How to Charge Any ATV or UTV Battery – All You Must Know

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Occasionally, you may need to charge your ATV or UTV battery using an external charger. The vehicle’s built-in charging system cannot always keep up with the battery drain, even from regular use. Some new batteries will also need charging before use.

This guide will tell you how to charge any ATV or UTV battery and answer some of people’s most common questions about the charging process.

Caution: When charging an ATV battery, prioritize safety by following these essential precautions: carefully read the manufacturer’s instructions, choose a well-ventilated area away from flammable materials, wear appropriate safety gear such as gloves and eye protection, ensure the ATV is turned off and use a charger designed for ATV batteries.

How to Charge an ATV or UTV Battery

ATVs have a built-in charging system powered by the engine. But the current it provides is not very high. 

You can charge the battery by going for a long ride, but that is not always practical. Instead, you may use an external battery charger. 

Tools and gear required:

  • A suitable battery charger (in most cases, a low-amp intelligent charger)
  • Latex gloves (in case of battery acid spill)
  • Protective eyewear

1. Park the Vehicle Somewhere Dry and Well-Ventilated

The battery and charger must stay dry during the whole charging process.

Also, the battery must be somewhere well-ventilated to vent out any gases from the charging process. 

Charging a battery causes a chemical process that releases explosive hydrogen gas. Proper venting minimizes the risk of the gas getting ignited by a spark, which may cause an explosion.

A garage or shed where you can leave the garage door open would be a good location. 

If you don’t have a dry and well-ventilated area that will fit your whole ATV, consider removing the battery from the bike to charge it.

The ATV and all accessories should be turned off when charging to prevent sparks.

2. Locate and Inspect the Battery

You need to make sure you have proper access to the battery. Some ATVs will have their battery hidden behind a plastic cover that needs to be removed for access. Others have the battery readily accessible without removing any parts.

locate atv battery
The battery on my Polaris Sportsman XP1000 is hidden under the front cargo rack cover.

After locating the battery, you should visually inspect it for cracks or other damages. Never attempt to charge a damaged battery!

3. Identify What Type of Battery You Have

Before you hook up the charger, you must identify your battery type. 

Some types of batteries require a specific charger to charge correctly, or you add a few additional battery-specific steps to the charging process.

ATV and UTV Battery Types

Here is a list of the different types of batteries you may find on an ATV or UTV and how to tell them apart. 

All batteries should have a label that indicates the battery type, but sometimes these have worn off. Check out this post to learn what ATV battery numbers mean.

Also, look for a part number. A quick Google search will tell you precisely what battery you have if you enter this number. 

Type 1: Conventional Flooded Lead-Acid (FLA) Battery

FLA batteries are a non-sealed wet-cell battery type that uses lead plates and liquid battery acid as electrolytes. On top of the battery are removable caps, one for each cell. The caps are either threaded or pull-out style.

Another way to tell that you have an FLA battery is by its semi-transparent casing, where you will see the water level inside it. There are marks to indicate the maximum and minimum levels of electrolyte.

FLA batteries only: Before charging, remove the caps to verify that the lead plates are covered by electrolyte fluid. Add distilled water if the level is below the minimum mark.

Type 2: Sealed Lead-Acid (SLA) / Valve-Regulated Lead-Acid (VRLA)

SLA and VRLA are different acronyms for the same type of battery. Their construction is similar to conventional flooded batteries, apart from one significant difference.

If you overcharge a sealed battery, there is no way to open it to add more fluid. They have a flat top with no filling ports or caps. Never try to pry open a sealed battery!

Type 3: Lithium-Ion

The easiest way to know you have a Lithium-ion battery is to feel its weight. They weigh about 1/10th or less of other types of batteries.

Lithium Ion ATV battery
Lithium-ion batteries are much lighter than other ATV batteries.

Type 4: Gel-Cell, Also Known as a Dry-Cell Battery

GEL cells are also lead-acid batteries. But instead of being a liquid, the electrolyte is in gel form. GEL cells are not as common on ATVs because they are more expensive and do not offer the same power capacity as the others on this list.

A GEL-cell battery resembles an SLA battery because of its sealed flat top. One way to tell them apart is by shaking the battery. You should hear the battery acid splashing around inside an SLA battery, while you will hear nothing when shaking a gel-filled battery.

GEL ATV battery
GEL batteries are not the best option for ATVs, but some use them.

Type 5: AGM (absorbed glass mat) battery

AGM batteries are another variation of a lead-acid dry-cell battery. They are completely sealed and have a fine sponge-like mesh of glass fibers inside.

As with the GEL battery, you won’t hear any movement inside when shaking an AGM battery. Other than their labeling, it may be hard to tell them apart. Look up the model numberer online if you are not sure.

atv battery part number
The battery on my Polaris Sportsman XP1000 is a real pain to reach. But luckily, I was able to see the part number through the wires. A quick Google search reveals that it’s a YUASA 18.9Ah AGM battery.

4. Make Sure You Have a Suitable Charger

If you use the wrong charger for your battery type or incorrect settings on a manual charger, you might overcharge or undercharge the battery, which may cause permanent damage. 

Using a good quality, intelligent charger compliant with your type of battery is the easiest way to charge your battery safely. Under certain conditions, you may also use a manual bench-style charger.

atv battery types
A quality intelligent charger will be able to charge various battery types.

Here are some guidelines to what type of chargers you may and may not use on different types of ATV and UTV batteries:

For all ATV and UTV batteries

  • The charger should be 12V (as long as your battery is 12V).
  • The charger should be able to provide a low amp charge rate, typically 1-3A.

Flooded lead-acid (FLA) battery

These batteries are the least picky when it comes to charger type. If you overcharge a flooded battery, you may restore it by adding distilled water to regain the proper electrolyte level. Any manual or automatic charger will work, provided it has the correct voltage and low-amp settings.

Absorbed glass mat (AGM) and sealed lead-acid (SLA) batteries

While it is possible to charge AGM and SLA batteries with a manual charger, it is not recommended. If you don’t monitor the charging process carefully, you may overcharge, which would cause gassing and water depletion. 

Sealed batteries cannot be topped off, so the damage is permanent. That’s why it’s better to always use an intelligent charger for any sealed battery like AGM and SLA batteries. 

Some, but not all, intelligent chargers have a dedicated AGM charge mode. AGM and SLA batteries have a very similar charge profile. Therefore, most AGM and SLA batteries will have no problems with any 12-volt intelligent battery charger as a charge source. 

According to Optima (https://optimabatteries.com), a high-quality AGM-compliant charger may improve battery performance and lifespan. Still, most battery chargers and maintainers will work fine on Optima brand and other AGM batteries.

GEL-cell battery

GEL-cell batteries are the most sensitive and require a particular charge profile. The higher voltage from a flooded or AGM charger causes permanent hydrogen bubbles in the gelled electrolyte, which reduces battery capacity or ruins the battery altogether. 

Never use a constant current manual charger to charge a GEL-cell battery; only a GEL-cell compliant intelligent charger. The charger should have reliable temperature sensing, voltage regulation, and a specific GEL-cell mode.

Lithium-ion battery

Technically you can charge a lithium-ion battery with a manual charger, but it is not recommended. You permanently damage the battery if you don’t follow a specific procedure.

It’s recommended that you only use a Lithium-ion-compliant charger. 

Lithium-ion batteries charge fast and at a higher voltage. A manual or even a standard intelligent charger will likely undercharge a Lithium-ion battery, which may damage the battery over time. 

5. Read the Battery Voltage

Use a multimeter or a voltmeter to read the battery voltage.

This step is not mandatory if you use a fully automatic charger that you know is compliant with your type of battery. The charger will do the job of choosing the proper charge profile for you. 

But if you use a constant current manual charger style, you must know the battery’s voltage to monitor the charging process.

In any case, the state of charge will tell you if your battery is completely dead or if it just needs to be topped off. It will also give you an indication of what charge time to expect.

Note that different battery types reach the same charge state at different voltage levels.

atv battery charge times

How long should you charge an ATV battery?

State of charge
Charge time
New (0%)
14 – 20 hours or more
75%
3 – 6 hours
50%
6 – 10 hours
25%
10 – 14 hours
ATV battery charge time

A simplified formula to calculate the charge time of an empty battery is by dividing the battery Ah rating by the charging current in A (ampere). Charging an entirely drained 15Ah battery with a 1.5A charger would take 10 hours. 

Charging times will vary depending on various factors:

  • Depth of discharge
  • Charging temperature
  • Size and efficiency of the charging equipment
  • Age and condition of the battery
  • Batteries that can handle a more aggressive charge rate will charge faster.

If you have an intelligent battery charger, it will stop charging automatically as soon as the battery is fully charged. Usually, this should take no more than 12-16 hours unless the battery is completely flat. 

6. Make Sure You Have Proper Connections

Do not plug the charger into a wall socket yet.

Your charger has one positive lead and one negative lead. The positive lead will have a red clamp, and the negative lead clamp will be black.

The red clamp will be connected to the positive battery terminal. To identify the positive battery terminal, look for one or more of these markings:

  • The “+” symbol
  • The “P” symbol
  • The “POS” symbol
  • Red protective rubber or plastic cap (may also be black)

Make sure the terminal is clean to ensure a proper connection. Use a wire brush, and remember to wear your eye protection.

The negative will be connected to frame ground. Look for a bare, solid metal part of the frame or engine. Bare metal bolts are often good options. Make sure your ground connection is clean as well.

Grounding to the Frame is Better Than the Negative Battery Terminal

There might be a tiny spark when removing the first lead after charging. It’s best if this spark happens somewhere away from the battery where there is less risk of gas buildup from the charging process. 

Modern intelligent chargers are designed not to overcharge the battery, so you will most likely have no issues if you choose to connect the negative lead directly to the negative battery terminal instead of the frame. After all, this is what most charger manuals will tell you to do. 

Attaching it to the frame or engine simply introduces an additional layer of safety.

From an electrical point of view, the battery will charge just as well, whichever of the two options you choose. 

Your negative battery terminal will have either:

  • The “” symbol
  • The “N” symbol
  • The “NEG” symbol
  • Black protective rubber cap (never red)

7. Attach the Charger Cables

Now that your connections are clean, you can connect the charge leads.

  • Connect the positive (red) lead to the positive battery terminal.
connect positive lead
  • Then, connect the negative (black) lead to the frame ground.
connect negative lead

8. Select the Proper Charge Current or Charge Mode

Now plug the charger into a wall socket, but make sure it is not charging yet.

Manual charger

You need to set the charge rate (current) manually. A good rule of thumb to know what amperage your battery should be charged at is to divide its Ah- rating by ten. A 15Ah battery should use a charger with no more than 1,5A power output. You should never charge an ATV battery with more than 3A. 

Intelligent charger

Choose the suitable charge mode for your type of battery. Using the wrong mode on an intelligent charger may overcharge or undercharge the battery.

  • FLA, SLA: Choose lead-acid low amp mode. Refer to the user manual to ensure the charge rate is not above 1/10th of the battery ah-rating. 
  • AGM: Choose lead-acid mode or AGM mode if available.
  • GEL: Choose only GEL mode. Other modes will overcharge a GEL-cell battery.
  • Lithium-Ion: Choose Lithium-ion mode. Other modes will undercharge a lithium-ion battery.

9. Initiate the Charging Process

You are now ready to initiate the charging process. Make sure you have enough time to charge the battery to full charge, or it will sulfate.

Do not attempt to start an ATV or UTV when connected to an intelligent battery charger.

10. Monitor the Battery During the Charging Process

For all types of batteries

You want to ensure the battery does not overheat during the charging process. 

If the battery becomes warm to the touch, turn off the charger, and let it sit for a few minutes to allow any gasses to vent before removing the charge leads. Let the battery cool off before you continue charging it.

For flooded lead-acid batteries

The electrolyte levels should be monitored during the charging process. If it drops below the specified level in any of the cells, remove the cap and add distilled water until you reach the correct level. 

For manual battery chargers

A manual charger won’t turn off when the battery is fully charged. You need to monitor the voltage to keep track of the battery’s current state of charge. Use the table from Step 5 as guidance. 

When the state of charge is about 80%, you should turn down the amps to about half of what you started with. A lower amperage at the final part of the charging process will give you a slightly higher final charge rate and reduce the risk of overcharging the battery. 

When you reach a full state of charge, according to the table, the charger must be switched off or put in maintenance mode if available. 

11. Turn Off or Unplug the Charger

Unplug the charger and let it sit for a few minutes to let any gasses vent before disconnecting the leads.

Use a piece of cardboard as a fan if you suspect gas buildup over the battery.

12. Disconnect the Charge Leads

As long as the charger is unplugged, which lead you decide to remove first doesn’t matter. 

But it is best practice to always start with the negative lead. No harm is done if you accidentally touch ground with a negative lead.

13. Make Sure the Battery Holds a Charge

Wait a few hours and use a voltmeter or multimeter to check if the battery still holds a charge. If the voltage drops, there might be a problem with internal sulfation. 

It may be worth trying to charge the battery with a charger with a specific desulfation mode before discarding it.

What to Do if the Battery Won’t Charge

Read this guide to troubleshoot a battery that won’t charge or hold a charge.

Why Do You Need to Charge an ATV Battery More Often?

The charging system on an ATV is not as effective as the one you will find on a car, so it will need more time to charge the battery correctly. 

Unless each of your rides lasts for an hour or more, the power required to start it will likely exceed the amount it can charge while in operation.

In addition, ATV batteries are relatively small in both size and capacity to help reduce overall vehicle weight.

Combine that with a few power-hungry accessories like your ATV winch, and you will soon find your battery too low on power to start your bike. Leaving the battery on a low charge over time will also cause damage to the battery. 

That’s why it’s a good practice to charge it now and then to save you from problems down the road.

How Often Should You Charge an ATV Battery?

ATV batteries should be charged whenever the voltage drops below 12.4 – 12.6 volts. Top off the battery each fall and each spring, and use a battery tender to keep the battery healthy when the ATV is sitting for long periods without being used.

What Are the Different Charging Stages?

A battery should be charged at three stages for optimal performance and service life. An intelligent charger switches between the stages automatically. 

Automotive-style manual chargers do not have settings for charging in stages. Charging the battery too aggressively at the final stage won’t reach a full charge.

The three charging stages are:

Bulk stage: The battery will be charged up to 70-80% of its capacity. The charger will put out a constant current determined by the charge mode or amp settings you choose. The voltage will increase gradually.

Absorption stage: At this stage, the charger will maintain voltage to the battery but will gradually taper off the charging current as the battery gets closer to a full charge. This allows you to reach a higher state of charge without the risk of overcharging the battery. 

Float stage: At this stage, the battery will be fully charged. The charger provides a small maintenance charge to keep the battery fully charged. Both voltage and current will be reduced. 

Why Do Chargers Have Different Charging Modes?

Intelligent chargers usually have different charge modes to choose from. Each charge mode will have a specific set of parameters optimized for different types and different sizes of batteries. 

The charger uses microprocessors to collect information from the battery to know its current state of charge and to adjust the voltage and current accordingly.

For example, a lithium battery reaches an 80% charge at a different voltage than a flooded lead-acid battery and needs the voltage input adjusted accordingly. A gel battery cannot take as high of a charge rate as an AGM battery and will require a lower amperage. 

All of these parameters are controlled by which charge mode you choose. Your charger user manual will tell you more details about each charge mode your specific charger offers.

Should You Disconnect the Battery Terminals When Charging?

There is no need to disconnect the battery terminals when charging an ATV or UTV battery as long as you use a fully automatic or trickle charger at 1,5A or less. 

However, hooking up a high-current booster charger may cause a voltage spike that may damage your bike’s electronics. But you should never use a high-amp manual-style charger on an ATV regardless, so this should be a non-issue.

If your bike, for some reason, has a high phantom drain, you may struggle to get any power to the battery. In this case, you should remove the negative terminal before charging your battery. Then you must do some troubleshooting to identify what is draining your battery.

Also, please note that boosting your battery by hooking it up to another ATV using non-protected jumper cables may create a voltage spike that has the potential to damage your bike’s electronics. Always use cables with built-in electronic protectors, and you should be fine.

Should You Remove the Battery When Charging?

For basic maintenance charging, where you are just topping off a battery that seems a bit low on power, there is no need to remove the battery from the bike.

When you are charging a brand-new battery that has never been charged before or a battery that has gone completely dead, you might want to consider removing it. 

When doing a deep charge, there is a slightly bigger risk of explosive hydrogen gas buildup and possible overheating.

By removing the battery from the ATV, you won’t cause any harm to the bike in the unlikely event that something goes wrong.

Should You Remove the Caps When Charging an FLA Battery?

Flooded lead-acid batteries have removable caps to add more electrolyte fluid (distilled water). There is one individual cap for each cell or a strip cap that ties several caps together. 

Some believe you must always remove these caps when you charge to let out any gas buildup. This is usually not necessary. Those caps are designed to vent any gas produced while charging, or there will be a separate vent.

Refer to your specific battery’s safety instructions to verify whether the caps need removal.

As long as the vents are not blocked (stuffed with mud, for example), you should have no issues leaving the caps in.

You only need to remove the caps when you wish to check the electrolyte level or top off one or more cells that are low on fluid. 

When using a manual charger, you can remove the caps briefly to know when the charging process is finished. When you see hundreds of bubbles forming on top of the battery cells, you know the battery is full. Any further charging is overcharging. 

PS! Remember that the gas you see forming is flammable, and the fluid is acidic. Never remove battery caps without wearing eye protection and vinyl gloves.

How to Charge a New ATV Battery

The charging process described at the top of this post will work for doing a deep charge on a new battery and a refresh charge to top off a battery where the voltage has dropped too low. 

There are, however, a few things to keep in mind.

  • Ensure the new battery is fully charged before you use it; otherwise, it may never achieve a 100% charge. This applies to all battery types, excluding lithium-ion batteries. While some sealed batteries are sold pre-charged, it is advisable to fully charge them also before their first use. 
  • A full deep charge will create more heat and gasses than a refresh charge. It is recommended that you charge the new battery before you put it in the ATV to reduce the risk of damaging your bike.
  • Lithium-ion batteries are shipped with a state of charge no higher than 30%.
  • Some lead-acid batteries, both flooded and sealed, are sold as kits where the battery acid comes in a separate container. Before you can charge the battery, you need to activate the battery by adding the battery acid to the battery according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Adding the battery acid to the battery is usually thoroughly explained in the kit’s instructions, so we won’t cover this process in this post. 

How to Charge a Deeply Discharged or Dead ATV Battery

If you hook up the charger but fail to initiate its charging cycle, the battery voltage may have dropped below the minimum threshold the charger recognizes. 

To solve this, you can use a fully charged battery to trick the charger into starting the charging process.

Tools and equipment required:

  • A fully charged, healthy battery
  • Protected jumper cables

Follow these steps:

  1. Connect the two batteries’ positive terminals with the red cable lead
  2. Connect one end of the negative to the good battery’s negative terminal. Connect the other end of the negative lead to frame ground or the dead battery’s negative terminal if the battery is not installed in the ATV.
  3. Connect the recommended battery charger to the low battery. Connect the red lead to the positive terminal and the black to the negative one.
  4. Initiate the charging sequence.
  5. After initiating the charging sequence, the charged battery can be disconnected.
  6. Always disconnect in this specific order
    1. Fully charged battery – positive cable
    2. Low battery – positive cable
    3. Low battery – negative cable
    4. Fully charged battery – negative cable. 
  7. Let the charging sequence finish before using your restored battery. 

Related: How to Charge a Dead ATV Battery

Can You Charge an ATV Battery With a Car Charger?

You should not use a car charger or a typical trickle charger to charge an ATV unless it has specific settings to limit the amp output as low as 1-3 amps. Car chargers typically come with an output of 10A. Charging an ATV battery at 10 amps would overheat it and damage it permanently. 

Can You Charge an ATV Battery With a Car Battery?

You can use jumper cables to jump-start an ATV battery from a car battery, but it is not suitable for doing a full charge. The car must stay off as long during the entire process.

  1. Connect the two batterys’ positive terminals with the red cable lead.
  2. Connect one end of the negative to the good battery’s negative terminal. Connect the other end of the negative lead to an exposed metal part of the frame.
  3. Wait a minute or two before trying to start your ATV.
  4. As soon as the ATV starts, disconnect the cables in this order:
    1. Fully charged battery – positive cable
    2. Low battery – positive cable
    3. Low battery – negative cable
    4. Fully charged battery – negative cable.

Related: Jump-Starting Your ATV: What You Need to Know

Wrapping Up

Properly charging your ATV battery is vital to ensure its longevity and optimal performance.

Understanding the various types of chargers, the charging process, and crucial maintenance tips can prevent common battery issues and save you time and money in the long run.

Always remember, safety first; the right knowledge and practices will keep you, your battery, and your ATV in the best shape for all your adventures.

Haavard Krislok
Haavard Krislok
Haavard Krislok is an ATV and off-road enthusiast with a rich background spanning two decades in owning, maintaining, repairing, and utilizing ATVs for farming, logging, and hunting. Outside his professional life as an engineer and project manager, he cherishes recreational trail riding and is the creative force behind BoostATV.com, serving as its owner, editor, and content creator.

Welcome to Boost ATV

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