Can I Replace the 6v Power Wheels with a 12v battery?

If you are asking yourself that can I replace a 6v Power Wheels with a 12v battery, then the answer is yes, you can. 12v battery can be used in 6v Power Wheels.

Power wheels are toy vehicles that are loved by children around the globe, and they are usually run by a 6v battery.

However, a 6v battery might seem to slow down the vehicle sometimes. In this case, you would want to perform a 6v power wheels motor upgrade.

So, can you put a 12v battery in 6v power wheels? Yes, it is possible. But how? Let’s dig deep into the topic and have a look at how a power wheels battery works.

What is a Power Wheels battery?

The mechanical design of these toy vehicles is quite simple consisting of one motor and one battery. The battery has a plug that is connected to the plug of the motor to start the motor.

The motor and battery plugs can be disconnected when the toy is not in use. To keep the battery full all the time, you can easily charge the battery by connecting it to the typical charger.

Many power wheels already have a 12v battery in them, however few of them have a 6v battery too. but what is the difference between a 6v and a 12v battery? Let’s find this out.

6v vs 12v Power Wheels Battery which is Best?

Incorporating a 6v or 12v battery in power wheels depends upon the vehicle’s weight, frame, and size.

The big-sized power wheels model which is heavy-duty requires a 12v battery, however, small-sized models use a 6v battery, since they are lightweight and a 6v battery power is just enough for them.

Still, few users do not feel satisfied with the 6v power wheels battery as it is not powerful enough and slows down the motor functions. Plus, their lifespan is also shorter.

So, to resolve the problem, the solution is to upgrade the 6v power wheels battery into a 12v battery. Let’s find out how do you change 6v to 12v power wheels battery.

Converting 6v Power Wheels Battery to 12v

Let’s go through a step-by-step guide on how to upgrade your child’s 6v power wheels battery to 12v safely. This will no doubt increase the speed of the vehicle.

Required Tools:

1. Twist-on wire connectors
2.  A 12v inline fuse holder
3. Battery quick connectors
4. Wire strippers
5. 12v wire
6. Sealed 12v battery
7. A 30-ampere fuse

Step 1

• Disconnect the 6v battery by cutting off the connector plug.
• Do this by cutting both the wires located around the battery.
• Strip off one inch of casing from the ends of both wires using wire strippers.

Step 2

• Connect fuse wire with positive wire of the plug. Do this by using twist-on wire connectors.
• Expose the fuse wire by stripping it with the wire stripper.
• Take the 30-amp fuse and put it into the fuse holder.

Step 3

• Take an extra 12v wire and cut it to the exact length of the fuse wire.
• Connect it to the negative wire of the plug using twist-on wire connectors.
• The extra 12v wire that you have taken should be stripped with the help of a wire stripper.

Step 4

• At the opposite ends of the wires, connect the quick connect tabs.
• Modifications in wiring are done by now. Now you have to use battery quick connectors to attach the plug into the motor and second ends of wires to the 12v battery.

Step 5

Since 12v batteries are larger in size than the 6v batteries, we need to make space within the body of the power wheels vehicle to safely accommodate the 12v batteries into it. For this, we need to do a few modifications to the body of the vehicle.

Modifying the body of the vehicle is very simple, you just have to cut off plastic from a few sides to make space for the bigger batteries to house in safely.

For this, use razor blades or jigsaws. But make sure not to disturb or weaken the structure of the vehicle.

Once there is sufficient space for the new battery, drop it in the body of the vehicle and connect the batteries to the plug.

The 6v power wheels have now been replaced with a 12v battery. However, there are a few risk factors that should be kept in mind.

First of all, now the vehicle is not the same anymore, its speed has been doubled, so you have to be careful.

Secondly, replacing the 6v to 12v battery might cause the motor to overheat and pop the fuse again and again.

Last but not the least, while operating the power wheels vehicle, keep your child under your supervision.

Can you change a 6v to a 12V?

Yes, you can easily change 6v to 12v power wheels battery. But make sure to take all safety considerations before you begin the process. This is because the vehicle might overheat and cause damage to the motor.

Plus, it is recommended not to change or modify your child’s power wheels battery unless you know what you are doing.

Many people often do not check the type of power wheels battery before they begin. Additionally, some people also end up buying an Alkaline 12v power wheels battery instead of a 12v Sealed Lead Acid Battery.

This can cause damage to the vehicle as Alkaline batteries have a very low lifespan and cannot be operated for longer periods of time.

Final Thoughts!

Replacing the power wheels battery is not a big project. However, you should be careful and take all precautions before trying to replace them.

If you are not sure about what type of power wheels battery to choose, it is highly recommended to take your vehicle to a certified technician and have them fix the issue.

Also, it is advised that you use a heavy-duty power wheels battery to replace your 6v power wheels battery rather than using a low-quality product.

Lastly, make sure to take all the precautions while changing the batteries to ensure that no damages are done to the vehicle.

We hope you liked our post on power wheels battery replacement. If you have any queries related to the same then feel free to ask them in the comment section below.