A step-by-step guide to learn what to do in case your Mighty Mule battery isn’t charging. It also includes a list with the most common causes of this problem.
Usually, Mighty Mule batteries have a useful life of 3-5 years. So, you might expect not having problems with your battery during that time. If the battery stops charging during the first years, it’s advisable to check the operation of the solar panel or the control box. In some cases, replacing the battery isn’t the wisest decision.
If you’ve already replaced several batteries before 3 years of use, something is probably wrong with your automatic gate opener. In this step-by-step guide you’ll learn what to do in case your Mighty Mule battery doesn’t charge properly.
Why is My Mighty Mule Battery Not Charging?
As said before, a defective battery isn’t always the cause of this problem. Hardware failures in your gate opener are also a common cause. If you replace the battery every time you have problems, you’ll end up spending too much money. In addition, the problem will keep happening over and over again if you don’t find the real cause.
Below, you’ll find a list with the elements you should check in case your battery begins to fail:
- Charging Circuit
- Solar Panel
- Transformer
- Battery
To do this, it’s suitable that you have at least a basic knowledge about electricity and electronic circuits. You’ll also need a multimeter on hand to make some measurements.
Mighty Mule Battery Not Charging Solutions
Usually, the red light on the control board of your gate opener is evidence of a dead battery. In that case, follow the steps below:
The Red Light is Turned On
- First of all, replace the fuses on the control board in case of damage.
- Then, check out the connection of the cables. Make sure there aren’t loose cables.
- Replace the battery in case the fuses and the cables are well.
The Red Light is Turned Off
- First of all, make sure the control box is ON.
- Then, check out the circuit board for loose connections or rusted parts.
- After that, verify the battery connection.
- Finally, replace the battery if the circuit board elements and the cables are well.
The Red Light is Flashing
When this happens, the system is in a low voltage lockout. The common reason for this problem is a poor voltage supply. This is what you need to in this case:
- First of all, check out the voltage output of the transformer (18-22 V) or solar panel (18-22 V). You’ll need a multimeter to do that. If the voltage is too low or null, replace the damaged component.
- After that, check out the control board for burned components, corrosion on loose connections.
- Then, make sure the transformer isn’t connected to the control board with solid core or telephone wire.
- Finally, replace the battery if the solar panel, the transformer and the control board are well.
Final Talk
As you can see, there are several reasons why your Mighty Mule battery isn’t charging. Sometimes the reason of the problem isn’t the battery but a problem in the opener’s hardware. Therefore, it’s suitable to do some tests before deciding to replace the battery.
Before starting the tests, make sure you have the required materials and tools on hand. If you don’t feel capable of doing the tests, contact a professional to help you. Make sure to follow these tips to prevent further damage to your gate opener.