It’s one of the worst feelings when your ATV won’t start because of a dead battery. That’s why I recommend you always hook your battery up to a charger if it’s going to be sitting for more than a couple weeks.
There are a few reasons I hook my battery up to a charger.
1- The battery died because I left the key in the on position.
2- During the winter or long periods of no use.
The battery could die from leaving the key on or maybe a power wire is shorting somewhere draining the battery. I hook my battery up to a smart charger throughout the winter to keep the battery fresh, that way my ATV will start right up in the spring.
To charge your ATV battery. Pop off the side panel protecting your battery from the elements, and then connect your smart charger to the battery terminals. To fully charge, leave the charger connected for about 4-5 hours.
Once you have your ATV and riding gear, the very next thing you should get is a smart charger. If you have a kick start or pull start, this won’t be as important. But for me, my ATV is electric start and having a good battery is essential.
The charger I use and recommend is a Ctek Smart Charger found here on Amazon. It’s sold at a good price (around $60-70) and has all the connections for any brand of battery your ATV has. I chose this battery because of its price and how easy to use it is. This charger will turn itself off when the battery is full saving you costly damage that can occur from leaving a battery on a charger for too long.
There are plenty of cheaper options you can find for ATV battery chargers. But, most of them are simple trickle chargers that you have to make sure you unplug as soon as the battery is done charging. I found it to be a big hassle having to set an alarm and run out to check on the battery all the time. With this charger I was able to set it and forget it. Which I love for leaving the battery on the charger all winter.
Getting a good charger will save you money in the long run anyways.
If it saves you even one dead battery it basically paid for itself already. It’s definitely worth the money to get a decent charger, and you’ll be glad you have it when you need it.
Some people prefer the Battery Tender 1.25 amp found here on Amazon, which is fine, they work great too. But I’ve had no problems with my Ctek Smart Charger and I would buy another one when the time comes.
This part is easy and can be done with a few simple tools. Take a wrench or screwdriver and remove the side panel of your ATV. Some ATV’s require that you remove the seat first, sometimes when you remove the seat, the battery is easily accessible right from there. You should be able to easily see where the battery is at this point.
Once you know where the battery is and can access it easily, you will just remove it from the ATV. To remove the battery just unhook the wires connecting the battery to the rest of the ATV, and sometimes there is a strap that holds the battery in place that can be easily removed.
If you don’t want to remove the battery from the ATV to charge it, that is fine, just make sure you unhook the wires from the battery to the rest of the ATV.
To make leaving the battery on the ATV a little easier I got this Ctek Comfort Connector found here on Amazon. This has made charging the battery so much easier for me. And, it has a fuse to protect from power surges. Now I don’t even unhook the battery, I just plug the charger right into the connector and it’s done. I also got a similar setup for my motorcycle I liked it so much.
If you don’t get the quick connector, that’s ok, the smart charger has clamps that will connect to any style battery like jumper cables would. Simply connect the charger to the battery terminals and plug it in to charge the battery.
Here’s a helpful video to show you how to charge the battery.
The quickest easiest way is to try charging the battery and see if it takes a charge. If it does, great! If not, you might need a new battery. If they battery was left out all winter, you probably need a new one. It is worth seeing if the smart charger will charge it, but it’s not likely.
I don’t recommend getting a battery from a local parts store unless they have multiple options to choose from. A lot of the time the price is just too high. Our local parts store was selling a simple ATV battery for almost $100. After looking around online I found the same exact battery for half the price. If you can wait a couple days for shipping, just get yourself an ATV battery on Amazon.
It is always a better idea to charge the battery slowly. Charging slowly will extend the life and quality of your battery.
When you charge a battery too fast, it could damage the battery and affect the retention rate. What I do I charge my ATV batteries at .8-1 amps, which takes longer, but ensures my battery will last longer.
A normal charge time should be around 5 hours to get a full charge. If you have a smart charger you can just leave it overnight and not have to worry about it.
If you don’t charge your battery throughout the winter, you will likely have a dead battery come spring time. Simply take your battery out of your ATV and hook it up to a decent smart charger throughout the winter. This way you won’t be buying a new battery every year.
You could use trickle charger for this as well, just make sure you get one that shuts off when the battery is charged or you could damage the battery.
Getting a good charger and taking care of your ATV’s battery will save you more money in the long run, and you will be happy you did.
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No matter how big, strong, and capable your all-terrain vehicle’s battery might be, it still needs a recharge every once in a while.
Now, the most popular questions online are “how long to charge ATV battery” and “how can I charge the battery on my own”. Well, that’s exactly why I decided to write this post – to guide you through the process of charging. This isn’t rocket science, but there are still some rules to follow.
Unless you do it properly, you can end up damaging the battery and even the entire powertrain (mostly, the engine). Yep, you heard it right. So, without further ado, let’s get right to it. We’ll start by learning the ideal charging time for ATV batteries and then talk about the actual charging process in more detail, including smart chargers, voltmeters, and more.
The big question is – are there any ideal charging times for ATV batteries, or not? Here are the facts: a full charge usually takes between three to ten hours. This depends on the battery (how old it is, how well you take care of it) and the charger. If you’ve got a high-grade charger, it will need very little time to recharge the battery.
Now, it’s important to understand that a “high-grade” unit isn’t the one that transmits a strong current.
It’s actually the other way around. Say, you’ve got a charger that puts out 2 amps. That device will fully recharge an ATV battery in less than four hours. In contrast, a 5-amp charger will get the job done in 9-10 hours. Some chargers have different operating modes. By switching to the float/drip mode, you can expect the battery to reach a full charge in 4.5-5 hours.
The most important thing to remember when dealing with ATV batteries is to make sure you’ve got the right device for charging. I’m talking about voltage, of course. Keep in mind that four-wheeler batteries are pretty fragile. So, if you were wondering – how to charge an ATV battery with car charger – here’s my answer. You shouldn’t really use a regular car charger to “fire up” an ATV battery.
The reason: it usually has a rather high power output (up to 10 amps, or more). That kind of charge will, most likely, cause a quad vehicle’s battery to overheat, which leads to permanent damage and maybe even a malfunction in the engine.
Only consider using a car charger if it’s a customizable device that allows limiting the output. If that’s the case, put the threshold/limit at 2-3 amps, and give it a try.
Again, this largely depends on the quality of the battery unit and your maintenance routine. If you want to know the average lifespan, it’s 3 to 4 years. There is little point in buying some of the more expensive batteries because their life expectancy won’t be significantly higher compared to the cheaper options. Some experts claim that the more you charge a battery, the less reliable and durable it becomes.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t charge it at all, of course. What I would recommend is to constantly check on the charge levels. There are actually pretty clear instructions for this: only consider charging the battery when its voltage drops below 12.4 volts. If it’s higher, there will be little use in “refilling” the charge. I also want to say that the quality of the charger affects the lifespan of the battery as well.
Alright, so, by now, we’ve talked about the right charging times for quad batteries, learned how long the average battery lasts and familiarized ourselves with some safety precautions. We still have one “stop” to make. With the basics out of the way, let’s go ahead and learn how to charge ATV battery. The best way to do this is to invest in a decent-quality smart charger. These are available for 70-80 US dollars and last for many years, if not decades.
The best thing about smart chargers is that they are compatible with a long line of four-wheelers and have wires-connections for pretty much every single ATV battery on the market. Another big pro: most reasonably-priced smart chargers have a built-in system that stops the charging process once the battery reaches a full charge. That prevents it from damaging the battery (yes, overly long charging times are known to cause overheating, among other things).
The less expensive chargers don’t have this feature, and you’ll have to turn them off manually.
Don’t worry: there’s nothing hard about using a smart charger. You will, however, need a screwdriver (or, at least, a wrench) to remove the plastic side panel and access the “insides” of your quad vehicle. In some cases, the seat will have to be removed as well. At this point, you’ve got a choice to make: either leave the battery where it is or remove it. I recommend taking it out completely.
That way, it will be much easier to disconnect it from the ATV. This is important: make sure every single wire is disconnected before charging the battery! Next, use the clamps provided with the charger to connect to the battery unit. The positive lead is colored red and should connect to the positive terminal of the ATV battery. The negative lead, in turn, is usually black and is used for grounding.
A clean, bare metallic surface will do just fine. I usually connect the negative to my all-terrain vehicle’s frame. The connectors should always be sparkly-clean – even the tiniest dust particles can cause some trouble.
Plus, don’t forget to get a pair of protective gloves and eyewear. The acid inside of batteries is pretty toxic for the human skin.
Once you’re done, disconnect the charger and give the battery a try. I always let it sit for at least a couple of hours before using a voltmeter to measure the charge. If the battery can’t hold the charge properly, chances are, you’re dealing with a dead unit that needs to be replaced.
Ok, that concludes my guide into the world of ATV batteries. If you don’t want to spend big bucks on a new battery or pay a mechanic to charge it, you need to at least know the basics of proper charging. As we learned today, all-terrain-vehicle batteries are pretty fragile and sensitive, which means they need chargers with a specific power output to work correctly.
Once you get to know the basics, it will be much easier to do everything on your own.
It’s all about following the rules and using the right equipment and techniques for charging. And if you still have some questions left, don’t hesitate to reach out to me! Or, use the comments section to share your thoughts, tips, and tricks for the less experienced readers. Take care of your ATV, and happy travels!
Many riders don't know how to properly charge their ATV battery.
In fact, if you don't properly charge your ATV's battery, you can cause extremely significant damage.
If you're puzzled too, then this is your lucky day, because I'll most likely show you in detail how to properly charge an ATV battery.
Contents
The ATV has a built-in engine-powered charging system. But the current it provides is not very high.
You can charge the battery during long trips, but this is not always practical.
Instead, you can use an external charger.
I will give you 3 easy ways to charge your ATV. By following the 3 steps below, charging your ATV is a breeze.
Before starting all the work, it is necessary to prepare some tools in advance so that you can better charge your ATV. With the right tools, the process is so simple that just about anyone can complete it.
When all the tools are ready, let's get started.
Battery and charger must remain dry during the entire charging process .
In addition, the battery should be somewhere well ventilated to ventilate any gases generated during the charging process.
Recharging or even simply recharging a battery causes a chemical process that releases explosive hydrogen gas.
With proper ventilation, you reduce the risk of the gas being agitated by a spark, which could lead to an explosion.
A garage or shed where you can leave the garage door open would be a great place.
If you don't have a completely dry and well ventilated area to hold your entire ATV, consider removing the battery from your bike to charge it.
Game Machine ATV and all accessories must be turned off while charging. to stop the sparks.
Once you have placed your ATV near a power socket, you will definitely need to open the seat of your ATV to make sure you have access to the battery.
To remove the ATV seat you will need to use a screwdriver to remove the screws protecting the seat and then you need to start loosening all the screws that protect the ATV battery.
It is very important to make sure that the screwdriver you are using is suitable for the screws that hold the seat in place to ensure that it does not damage the screws which can be very difficult to remove once they are damaged.
Once you have removed the ATV seat and gained access to the battery, you will need to get rid of the battery covers .
After removing the battery cover, you must determine which battery is in your ATV. This should be clearly classified on the side.
If you can't check the tag or it's missing, here's how to find out which battery you have.
If there is liquid inside and there are removable caps on the front, it is a flooded lead-acid battery. In addition, it will have a partially transparent body, which will allow you to monitor the level of liquid inside.
If there is liquid inside, but there is a flat top without any covers, it is a sealed lead-acid battery. This can also be a VRLA battery.
However, if the battery looks like lead acid, has a high level, and you can't hear liquid inside, it's a gel cell or AGM battery.
If the battery is small and very light, it is a lithium-ion battery.
All ATV batteries, regardless of type, require a 12V charger that provides a low current of 1 to 3 amps. .
Sealed lead-acid, sealed lead-acid, VRLA and AGM batteries can be recharged with a manual charger. However, you need to monitor the charge of the battery with a voltmeter in order not to overcharge it.
This is especially important for sealed lead acid and VRLA batteries, as they cannot be recharged after recharging and may be permanently damaged.
For gel batteries you will need a charger, especially for this type of battery. It's the same with lithium-ion; try to find a lithium-ion compatible charger.
If you want to avoid all these problems, we recommend purchasing an automatic charger . Unlike a manual charger that needs to be unplugged or the current setting changed, once the battery reaches a certain level, you can plug in an automatic charger and walk away as well.
It instantly detects the battery voltage and provides the correct voltage and current.
It will automatically stop charging or enter trickle mode when the battery is fully charged. So you never have to worry about damaging your ATV battery.
The ATV battery can be charged while it is in the vehicle or removed. Just make sure you charge in a well ventilated area , the charging process creates flammable gases .
If you are using a manual charger, check battery voltage with a voltmeter . This will tell you how low the battery is, as well as how long it will take to charge it.
Next, connect the red wire of the charger to the positive terminal of the battery and negative wire to the negative terminal of or a piece of steel around the engine.
Set the hand charger to the ideal charging current. To be on the safe side, select an existing one that is no larger than a tenth of an Ah battery .
For a 30 Ah battery, set the current on the charger to 3 A or less.
Connect the charger and start the charging process. Constantly check the charge level of the battery . When it reaches 80%, halve the current. This allows the battery to fully charge.
When fully charged, turn off the charger quickly. If you leave the battery for a very long time, you can turn on maintenance mode if the charger has it, or purchase a battery tender to keep it charged.
The automatic charger is much easier to use. You don't need to check the battery voltage or monitor the battery.
All you have to do is select the battery type and voltage. Many automatic/smart chargers have special charging modes for AGM, Li-Ion, GEL and other types of batteries.
Connect the charger to the battery and leave it to charge as well. It will safely charge the battery and also keep it charged without overcharging.
The charging system on an ATV is not as efficient as on a car, so it will take longer to charge the battery properly.
Unless you make hour-long rides each time you start your bike, it will probably use even more power to start the bike than it can charge while you start it.
In addition, ATV batteries are small enough in both sizes to support the overall weight of the bike.
Add to that a few energy-hungry accessories like an ATV winch and you'll quickly find that your battery is too low to start your bike.
Leaving the battery at a low charge level in time will further damage the battery.
That is why it is recommended to charge it from time to time to save yourself from problems in the future.
ATV batteries should be charged whenever battery voltage drop is below 12.4-- 12.6 volts . Charge the battery every fall and every spring, and use the battery to keep it in good condition when the ATV is left idle for long periods of time without use.
Car battery chargers typically deliver 10 amps of existing ones, which is too much for an ATV battery. It can overheat and also permanently damage the battery.
If the charger is not set to limit current to less than 3 amps, do not use the car or truck charger.
If you can reduce the current to 3 amps, use the same as the manual charger.
Yes, you can charge your ATV battery with your car, but only to give it a boost.
This is useful if your ATV won't start because the battery is dead.
Use the jumper cable to connect the car battery to the ATV battery. Do not start cars and trucks . This can give too much power and also damage the ATV's small battery.
Vehicle battery has sufficient charge to revive a dead ATV battery. After a few minutes, disconnect the connecting cable and try to start the ATV again.
To emphasize, this technique is just for starters . Do not use it to fully charge an ATV battery, given that you have no control over how much current and voltage it receives.
Yes, you can recharge your ATV battery. This happens if you are using a charger that provides too much current or voltage. Leaving the hand charger plugged in even after the battery is fully charged can also cause it to overcharge.
Overcharging can damage the battery, usually completely. This is especially true for sealed batteries where you can't open the caps and regenerate the electrolyte.
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Rodney L. Herron
Rodney L. is a technical writer and product consultant with over a decade of experience in the automotive industry. Rodney is a fan of high performance machines that run fast and loud and is an expert in all things custom. His numerous articles and reviews are available in our knowledge base. Whether something is wrong with your bike or you are building a custom bike, you can trust Rodney's experience.
Electric ATVs are rapidly gaining popularity due to their economy and environmental friendliness. But many riders still do not know how to charge an ATV on a battery. Improper charging reduces the battery life or the battery loses its capacity quickly. Therefore, let's figure out how to charge a children's ATV and consider the key recommendations of experts.
There are two ways to recharge the ATV battery. The first and easiest is to connect the charger to the appropriate connector. All electric cars and scooters are charged in a similar way, although not all quadrics have a similar socket.
If the ATV does not have a charging port, the rider will have to connect the battery directly to the charging station. To do this, you need:
It is important to note that lithium batteries have a charge control board. This means that after a full charge, the process stops. Although overcharging the battery is still not recommended.
Another important question many riders are wondering is how to charge an ATV battery with an in-car charger. Yes, such a procedure is possible, but you need to properly configure the charger. For recharging, you can only use devices with adjustable charging current and the ability to set its minimum level (0.5-0.7 A).
Important : The optimal current for battery charging is 1/10 of the battery capacity (in Amps).
The user manual for each ATV indicates the optimum battery charging time. On average, this figure is 6-12 hours. The charging time depends on the generation of the battery, its capacity and the characteristics of the charger. Don't forget to charge the battery, though. If the battery has 30-40% capacity left, the recharging time should be reduced.
But what if you don't know how long to charge your ATV battery? In this case, you need to almost completely discharge the battery and charge it for 8 hours.
After that, the battery should be installed on the quadric, and the charge level should be assessed. If the indicator shows 100%, next time you need to charge the battery for 6-7 hours. In this way, you can determine the optimal recharging time.
Also remember that overcharging is the main enemy of batteries. It is strongly not recommended to leave the battery connected to the network for 15-20 hours. This leads to a decrease in battery capacity and, accordingly, a decrease in the operating time of the quadric.
Knowing how long it takes to charge an ATV, you can make a schedule for recharging it. For example, the battery can be connected to the network in the evening or after each trip. You can also purchase a replacement battery, thereby increasing the riding time on the ATV.
The battery of any electrical equipment must be properly maintained. Violation of the recommendations may lead to a decrease in battery capacity or damage to it.
To avoid such problems, it is recommended:
Separately, it is worth mentioning the "buildup" of the battery. Immediately after purchasing the equipment, you will need to fully charge and charge the ATV several times (2-3 times).
Most riders store their bikes before winter. And in order for the device to be ready for operation in the spring, it must be properly preserved. Preparing an electric quad bike for wintering is quite simple, you just need to find a warm and dry place to store the quad.
