Apex - Battery Minder?

[Mark's RMK]

Do you all run battery minder/tenders on your sleds for the summer? Have you discovered a solar unit that keeps the battery fully charged?

I purchased a relatively small solar unit at Northern Tool for $20 but after 1 month, the display wouldn't turn on with the key.

Put in on a 120 volt battery minder and at least the display would come on so I know the battery isn't totally discharged like last summer when I didn't know I needed to keep a trickle on the battery to keep it from going dead over the summer.

I keep the sleds in an enclosed trailer an luckily a 100' cord will reach it but it sure would be nice to just use the sun.

Thanks.

 

[roughrider99]

Use a voltmeter to actually see if your solar panel is making power and disconnect your battery cables, check for draws cuz I've never need to throw chargers on our fleet of 4 strokes

 

[attak06]

battery minder

The AGM batteries used in the four strokes need to be charged over 14 volts to prevent self discharge. This is from Yamahas battery info. I have found some of the tenders dont charge them at a high enough voltage. I tried a solar unit, battery went dead with it on, not a problem the next year with out it.

 

[motojunkie101]

I typically pull my batteries, or at least disconnect them to eliminate any chance of a draw and stick a tender on them once or twice a summer. My Nytro is due for a battery soon as last year it wouldn't hold a charge in temps below about 20 degrees.

 

[M5-]

I run Odessey batteries and use battery tender jrs on them. Going on 4 years with my Nytro same battery and second summer for the Nypex. So far so good.


M5

 

[Mark's RMK]

The AGM batteries used in the four strokes need to be charged over 14 volts to prevent self discharge. This is from Yamahas battery info. I have found some of the tenders dont charge them at a high enough voltage. I tried a solar unit, battery went dead with it on, not a problem the next year with out it.

The solar tender read 20 volts in the sun with no load. I'm thinking it drops off pretty fast once it's connected. Put a 100' cord to the trailer and it's back on a tender for the summer.

Thanks.