When you replace an utility task vehicle battery, you must determine the correct battery size for your utility task vehicle. The battery must fits in the battery tray of the utility task vehicle. Additionally, the battery must contain enough power to supply the utility task vehicle.
Utility task vehicles uses a 12-volt battery system, so all 12-volt batteries use the same electrical standards. However, 12-volt batteries has different physical sizes and power outputs. Use a size chart to find your utility task vehicle’s correct battery group size so that the battery will fit in its battery tray.
How to Choose and Care for Your UTV Battery
Cold cranking amps (cca) indicate the power that a battery can provide to start an engine in cold temperatures. Cca is a critical specification for those in colder climates because cold weather make it harder for the battery to start the engine. If your utility task vehicle have several accessories, such as lights, a stereo system, or a winch, the battery will have to provide more power to start the engine.
In this case, you would want to choosing a battery with more cold cranking amps. Choose a battery with lower cold cranking amps if you live in a warm climate. Additionally, if your utility task vehicle has a larger engine with higher compression than small engines, it will require more power to start the engine.
In this case, you would of have to provide a battery with a higher cold cranking amps rating. Amp-hour (ah) capacity describes how many hours a battery can supply enough power to operate the vehicle’s accessories before the battery voltage drop to a level required to start the engine. Ah capacity indicates the electrical storage capacity of the battery.
The higher the ah capacity, the more longer the utility task vehicle battery can operate its accessories. For example, if the utility task vehicle has a stereo or cooling fan system, the battery with the higher amp-hour capacity will last longer to operate those accessories. Use an amp-hour capacity chart to compare the amp-hour capacity of different battery sizes so that you can decide whether you want the smaller battery or the more larger battery with more amp-hours.
There are three main battery chemistry types with different characteristics. Flooded lead acid batteries are the least expensive battery chemistry type. However, flooded lead-acid batteries require that you check the water levels in the battery and that they do not spill out of the utility task vehicle if the vehicle roll.
Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) batteries seals the electrolyte solution in glass mats so that the battery is more resistant to vibration and does not require maintenance. Lithium iron phosphate batteries are lighter than lead-acid batteries and last for a longer period of time than lead-acid batteries. However, lithium iron phosphate batteries cost more money and use a specific charger for the battery.
You must follow the proper steps when installing the battery. Always connect the positive terminal first, followed by the negative terminal. Use a hold down battery bracket to secure the battery in place so that it will not move when the utility task vehicle is moving over rough terrain.
Clean the battery terminals with a wire brush and baking soda each season to remove any corrosion that could cause the battery to have a voltage drop. A voltage drop could make it seem like the battery is failing when it may not be. Finally, use a battery maintainer when storing your utility task vehicle so that the battery’s voltage stay above 12.4 volts and does not sulfate.
