Zero-turn mower batteries exist discreetly until your machine starts to malfunction and the only culprit left to check is the power unit. For a component so under the radar, they do play a huge role in the functionality of your riding mower as a whole; the batteries are responsible for minimalist features like operating light fixtures and crucial aspects such as jump-starting the engine of your machine. Simply put, your ZTR cannot function without the battery or even a mismatched one in the worst-case scenario.
There are many factors to consider before choosing a battery for your zero-turn mower and it’s much more than a matter of what size fits. Everything from voltage, Cold-Cranking Amps (CCA), to terminal positions come into play to ensure you and your mower’s safety– all of which you will understand in a moment.
In this article, I will be highlighting the best batteries for your zero-turn mower, including all that you must know to ensure your artillery lasts as long as possible so that you can reap out of your money and enjoy your mowing experience.
Stuff You Must Know Before Purchasing A Battery For Your ZTR
All the required specifics for your ZTR battery replacement is written in the owner’s manual. However, you could easily get swayed by the wrong deal since there are many battery options to choose from. Here are four crucial aspects you need to know so that you can select the suitable battery for your z-turn:
Your Zero-Turn’s Required Voltage
The standard voltage for all ZTRs is 12V, but sometimes it could either go a little above this mark with a few decimal points. Ensure that you know exactly the voltage of your previous battery so that you don’t end up wasting your money and time by getting the wrong one.
If you are wondering whether or not a few decimal points matter, it does by a great deal– you could either cause permanent damage to the engine of your machine or hurt yourself if an explosion occurs due to the mismatched voltage. You can find the voltage information in your owner’s manual in case it isn’t written on the battery itself for reference.
The Terminal Position Of Your ZTR’s Battery
The terminal position refers to where the positive and negative wires will be tethered to on the battery. The terminals are categorized majorly by which side the positive wires go; if the battery indicates a neutral position, the positive wires will be on the Left side, and if it indicates a positive position – termed R – the cable will be tethered to the Right. This is crucial to consider because if you mistakenly install the wrong battery with incompatible terminals, your mower could be at risk of catching fire due to improper connections.
All the information for the correct terminal position is indicated in your owner’s manual for reference. However, some batteries have multi-terminal positions allowing you to connect the positive cable to any point you see fit. When linking the cables, ensure that there is no cross connection; each wire should be parallel to its terminal position to minimize the risk of accidents.
The Battery Size
The battery size for all zero-turn mowers is the U1/U1R size. There are other sizes such as the YTX30Ls, but those are mostly for bigger motorized equipment. Still, there are a few ZTR batteries that differ from the standard size required. The best way to confirm which size your z-turn requires is by referring to your owner’s manual or simply inspecting the current battery. Sometimes the manufacturers write it on the surface for easy identification. Regardless, for the sake of the majority, I shall be considering only the U1/U1R sizes as that is the standard for all zero-turn mowers.
Cold Cranking Amps (CCA)
The cold cranking amp is the maximum current that a new, fully charged,12V battery can transmit for 30 seconds, without the voltage dropping below 7.2V, at 0°F (-18°C). For most zero-turn mowers, 145 is the adequate CCA required to successfully ignite the engine during extreme weather. Nevertheless, the more cranking amps you get, the better the mowing experience. It just tells you how sufficient your battery is to withstand whatever situation you may find yourself in.
5 Top-Notch Batteries For Your Zero-Turn Mower
Best Overall: Mighty Max
One important aspect that a favorable battery should have is the ability to use it right out of the box, as you will be able to do with the Mighty Max batteries. I highly commend the reliability that this unit has earned from years of producing dependable and forever-lasting lead-acid artillery that completely eradicate the chances of spillage and temperature imbalances superbly. Also, the Mighty Max unit can be mounted in any terminal position, which makes it a lot easier by a percentage to navigate and install.
Engineered for the extreme cold regions and built ready with a whopping 320 CCA effectively, you’d essentially be on the safest side possible that guarantees an excellent ignition process during the warm weather. The only problem I have with this brand is that lead-acid batteries, however great they may be, have memory and will deplete over some time, especially because this unit boasts of using %99.99 pure lead.
Although the first two years might be a whoop in the air, the batteries start to weaken and spiral into aggravating problems. This isn’t associated with the brand– it’s just a common lead-acid problem. If other lead-acid batteries start to fumble after a year, the Mighty Max will take you two years and some under proper conditions.
A lot of consideration was put together to build this unit more specifically to ensure it lasts for the long run of doing a great job, which is why I highly recommend them for your zero-turn mower.
Nitty-Gritty:
- Weight: 18.71 Ibs
- Type: Lead-Acid
- Terminal Position: Neutral– positions can be interchanged.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Long-lasting vigor | It has memory and would eventually deplete with the passing of time |
| The impressive mower ignition process | |
| Does not leak or spill | |
| Highly Safe |
Best For Cold Regions: Antigravity
Antigravity batteries are made of lithium-Ion cells, which is a breath of fresh air if you are familiar with riding mowers or batteries of the sort. You’d be ditching the heaviness that comes with the Lead-Acids including the spillage and whatnot to dive straight towards lightweight artillery with less maintenance in comparison.
The best part of this battery is the self-jump-start feature it possesses. Even better? It is completely remote-controlled. You wouldn’t need tools or all of the devices to jump the battery to life when it sleeps; all you need to do is press on the RESTART button and the technology of the battery whirrs it to life– a feature you just might not be needing since the unit is endowed with 480 CCA!
With a built-in Battery Management System, the Antigravity cells are fully protected from the dangers of discharge, overcharge, temperature imbalances and short circuits further enhancing the life span of the battery. To support ease of use, they are equipped with quad terminals to allow usage in both directions of the unit– I think it is quite clever because of how the level of risk is properly and effectively reduced. For the Antigravity zero-turn battery, I can proudly say that a lot was put into consideration and has been effectively administered. I highly recommend this battery for cold regions.
Nitty-Gritty:
- Weight: 3Ibs
- Type: Lithium-Ion
- Terminal Position: Quad terminal spots leading to a neutral position build-up.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Advanced technological innovation | It is not compatible with all zero-turn mowers |
| Excellent in cold regions | Quite pricey |
| Easy to use | |
| Impressive CCA- 480 |
Best For Residential ZTRs: Interstate Batteries
The Interstate batteries have been around for quite a while, and have thus developed beneficial experiences for their customers. A lot of modification has been made to ensure the battery has just what it takes to be dependable, efficient, and easygoing for you. Although they are not exactly great competition to our top two mentioned battery brands, they offer just what is required for a stressless mowing experience.
The batteries are significantly sealed lead-acid cells that generate a CCA of 220 which is great for residential zero-turns that run less than 12 miles per hour. The best thing about this artillery is that they are highly reliable; they would last about 3 – 4 years if taken with proper care. However, this is where the flop comes in; they do require a lot of maintenance to function appropriately. Other than that, I highly recommend this battery if you seek something minimalistic but highly durable for your residential zero-turn mower.
Nitty-Gritty:
- Weight:11.02 Ins
- Type: Sealed Lead Acid
- Terminal position: Positive on the right
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Versatile due to simplicity | Require a tad much maintenance |
| Highly long-lasting | Leaks easily due to plastic exterior (would need to be treated with ultimate care) |
| Affordable |
Bang For The Buck: Istarpower Lithium Phosphate Batteries
Lithium-phosphate batteries have an edge over lithium-ion and definitely lead-acid cells. They offer a much safer encounter; no tendency of overheating and perhaps catching fire or exploding, and the rate of recharge and discharge is pretty high, to say the least. Due to this, they last longer than the other batteries by a percentage.
The Istarpower unit will wow you with just how efficient their shelf life is– you can store them for up to 350 days without use before they start to lose a bar or two. However, they do come short when you compare their energy densities with that of Lead-acid and lithium iron; due to the high discharge and recharge rates, the energy becomes unstable and may roughen the ignition process or strain the engine. All being said, they’re quite a reputable brand and will deliver you a great deal of stressless years on the lawn assisted by little maintenance.
Nitty-Gritty:
- Weight: 2.2Lbs
- Type: Lithium-Iron Phosphate
- Terminal Position: Positive on the right
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Comes with a 5-year warranty | It is not compatible with all zero-turn mowers |
| Much lighter the lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries | Takes a long time to recharge |
| Very affordable |
Easiest To Use: ExpertPower
If you’re in the middle of an intense mowing week and abruptly your mower battery fails, the alternative you’d be seeking is a unit that would immediately revive your zero-turn and run it back into the lawn, which is the major expertise of the ExpertPower battery.
This unit is well-known for its ease of use and maintenance: the first thing that would please you about them is that they come fully charged so that you don’t bother waiting extra hours trying to revive the battery. They are also maintenance-free, taking a chunk out of your zero-turns regular maintenance for the long run, perform quite well in extreme temperatures, and will live for 3 to 4 years if maintained properly.
For the budget, the ExpertPower battery is a great buy. The only area they run short is that compared to other high-end batteries, smooth cranking may not be experienced. I also strongly advise you to only pair them with residential mowers that run below 12 miles per hour; although they could be used on bigger machines, it would deplete the lifespan of the battery much faster than it would on smaller z-turns. However, for the level of quality they bring at such a low price, I strongly recommend the ExpertPower battery for your ZTR.
Nitty-Gritty:
- Weight: 6.04 lbs
- Type: Lead-Acid
- Terminal Position: Positive on right
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Easy to install and use as they are delivered fully charged | Cranking and ignition aren’t all that smooth |
| Excellent in extreme weather conditions | Is advised to be used on small zero-turns only |
| Great for a small budget |
3 Crucial Steps To Ensure Your Zero-Turn Battery Lasts A Lifetime
Zero-turn mower batteries should last about 4 – 5 years if they’re properly maintained. Here’s how to get the best out of your power unit:
1. Clean The Terminals Regularly
When corrosion settles on the terminals of the battery, it strains transmission and over-works the artillery thereby depleting its overall value. Use a solution of baking soda and water with a damp cloth to clean the terminals to wipe away any corrosion or crystallization that forms. You can also apply anti-corrosion spray on the spots to ensure that it doesn’t accumulate any more debris.
2. Remove And Store The Battery During Long Breaks
The fastest way to ruin your ZTR battery is by leaving it to sit in the machine through the winter– there’s no doubt that the unit would be dead when you get back. It’s much safer for your battery if you unplug it from the machine and store it in a cool, dry place to prevent any loose currents from escaping the cell and to avoid corrosion or crystals from forming.
3. Charge Batteries The Proper Way
Charging your batteries will require you to use a charger that only matches the voltage of the cell unit. For example: for 12 V batteries, you use a 12 V charger only (view on Amazon) It is crucial to make the correct charger-battery match. Also, when you are in the process of connecting the charger to the battery, ensure you start with the positive connection first before the negative one. This stabilizes the current and sets a good environment for the voltage to be transmitted safely.
Furthermore, try not to overcharge the battery because this will cause the unit to have a memory and will shorten the lifespan of the cells. If you consider these critical steps, you’re already %90 into ensuring your battery lasts as long as the need be.
Taking A Bow…
There are different things to consider before buying a battery replacement for your zero-turn mower. Our discussion covers the most important aspects and equips you with the best battery options to choose from depending on what your mower requires. If you know exactly what you need, you can easily point out which battery is right for you like a pro. I wish you good luck on your quest!