professionals who know what’s best for your child.
12 Volt Battery FAQs
Final Thoughts
If you want to save money in the long term on batteries for your kid’s Power Wheels, don’t use any generic 12 volt battery in them.
So, please take this into consideration and stick to recommended brands for Power Wheels toys only. Next, learn how long a Power Wheel will run per charge.
Kevinsmak
Power Wheels dad. Writing RC Ride On Cars since the start.
Hello! I'm Kevinsmak; I have been a content producer of RC Ride On Cars since the start of this site. I have always enjoyed Power Wheels with my family. My two boys love them, and seeing this helps me make sure this website is very accurate for the safety and enjoyment of your family.
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