{"id":9791,"date":"2021-08-09T14:29:42","date_gmt":"2021-08-09T14:29:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/?p=9791"},"modified":"2021-08-09T14:29:43","modified_gmt":"2021-08-09T14:29:43","slug":"how-to-charge-an-atv-battery-with-car-charger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/how-to-charge-an-atv-battery-with-car-charger\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Charge An ATV Battery With Car Charger?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Even though your ATV\u2019s engine charges the battery while you are riding (via the stator), it\u2019s usually not enough to keep the battery topped up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may even find that starting the engine, using headlights, and operating equipment such as a winch use more power from the battery than the engine puts in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unless you often go on long rides, you could easily end up with a dead battery. Or your battery may stay in a perpetually low charge condition, which reduces its lifespan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s also essential to keep the battery charged if you are not going to use the ATV for a long time. So one of the things you\u2019ll need to figure out, if you own an ATV<\/a>, is how to charge the battery from an external power source.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this guide, we explain all the options you have from manual chargers and car chargers to smart automatic chargers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s the Best Charger for an ATV Battery?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Best<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The right charger for your ATV battery depends on what kind of battery you have. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first step is identifying which battery is in your ATV. It should be labelled clearly on the side. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you can\u2019t read the label or there isn\u2019t one, here\u2019s how to tell which battery you have. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If it has liquid inside, and has removable caps on top, that\u2019s a flooded lead acid battery<\/strong>. It\u2019ll also have a partially clear housing, allowing you to monitor the level of the liquid inside. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If it has liquid inside, but has a flat top with no caps, that\u2019s a sealed lead acid battery<\/strong>. It can also be a VRLA battery.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the battery looks like a lead acid battery, but has a flat top and you can hear any liquid inside, that\u2019s a GEL-cell battery or an AGM battery<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the battery is small and very light, that\u2019s a lithium ion battery<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All ATV batteries, regardless of the type, need a 12V charger that delivers a low current of between 1 and 3 amps. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flooded lead acid, sealed lead acid, VRLA and AGM<\/a> batteries can be charged with a manual charger. However, you need to monitor battery charge using a voltmeter to ensure you do not overcharge it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is especially important for sealed lead acid and VRLA batteries, as there\u2019s no way to top them up after overcharging and they could get permanently damaged. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Gel batteries, you need a charger specifically for this type of battery. The same goes for lithium ion; look for a lithium ion-compatible charger. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to avoid all this hassle, we recommend getting an automatic battery charger<\/strong>. Unlike a manual charger that needs to be turned off or the current setting changed when the battery gets to a certain level, you can connect an automatic charger and walk away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It automatically recognizes the battery voltage, and delivers the right voltage and current. It\u2019ll automatically stop charging, or go into trickle mode when the battery is full. So you never have to worry about damaging your ATV battery.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Charge an ATV Battery With a Manual Charger<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You can charge the ATV battery while it\u2019s still in the vehicle, or you can take it out. Just make sure you charge it in a well ventilated area. The charging process produces flammable gasses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are using a manual charger, check the voltage of the battery using a voltmeter. This will tell you how low the battery is, and how much time it\u2019ll take to recharge it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, connect the red lead of the charger to the positive terminal of the batter, and the negative lead to the negative terminal or a piece of metal around the engine area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Set the manual charger to the right charging current. To be safe, select a current that\u2019s no more than a tenth of the battery\u2019s Ah. For a 30Ah battery, set the current on the charger to no more than 3A. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plug in the charger and start the charging process. Keep monitoring the battery charge level. When it gets to 80%, turn down current to half what it is. This allows the battery to fully charge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it\u2019s fully charged, switch off the charger immediately. If you\u2019ll be leaving the battery sitting for a long time, you can turn on maintenance mode, if the charger has one or buy a battery tender to keep it charged. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have a traditional flooded lead acid battery, here\u2019s a detailed video on how to fill and charge it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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https:\/\/youtu.be\/wFYR49WGI74<\/a>