Modifying your child’s Power Wheels ride-on toy to run on an 18V lithium-ion battery instead of the standard 12V sealed lead-acid battery is a popular upgrade to boost its speed by approximately 50%. This guide outlines the necessary tools and components for this relatively straightforward modification, ensuring a safe and effective enhancement for your kid’s ride. Think of these tools as essential to “keep the battery on” in a more powerful configuration, ensuring uninterrupted fun after the upgrade.
Tools You’ll Need for a Power Wheels Battery Upgrade
Having the right tools not only simplifies the battery upgrade process but also ensures safety and precision. Here’s a list of tools that are incredibly helpful for this project:
- Soldering Iron: Essential for creating secure and lasting electrical connections. A reliable soldering iron ensures that wires are properly joined for optimal power flow and safety.
- Mini Screwdriver Set: Power Wheels toys often use various small screws. A mini screwdriver set with different sizes is crucial for disassembling and reassembling parts without damaging them.
- Wire Strippers: Accurately stripping wires without damaging the conductors is vital for making clean and safe electrical connections. Wire strippers of good quality make this task much easier.
- Crimpers: When connecting wires using crimp connectors, crimpers ensure a tight and reliable connection. This is especially important in battery modifications for safety and performance.
- Mini Pliers: Useful for manipulating small parts, bending wires, and reaching into tight spaces within the toy car’s electrical system.
- Magnetic Parts Dish: A magnetic parts dish is invaluable for keeping screws and small metal components organized and preventing them from getting lost during disassembly and reassembly.
- Multimeter: A multimeter is crucial for testing voltage and continuity in electrical circuits. It helps verify that connections are properly made and that the correct voltage is being supplied.
Essential Components for the Battery Upgrade
Alongside tools, specific components are necessary to perform the 18V battery upgrade safely and effectively:
- Fuse Holder: Absolutely essential for safety. An inline fuse holder protects the toy’s electrical system from overcurrent, especially with the increased voltage.
- 30A ATC Fuses: Use 30A ATC fuses with the fuse holder to provide adequate protection for the circuit. These fuses are designed to blow and interrupt the circuit in case of excessive current, preventing damage.
- 10ga Wire: Heavy gauge 10ga wire is recommended for handling the increased current from the 18V battery, ensuring efficient power delivery to the motor.
- Heat Sinks (Optional): While optional, heat sinks can help dissipate heat from the motors, especially with the higher voltage. This can extend the lifespan of the motors, particularly with prolonged use.
- 18V Batteries: The core of the upgrade. 18V batteries, preferably lithium-ion for better performance and longevity, will replace the standard 12V battery. Having extra batteries on hand is ideal.
- Battery Socket (Salvaged): You’ll need a battery socket to connect to the 18V battery. This can be salvaged from a broken power tool or an extra battery charger, ensuring compatibility with your chosen batteries.
Safety is Paramount: Always Use a Fuse
Crucially, never skip installing an inline fuse. Regardless of the battery modifications you undertake on a child’s ride-on toy, a fuse is non-negotiable. Stock batteries have internal thermal fuses; therefore, when changing to aftermarket batteries, adding an inline fuse holder becomes essential for safety. If you are uncertain about any aspect of this modification, it is strongly advised not to proceed.
Important Warning Regarding Overvolting: Increasing voltage puts additional stress on the toy car’s drivetrain components. Be prepared for potentially faster wear of gearboxes and motors. To mitigate this:
- Keep rider weight to a minimum.
- Avoid abrupt directional changes while the vehicle is moving.
- Allow cooling periods between battery changes.
- Encourage gentle operation to prolong the lifespan of components.
By using the correct tools and components, and prioritizing safety with a fuse, you can successfully upgrade your Power Wheels battery for enhanced performance while ensuring longevity and safe operation.
