I was recently given two electric ride on toys for kids. Both a beat up pretty bad but the motors work, batteries don’t. The factory batteries are expensive sooooo…. I was wondering if a car/atv/motorcycle/ battery would work? The originals were 12v. I do know there is a safety issue as far as liquid acid from gel acid but I have a container solution for that. I’m more curious about it exploding,lighting on fire or another unforeseen issue. Any thoughts before I try it? Don’t answer if you are going to say " don’t ever use anything but factory approved blah blah blah.." These are junk and the " you cant do that " crowd does not interest me unless it is backed up by scientific fact. Kids will not be driving these either. Any other junk yard tinkerers out there with some sage words of advice?
12v all the way, not Power Wheels plus the batteries are clearly labeled. Gotta say I love the actual experience with the John deer. Like it was brought up do u know if he had a problem with the battery lasting over multiple charges?

Yes it will work for sure. My father inlaw has a john deere toy tractor for his nieces that runs on a car battery. That thing runs for ever too instead of the 15-20 minutes the factory battery is good for. Just every once in a while you will have to hook it up to a car battery charger. They can be expensive, hope you have one. The kids will love you for it. Lol. Good luck.

My boyfriend and I don’t plan on moving in together for awhile, but when we do I’m curious as to how much money we’ll need each month. I’m talking EVERYTHING. The apartment room itself each month, electric bill, groceries, car insurance, etc.

And this will just be the two of us. No kids yet of course.
I live in PA.

Where are you?????
Fiance lives in Ohio and rent is around $600 or so, but here in Massachusetts, you can’t touch a decent place for less than $800 and that is if you are VERY lucky, average is around $1000 or so for a teeny tiny place.

Groceries, rent, car payments, insurance, utilities, health insurance can all be another $1000 or more a month. You didn’t give us anything to really help you out.

My son has an electric power wheel car that I bought from EBay. it comes with a 6 volt 4.5 ah battery, but seems to run weak on slight up hill side walk. I also have a Speed racer 6v car which runs fine. Would a 6v 12ah battery help or just extend the joy ride. How about a slight increase in amps like 8Ah or will that burn the motor? Any ideas will help. Here is what it looks like http://cgi.ebay.com/RC-Remote-Control-Ride-On-Power-Wheels-Mini-Kid-Car_W0QQitemZ360157224808QQcmdZViewItemQQptZRadio_Control_Vehicles?hash=item53db0b1f68&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72:1205|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318|301:1|293:1|294:50

As long as the voltage is the same, it should be safe to run the higher ah battery. The higher amphour rating will last longer between charges. The same as replacing a 12v 400 ah battery in a car with a 12v 800 ah battery. Just make sure it will physically fit.

Before WWII, very few Americans owned cars. Cities were dense, walkable, and well-connected with electric trolleys. MUCH less energy was spent on the simple act of getting around. Our national train system was the envy of the world, so people could travel to most destinations without a car and businesses could ship merchandise without the need for trucks. Once again, MUCH less energy was spent for travel and shipping.

We now live in a society where you almost HAVE to own a car to function. Car companies dumped the cost of road building and maintenance on us to keep this system running. Retailers have dumped the cost of shipping/delivery on us as consumers. We have to buy a car, maintain it, insure it and fuel it just to go to work, school, church and the grocery store. It makes no sense. We could do all of these things without cars, save ourselves the money, and enjoy better health and air quality.

Sprawling suburbs are directly correlated with growing rates of obesity, heart disease and diabetes. Kids can’t walk to school or any other civic function anymore. I’ve heard it said that corporations such as Wal-Mart require this living arrangement, calling it an "economy of scale". Well, cities can be scaled up as well as out, and logically, why should we foot the bill to keep Wal-Mart in business?

Why do we need cars? Why not highly-efficient mass-transit, biking and walking (like many international cities)? If you feel it’s because of "the market", please explain why most American cities have zoning laws that prevent walkable, car-free neighborhoods from being built. Please explain why car-free environments such as Disneyland or Venice are so popular. I want to know why we really NEED cars (not WANT them).

Yes, it’s very unfortunate how much we rely on cars in Western culture, but going back now wouldn’t be a practical option. There would be too much protest, and the infrastructure isn’t currently in place to support a car-free population.
I believe the answer is in increasing the efficiency of our cars (the current average efficiency is less than 1%), and improving new technologies such as electric and hydrogen cars.

I am totally opposed to building the "new" suburbs that are like those little groups of cookie-cutter houses, without any stores, services, or facilities within walking distance, no public transit, and not even any sidwalks, to discourage people from leaving their homes without their cars, it would seem!

ok well im 13, so iknow what most kids want….last year, i got an electric scooter, and found out that soetimes whenu go over bumps, it feellik ur riding a horse, so i thought, y cant taht place, irobot or w/e ( the place that makes roboraptor and robodog or something) make a mechanical horse that u can ride so ehres my ideas…
-it would b abit smaller that a regular horse
-water proof, so incase it rain swhile riding it wont mess up
-can walk on grass, paved areas, and thru a bit of water ( such as a small creek), and also thru some bumpy areas, like thru leaves in the woods
-the hooves would b a very strong metal, maybe the type of metal the use to make cars, and theyd b rather big, bigger than a noraml horse, but thats so it wont tip
-the ears on the horse are there because they have a voice recording system, kinda like voice dials on a phone, and theyd understand only ur voice, and when u turn it on, u say the horses name and …(continued in details)
7 minutes ago - 3 days left to answer.
Additional Details
1 second ago

…they react to it by neighing, or perckingup their ears
-theyd come with no manes or tail, because the hair would get stuck, or in ur way, and when riding u may not be able to see, plus itd get seriously nasty
-they controls for making it go faster and slower are on the reigns, which is leathe that is attahed to the horses head, and when pulle right the neck will turn, making th body turn with it, and on the reign there will b slow walk, walk, trot, gallop, idk about canter that may b a bit fast
please tell me what u think!! i want to get it copyrighted or seomthing so maybe i could sell it to a company and theyd make it because its my dream to have one!!! theyd have to stay out sid and it comes with a cover up that u put over it and zip so it wont b wet….my dad said i have to make one so i can get it copyrighted, not jsut the idea, but idk…please help

You show very good thinking, particularly in the way that you look for potential problems (trying to ensure that it won’t tip over for example) or features that the toy might have.

I see this as being substantially more expensive than the little critters that they have built so far, but expense has never stopped people from buying things like this before.

There are various forms of intellectual property protection such as copyright, patent, and design patent. This is not something that would fall under copyright and probably not design patent, since it’s much more than just a design. So patent would be the preferred route.

By the way, you can’t patent an idea. You don’t need a working model, but you do have to be able to describe, in detail, how the device would work.

Unfortunately, patenting something is an arduous path, particularly for someone as young as you (it takes a lot of time and MONEY). In reality, licensing your idea to a manufacturer of robotic toys is probably the way to go. They would obtain the patent and you would get paid either a lump sum or a royalty.

I suggest that you get some professional assistance (which is going to cost some real money - sorry). You’ll need to flesh out your idea a bit, create suitable drawings and other support material. You also need to get a non-disclosure agreement signed before revealing any details to the company.

There is one other unfortunate detail. By telling us about it, you have publically revealed your invention. There is now a clock ticking that limits the date by which you, or the company that you might license to, can obtain a patent.

Here is what I suggest:
Have your parents call one or more companies that produce robotic toys and ask if they are interested in product ideas and what they require for idea submission. The reason that I suggest that you have your parents call is that you may have a difficult time getting people at the company to take you seriously at first.

Once you understand the requirements of the companies, you’ll know what you need to do to submit your idea.

Get that non-disclosure agreement signed before you reveal anything to them! Everyone in the business understands the purpose of an NDA and they shouldn’t have any problem signing one. If they do have a problem with it (other than some simple wording changes), it is not a good sign. See if you can find another company to deal with.

Manufacturers recognize that good ideas are worth money, so paying a license fee to someone with a good idea is a win/win proposition.

I wish you well. Even if this one doesn’t work out for you, keep thinking about other ideas. With the maturity that you’re already showing, you’re bound to come up with a good one sooner or later.

ok well im 13, so iknow what most kids want….last year, i got an electric scooter, and found out that soetimes whenu go over bumps, it feellik ur riding a horse, so i thought, y cant taht place, irobot or w/e ( the place that makes roboraptor and robodog or something) make a mechanical horse that u can ride so ehres my ideas…
-it would b abit smaller that a regular horse
-water proof, so incase it rain swhile riding it wont mess up
-can walk on grass, paved areas, and thru a bit of water ( such as a small creek), and also thru some bumpy areas, like thru leaves in the woods
-the hooves would b a very strong metal, maybe the type of metal the use to make cars, and theyd b rather big, bigger than a noraml horse, but thats so it wont tip
-the ears on the horse are there because they have a voice recording system, kinda like voice dials on a phone, and theyd understand only ur voice, and when u turn it on, u say the horses name and …(continued in details)
…they react to it by neighing, or perckingup their ears
-theyd come with no manes or tail, because the hair would get stuck, or in ur way, and when riding u may not be able to see, plus itd get seriously nasty
-they controls for making it go faster and slower are on the reigns, which is leathe that is attahed to the horses head, and when pulle right the neck will turn, making th body turn with it, and on the reign there will b slow walk, walk, trot, gallop, idk about canter that may b a bit fast
please tell me what u think!! i want to get it copyrighted or seomthing so maybe i could sell it to a company and theyd make it because its my dream to have one!!! theyd have to stay out sid and it comes with a cover up that u put over it and zip so it wont b wet….my dad said i have to make one so i can get it copyrighted, not jsut the idea, but idk…please help
dont call it stupid i dont see u even thinking of anyhting like this, its not stupid, ur blind

That… is the most stupid thing I have ever read on this site. Our robots can BARELY walk, let alone support a human over rough terrain… scrap your idea before you make a fool out of yourself

My birthday is coming up november I was wonder if their was a electric driiveable car for kids like those little electric cars and trucks for little kids u see at wal-mart one of those only for a 13year-old

No. Not really. That’s a little kid thing. You can get an electric scooter or golf carts are legal for you to drive on private property. There are also go-carts, but those are generally gas powered.

For Easter weekend, my husband and I visited his family out of town. His sister (26) & her two kids (5 & 1) had just moved in with his parents. She’s going through a really rough time right now. All of her friends and most of her family (from her hometown, in another state) keep calling her and telling her to come back. Her 2nd baby’s dad just broke up with her. She doesn’t have a job. Her life is a mess.

Every time I saw her, she had either beer or vodka in her hand. And I’m talking about 3 or 4 beers a day and she went through 3/4 of a bottle of vodka in three days (by herself). She put vodka in everything from coffee, to orange juice, to just drinking it straight up. On top of that, she also indulged in wine at dinner (which everyone did).

Then, she’d be too wasted to take care of her kids. She’d leave for hours and talk on her phone. She wouldn’t tell anyone she was leaving. She’d just leave her kids there.

She doesn’t know how to handle/discipline them, so if one of them throws a fit over something, she gives them a candy bar to shut them up and says, "Stop crying! I’m sick of hearing it. Take this candy bar and leave me alone!" They’re badly behaved anyway, but she just gives them candy ALL day (not just b/c it was Easter) and they get really hyper.

On two or three occasions, I caught my one year old nephew sticking car keys into an electric socket. I kept taking the keys away from him and putting them on the wall-mounted-key-rack (which was out of his reach), but his mom kept pulling them down and giving them to him. I said something to her about how dangerous it was (in front of the whole family) and she started laughing and said, "I’ll laugh if he gets shocked. I’m not training my kids to be whimps." And all weekend, she said stuff like that.

Ok, so I’m like, "WHAT the HECK is wrong with this woman?!" When she was in the shower one day, my MIL informed me that she has 2 weeks to find a job and once she’s working full time, she’s going to start cracking the whip on all this crap. She agrees that my SIL is being a horribly irresponsible mother. Do you think that this will have long term affects on my nephews?

Yes

be masochists?

A masochist enjoys torture and suffering. Someone in an SUV must really be suffering and they are masochists, and the same goes for those actually trying to raise a family since having kids is too expensive right now with gas costs, the world’s too damn over-populated anyways and you know it.

Are you a masochist? I know I’m not. If not an electric or solar powered car, I’m getting a motorcycle or Toyota Prius.
"Dtownfb", I’m just telling it like it is. I take it you drive an SUV and have 3 kids and a little offended my question, NO?

I’m just pointing out how things like affording a lifestyle has gone down the tubes since the last few years.

So, if the price of oil goes up, nobody should have kids?! That makes about as much since as the power went out at work, so I’m going to cut down the tree in my front yard.

So how is a person that drives an SUV is a masochist? It isn’t torturing for me to drive my fullsize truck. I’m not suffering by taking a 600mi trip on a 3 day weekend to vacation. I bet many people are not ’suffering’.

have fun with your Prius!!!

I’m 19, a student at BSU, and I don’t come from money at all… everything that I own personally can fit in the cab of my gma’s s10 pickup, and my mom has little more than I do. I’m just curious how people manage to pay for everything in their life… college, marriage, food, home(mortgage or rent), cars, gas, car insurance, health insurance, kids, phones, clothes, children’s health insurance, electric…. it just seems like so much.

Its why our economy runs on debt. When I first started out in college everything I owned could fit into my vehicle too. I lived inside my car for a little while trying to make everything work. My family struggles just to pay some basic stuff and they discouraged me from going to college because of that financial burden I would be taking on. It is a burden sometimes. But worth it. I had to give up some of the essentials that are considered a luxury on my budget.

I havent gone to the doctor or dentist in way too long. Sometimes I get to a clinic when I get really bad. I gave up my car and ride public transportation. I have taken out loans and applied for many scholarships (and get rejected as well). Ive worked two jobs before. Lived in a two bedroom apartment with six people and ate Ramen noodle. I went part-time in college taking a few credits here and there while I worked full-time. It is taking me six years to do what peers did in four. But, Im doing it on my own the best I can with the resources I have.

I saved and worked. Finally at 24 got some extra help from financial aid now that Im considered "independent". I have a nice place now thats small but a good fit for me. Its strange to have real furniture but its a result of spending so much time working. Still dont have a car or insurance but slowly Im getting there.

Take heart that most people need help. They will get it from family if they can. Otherwise I suggest going to church to get help with food boxes now and then and remain humble. Its hard to see others "live it up" when you struggle but you can only focus on what you have.