Tips For Keeping The Battery Charged In Side-By-Side Utvs
If your side-by-side UTV's battery seems like it is dead every time you trailer it up to take it out to play, there are many reasons this happens. Thankfully, by making just a couple of modifications to how you store your side-by-side, you can keep its battery charged and ready to go at a moment's notice.
To keep your SxS UTV's battery charged and ready for fun, follow each of these tips:
Understand That All Accessories Drain Battery Power
Every accessory you connect to your UTV that will drain its battery. For example, a radio, light bar, spotlights, and other accessories are cool and fun to have, but they also drain a lot of battery power. While you might not see them as a problem because they are only on when you are riding and the battery is actively being recharged, this isn't necessarily the case.
Your side-by-side's battery is only actively charging when the RPM rate is high. So, in theory, if you always drive as fast as possible, then you can install whatever accessories you want and never drain the battery.
However, in practicality, when you are idling or traveling slowly, the UTV is using its battery power instead of generating more. If you have a bunch of accessories on it, then it can drain the power faster than you can actively recharge it.
When this happens, you may store your UTV for a month or two and then wonder why the battery went dead so fast without realizing it was actually draining the last time you drove it.
While you should install the necessary accessories for how you ride, you need to ensure you aren't draining too much power without being able to replace it while riding.
Buy a High-Quality Battery
It's important to note that, just like automotive batteries, not all UTV batteries are created equal. If you buy the cheapest battery on the market made by a manufacturer no one has ever heard of, then you should expect it to have a shorter useful life and cause you more of a headache to maintain. However, if you buy a high-quality battery from one of the major manufacturers, then you can expect a longer battery life with less maintenance needed.
Proactively Maintain the Charge in Your UTV's Battery
Finally, it's important to note that all side-by-side UTV batteries need proactive charging maintenance. If you let your battery sit too long in your UTV, such as over the winter, then the battery will slowly self-discharge and drain. Not only will the battery be dead in the spring, but it also may not hold a charge ever again. To prevent this from happening, make sure you put the battery on a trickle charger or "battery maintainer" when not in use. This ensures the battery holds its charge and will also greatly extend its useful life.
For more tips, contact a side-by-side dealer like Bennche.