A dead ATV battery can be a major roadblock. So, what are your options when you find yourself with a dead battery or a dying battery?
An ATV battery needs charging. Unlike a car, an ATV cannot fully or properly charge while being used. ATVs are also, most likely, not used daily. There’s nothing more annoying than coming to use and finding it won’t turn on because it has a dead ATV battery.
ATVs, dirt bikes, UTVs, and other vehicles all run off batteries. They power the ATV and accessories such as headlights. However, they are supported by a stator that trickles electricity to it as the ATV is being used. This does not replace the need to simply connect to a charger after use to charge your ATV.
Therefore, there is all the more need to maintain battery life. This can be achieved by investing in a good charger to charge your ATV and give it more power overall. Jump starting is an option; however, a proper charger will grant peace of mind and ensure your ATV starts every time.
An ATV battery can come in different forms. There are a few common and varying types on the market. These include but are not exclusive to a standalone battery charger, trickle charger, bench-style charger, automatic charger, and intelligent charger.
Of all the different types of ATV batteries, they have one thing in common. Regardless of type, car, or ATV, a dead battery will require charging or a jump start. To charge the battery, you will need to invest in a decent charger.
Charging up can be a forgettable task, but it should become a habit. Charging your battery properly is important. Multiple market options include trickle charger, bench-style charger, automatic charger, and standalone battery charger.
You will need some good, old-fashioned jumper cables, a power outlet, and a bit of research, so you know what you’re doing.
We are going to look at the different types of ATV batteries and how you can go about charging them. Charging an ATV battery can be a simple job, just like with a car battery. With the right equipment and knowledge, you may be able to preserve your battery.
This will avoid the need for a new ATV battery and ensure you can avoid finding a dead ATV.
Contents
What Setting Should I Charge My ATV Battery At?
An ATV’s battery is not as powerful as that in a car. They need a lower voltage charge. This can be achieved with a bench charger or a standalone charger. However, make sure you know what the AMP on your battery is before connecting to power.
The amp on the charger should never be set higher than the battery. This can have drastic consequences, such as a dead battery that won’t come back to life. Any new battery will require a pre-charge.
Do ATV Batteries Charge When Running?
The short answer to whether an ATV battery charges while running is yes and no.
While it does hold some charge owing to the stator, the part of an ATV that is almost like a car’s alternator, an ATV battery needs external output to charge fully.
ATVs and dirt bikes drain the battery power while being used. Their batteries are not powerful enough to become fully charged while using, as most of their power is directed to running the ATV.
How Long Should You Charge An ATV Battery?
An ATV should be charged until it’s full. However, the best way to achieve this is through using a smart charger. These are the best way to ensure the battery won’t be overcharged.
An overcharged battery becomes dead more rapidly and depletes in life expectancy.
Can You Jump Start An ATV Battery With A Car Battery?
Yes. You can jump-start an ATV battery with a car battery. The main thing to remember is to never, ever switch the car on. Switching the car on is dangerous because a car battery is much stronger in voltage and output than an ATV battery.
Therefore, an ATV battery should be able to jumpstart with jump cables from a car battery in a switched-off car that has recently been used.
Types Of ATV Battery
There are different types of batteries for an ATV. Some of these can be used as a car battery as well. However, generally, cars require bigger and stronger batteries to function than ATVs. A brief list of battery types includes:
- Lead acid batteries
- Gel cell battery
- AGM/Glass mat battery
Lead Acid Batteries
Lead-acid batteries are otherwise known as conventional batteries. Lead batteries are one of the oldest types of batteries to exist. They are also one of the more common types of batteries used in ATVs, dirt bikes, and ATV military vehicles.
A lead-acid battery needs maintenance. Without proper maintenance, this type of battery will not last very long. The main job of a lead-acid battery owner is to keep an eye on the battery acid levels within the battery.
Without proper acid levels, lead-acid batteries tend to stop working pretty quickly. The battery acid is what enables them to keep functioning.
Thankfully, refilling the battery acid is a simple task. It requires you to take off the top plastic casing and, carefully guided by the indicator lines on the clear case below, refill the acid. Then all you have to do is replace the top casing, taking care to do it tightly and properly.
This task will need doing before usage. A brand-new model will need filling properly and charging properly.
Battery acid should be handled with absolute diligence and respect. Wearing protective gear, for example, eye goggles and gloves is strongly advised.
Gel Cell Batteries
Gel cell batteries are a type of lead-acid. The reason they get a subcategory is owing to the gel. As we discovered, this type has acid inside the casing.
With a gel cell, silica is used to convert the battery acid liquid into a gel. So, you can’t spell it; it lasts longer and doesn’t require as much maintenance as a traditional lead-acid battery.
AGM Battery/Glass Mat Batteries
Absorbed glass mat or AGM batteries typically have more longevity than other types. Their most distinguishable feature is fiberglass layers in the lead plates of the battery.
The electrolytes (electric conductors in water) are absorbed better by the presence of the fiberglass. This means these types of batteries can hold a longer charge and have a longer output.
Normally, you can charge the battery a little while the ATV is turned on and running. This is atypical. However, as we’ve already learned, they will need more attention than that. You need to charge the battery after each use of your ATV.
There are also circumstances when the ATV may not be in constant use. For example, during the winter months. If left to sit, there is a certainty of the battery becoming drained and flat. For this reason, a charger will be required.
How To Charge An ATV Battery?
First and foremost, you have to get to know your battery. What amp is it? The answer to this question determines what amp charger you need to purchase.
Familiarize yourself with the battery terminals in the same way as you would on the charger. There is a positive battery terminal to connect and a negative terminal to connect. When you look at the dead battery, the red cable will connect to the positive terminal, and the black cable will connect to the negative terminal.
Make sure you have charger clamps. Charger clamps are essential for a jump start or a continuous charging session.
Types of ATV Charger
There are so many different types of chargers. A dead ATV battery may need completely replacing with a new battery; however, there are options to save your battery.
To completely charge an ATV battery, you will need a charger, jumper cables, battery mount covers, tools to remove the dead ATV battery, a power outlet, charge clamps, and a bit of background knowledge.
This includes knowing the right charge mode in relation to the condition of the battery. Getting the wrong mode can cause damage to the battery. The battery may need a few minutes or long periods of charging.
You can give batteries a longer life when you start connecting them to the proper charger. Whether this is for a full charge or float mode, you can avoid jumping-start batteries altogether.
Putting together a comprehensive charging system doesn’t have to be a daunting task.
Intelligent Charger
An intelligent charger makes sure that you don’t overcharge anything. This prolongs the lifespan. Alternatively named a smart charger, these chargers are a way to avoid battery life depreciation.
Smart chargers can be hooked up to the battery and left to charge until full again. They are simple to use. A smart charger has the advantage of being able to assess your overall battery.
It can tell you how much charge remains, and at a certain point (usually around 80%), the charging system switches to a trickle charge. The trickle charge mode helps preserve the charge.
Trickle Charger
A trickle charger works over a longer period of time. As its name suggests, it trickles charge to its intended location.
A trickle charger is a good option if you are leaving your ATV alone for a planned time span. Feel free to leave these on overnight; they are intended for a longer charge.
Battery Tender
A Battery tender only kicks in when your battery drops below a certain level. Much like smart chargers, they connect to your battery and read the charge levels.
How To Use A Charger Step By Step
- Find your jumper cables.
- Make sure the charger is switched off. Batteries, whether that is a dead battery, car battery, UTV batteries, or ATV, need to be taken out before connecting them to each other.
- The charger needs to be apart from your battery. Place it directly away from the battery. Do not leave it on top of the battery. This will cause damage to both the battery and the charger. It also needs to be near a power source.
- Attach the jumper cables to the battery. Take care to do this properly. A good battery will have clear indicators for the positive terminal and the negative.
- The positive or red cable of the jumper cable connects to the positive terminal on the battery.
- The black cable of the jumper cable attaches to the negative terminal on the battery.
- If you are using a smart charger, it will tell you how your battery is functioning.
- Wait until the battery is fully charged, if possible, before disconnecting.
If you use a battery before it is fully charged or overcharge a battery, you are damaging the battery’s capacity to charge.
UTV Battery
A UTV is an off-road bike or dirt bike that can seat two people, driver and passenger. UTV batteries are more powerful than ATV batteries. Therefore they require a more powerful charger. With a jump wire, you can start your ATV within a few minutes.
How To Look After Your Battery?
- Make sure everything is off: Batteries are drained by things being left on. Things such as headlights. If you forget to switch your lights off, easily done, you may find a dead battery when you come back to use your ATV. Sometimes, this can’t be avoided and mistakes sure happen.
- Run your ATV often: Batteries charge while in use. A fully charged battery will stay a healthy battery. This is easy to do if you use your ATV regularly.
- Charge your battery regularly: When your ATV is not in use, charge your battery. This can be done with an at-home charger. You plug your battery in and charge it up, simple! A charger is a handy tool for when you know you won’t be using your ATV as regularly as required to keep the battery charged.
How To Know When Your Battery Needs Replacing?
There are a couple of telltale signs that show you when your battery is on its last legs.
- Your ATV struggles to start: This is sign number one that your battery has reached the end of its capacity. You may be all too familiar with the splutter that an overtired, overworked, under-functioning battery has. It is an unmistakable noise and if you hear it, you should take action immediately. A battery that is struggling to start your ATV may be able to be charged with a battery charger or by using your ATV, but there is no certainty that it will hold a charge for much longer.
- Your battery drains quickly: A battery that doesn’t hold a charge is telling you that its time is done.
Concluding Our How to Charge ATV Battery Guide
ATVs can be a hobby, such as dirt bikes, but they are also used as military vehicles. Remember, a good battery can last three years and more. However, sometimes batteries can be completely dead.
When it comes to charging an ATV battery properly, there are a few different methods. Don’t forget the most efficient way to charge your ATV battery is through using your ATV. Though, this may not always be possible. So sometimes, it is necessary to charge batteries through different means.
A battery charger will connect to your battery and charge it up fully. A smart charger goes beyond this and can show you how much charge your battery is holding and how fast it can charge. If your ATV is going to be sat still without being used for a prolonged period of time, especially in colder weather, it is worth investing in a smart charger/battery charger to maintain your ATV battery life.
Frequently Asked ATV Questions:
- How do you change an ATV tire?
- How do you know if a solenoid is bad on an ATV?
- How do you clean the plastic on ATVs?
- How do you start an ATV?
- How do you clean a carburetor on a ATV?
