Power Wheels are fun by itself for the entire family as well. But as the kids start to grow, they may want something more powerful to challenge their skills.
But if you’re set to increase the power and speed of your Power Wheels, then you’d be glad to know that it’s not impossible to do so.
To modify your Power Wheels, you will need to upgrade the battery, motor, and tires. In short, you’ll have to install better components for its entire operating system.
This may seem daunting if you don’t have any background in basic automotive mechanics. But you can always have an expert perform the upgrade for you. You can even customize it based on the design and form your child wants.
Can You Convert a Power Wheels to 24V?
Yes, you can convert your 12V Power Wheels to 24V.
Most Power Wheels are run by a 12V battery. While this is great for an average speed of 2 to 5 mph, you may want to upgrade the battery to a 24V for more power.
Power Wheels with a 24V battery can be driven on challenging terrains such as small hills, grass, and surfaces with gravel.
So, to convert your 12V Power Wheels to 24V, all you need to do is find an equivalent battery with the same size and fit but look for a 24V. Aside from changing the battery, you will also need to change the motors.
How Fast Does 24V Power Wheels Go?
Your child can drive as fast as up to 6 mph with a 24V Power Wheels car. This is relatively faster than other ride-on cars with lower voltage capacity.
Not only does it improve the speed of the Power Wheels, but you can also get an extended time of use depending on how you drive the toy car.
How Can I Make My Power Wheels More Powerful?
When kids start to outgrow their Power Wheels, they may ask for something faster.
While you can always buy a new Power Wheels on Amazon, it could be impractical, especially as you can consider modifying its internal system making it more powerful.
You could spend less and even add some design modifications that would make your child more excited.
But how exactly would you make your Power Wheels more powerful?
Well, the answer lies in upgrading the following parts.
Battery
Your Power Wheels’ battery on amazon is the lifeline of the entire toy car. As a rule of thumb, the higher the battery voltage capacity, the more power it can provide.
Most Power Wheels vehicles use a 12V battery. The simplest way to upgrade your battery is to switch to a 24V battery which is twice as powerful. It doesn’t need any conversion.
However, you have to follow some safety and operative steps to ensure that the replacement runs smoothly.
First, you have to make sure that the newly upgraded battery has the same size and brand as your old battery. That way, it lessens the complication of battery switching.
Next, you have to remember that a Power Wheels car with a 12V battery also has a 12-volt engine. This means that switching to a battery with a higher voltage will cause problems as it won’t be compatible with the required electrical energy for the motors.
The key solution to this problem is changing the engine as well.
Aside from the engine, you will also have to change the fuses and gearbox to handle the current supplied by the upgraded battery.
Simply put, if you decide to get a battery with a higher voltage, you will have to upgrade all components affected by the direct-current (DC) flow.
Motors
It won’t be a Power Wheels upgrade if the motors are left out. Upgrading your battery will need compatible motors. Otherwise, it could undergo an electrical overload and overheat, causing some damage to your Power Wheels.
Likewise, if you’re upgrading your tires to add traction, you would also want to change the motors.
It’s relatively straightforward to remove the old motors and install the new ones in your Power Wheels.
Start by removing the wheels. First, unscrew the Power Wheels floorboard and take out the existing motors. Do it carefully not to intertwine or damage the electrical wiring.
Then, mount the new motors. Reconnect all the wires. This is easy to do as standard electrical wires are color-coded.
Make sure all the cords are appropriately insulated. If not, take electrical tape and cover them thoroughly. Otherwise, they will get fried once exposed to water or excessive heat.
You can also add heat sinks to help regulate the internal temperature keeping the motors cool.
Tires
Power Wheels tires on amazon are mostly made of plastic instead of rubber. This is because plastic is lightweight, and kids can efficiently operate them.
However, there are several drawbacks to plastic tires. For starters, they have a shorter lifespan and can’t be driven on rough surfaces. On the other hand, rubber tires are more durable and can be driven on off-road terrains.
But does modifying your old tire make Power Wheels more powerful?
Good question. The simple answer is yes.
Imagine having your battery and motors upgraded, and your Power Wheels now move twice as fast. If your tires can’t cope with the new speed, it’s going to wear out easily.
The best thing to do is change your old tires with rubber ones. But, first, look for tires compatible with your Power Wheels.
Once you’ve found the perfect new tires, find a spacious and elevated working space. Next, remove the retainer caps to loosen the attachment of the old tires. Then mount the upgraded tires and seal them with a hubcap and new retainers.
Can You Put Lawn Mower Battery in a Power Wheels?
No, it’s not recommended that you put a lawn mower battery in a Power Wheels. First, the power capacity might not be compatible. This could result in a power shortage that will lead to your Power Wheels stopping mid-ride.
However, there could be an exception to this rule. You can use a lawnmower battery only if it’s deep-cycle, making it more comparable to a Power Wheels battery.
Nonetheless, if you want to take the safe route, just look for a similar battery to your original Power Wheels battery. You can check some of them from Amazon.
Generally, replacing your Power Wheels battery with a lawnmower battery is not an upgrade considering the lower capacity of lawnmowers. So, if you are aiming for more powerful Power Wheels, find another battery type that suits your toy car.
Summary
To upgrade your kid’s Power Wheels is to replace components that have fixed power and control. Of course, this would include the battery, motors, and tires.
But before you decide to buy all the items necessary for the upgrade, you need to ensure that there’s someone who can perform the entire replacement process for you. That is, if you are not well-versed in installing automotive parts.
Likewise, it’s best to check the compatibility of the new components to the actual Power Wheels model. Otherwise, you might get the wrong item which would be a total waste.