How Long Can You Not Ride Your Ski Before Worrying About Charging The Battery?

21275 Views 21 Replies 6 Participants Last post by Straightbangin, Sep 29, 2014

Straightbangin

Discussion Starter · Sep 13, 2014 (Edited)

I've been working a lot and on the ski very little so I'm concerned...

How Long Can You Not Ride Your Ski Before Worrying About Charging The Battery? (mine is at a marina so I can't just plug mine into a charge all that easily like I can at home with my scooter )

Also once you are driving it, how long do you need to drive it around to charge the battery up to a good level?

Thanks!

1 - 20 of 22 Posts

JohnSWE

· #2 · Sep 13, 2014 (Edited)

Haven't used my Spark in 20 days now (longest period yet!).
Directly after i used it one hour August 25th the voltage on the battery was 13,1 volt (100%).
The next day 13,0 volt (100%).
A week later 12,8 volt (100%).
Two weeks later 12,6 volt (90%)
Now 20 days later it's at 12,4 volt (60%).

Straightbangin

Discussion Starter · #3 · Sep 13, 2014

Interesting. At what voltage will it probably not start? If it does, how long should you drive it around to charge it back up?

JohnSWE

· #4 · Sep 13, 2014

You don't want to go below 12,08 volt (20%). I'm not sure much power is needed to crank the engine.
Neither do i know how much current the generator is generating to charge the battery... But i would guess one hour of riding is sufficient for charging an half empty battery in this size.

Straightbangin

Discussion Starter · #5 · Sep 13, 2014

Thanks. I definitely wouldn't ride for any less than just one hour. I guess I will find out when I go back out again. I will post how many days it has been and if the ski started or hesitated to.

Bazza22

· #6 · Sep 13, 2014 (Edited)

Straightbangin said:
Thanks. I definitely wouldn't ride for any less than just one hour. I guess I will find out when I go back out again. I will post how many days it has been and if the ski started or hesitated to.

For a few dollars a multimeter is able to give precise voltage readouts, will also test any type of battery in hundreds of gadgets, appliances etc. Access to the Spark battery is behind the left side panel below the seat. If you get one buy the type with a digital readout, not a needle and gauge type.

Straightbangin

Discussion Starter · #7 · Sep 14, 2014

I have a digital multimeter

It's just that if it's low I'd still try to start it anyway.

There is no place to plug a battery charger in where the skis are at the marina.

I'd have to have the mechanics on site charge it up if it's cheap enough. If not I'd take it out and bring it home.... unless I could find a spot they would let me run a lead cord from

I'm just hoping its fine and I'll if its okay I'll promise myself not to go more than 2 weeks without going out on my ski to play

Sarge707

· #8 · Sep 14, 2014

Whenever I plug my maintainer in it says Charged after about 2-3 Minutes So you should Not worry! My service Manager says they are Very Good Batteries!

Reactions: 1

Straightbangin

Discussion Starter · #9 · Sep 14, 2014

Yay! That makes me feel better. However worrying about the battery dying is a good excuse to try to get out on the ski more

Wrazor

· #10 · Sep 14, 2014

Please enlighten me!
The battery is just about out of reach to clip charging leads to......what is this MAINTAINER as mentioned by Sarge??
Does this clip into one of the looms accesable from the knee panel.
How is the area kept clear of gases when charging?
Did I read somewhere that battery should be removed for charging (that would be a pain)
......am I missing something down under here in New Zealand?

Straightbangin

Discussion Starter · #11 · Sep 14, 2014 (Edited)

Those are good questions. A maintainer or tender is a battery charger that is kept on and only gives the battery the amount of juice it needs to keep it fully charged without over charging. Think of it as a baby sitter for the battery. Not sure about the other answers. Also, what do you guys clip the black charger cable to? On my scooter I clip it to the negative battery terminal but I heard you are not supposed to and to clip it to any solid metal ground. Or maybe that's just for jump starting cars with another car

Wrazor

· #12 · Sep 14, 2014

yep..thanks straight...understand about trickle chargers etc.....am more concerned about ease of connection.....

Straightbangin

Discussion Starter · #13 · Sep 14, 2014

I hear ya. Not fun trying to work in a hole the size of your hand.

Reactions: 1

Wrench4fun

· #14 · Sep 14, 2014

powersports batteries as a good rule of thumb should be charged once a month if you are not using them, they need the chemical reaction in the battery to stay active, a battery tender usually has terminals that can be hooked up directly to the posts of the battery and has a quick connector attached to the end of the cable so you can just run the connector somewhere outside of the hull like behind the white knee side panel so you just pull it off and plug it in, in cases for instance where your ski stays somewhere outside and don't have access to an electrical outlet you could hook up a solar panel charger the same way with quick connectors and just attach it to the cover of the machine or your trailer if it stays on it or even on the dock, it will always be at a full charge then and your battery will last a long time, don't forget to charge your battery when it is in storage or you will be buying a new battery ever other year or so, the more you allow the battery to go to a state of discharge the shorter life your battery will have. if you don't maintain your battery through storage and it goes bad, they will NOT cover your battery under warranty!

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Straightbangin

Discussion Starter · #15 · Sep 14, 2014 (Edited)

Good info. I made the mistake of doing that with a scooter battery once and it was brand-new too. I never even thought about a solar one. Great idea.

This one seems to have good reviews

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Coleman-6-Watt-12-Volt-Solar-Battery-Maintainer-58022/203241530

Wrazor

· #16 · Sep 14, 2014

Agree Straight, and good info from Wrench as well.....really it is all about access to the battery...will rig up a trickle charger with accessible snap connector...when I have the top off next.

Thanks for your input

Sarge707

· #17 · Sep 14, 2014

Wrazor said:
Please enlighten me!
The battery is just about out of reach to clip charging leads to......what is this MAINTAINER as mentioned by Sarge??
Does this clip into one of the looms accesable from the knee panel.
How is the area kept clear of gases when charging?
Did I read somewhere that battery should be removed for charging (that would be a pain)
......am I missing something down under here in New Zealand?

https://www.google.com/shopping/pro...&ei=UBIWVIK9AcSOyASuiICgDw&sqi=2&ved=0CHcQuSQ
This is what I use- I put the pigtail on the battery when I had the top off. I connect the connection thru the knee black piece and Only then plug in the maintainer. I only have had to leave it on for 5-10 minutes because I used the ski every 10 days. With the cover off any gases would escape BUT for the winter I will pull the battery out of the hull and charge every 2 weeks for a few hours or whats needed!
PS: Note the product above has Excellent Reviews!

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Straightbangin

Discussion Starter · #18 · Sep 14, 2014

Sarge, thanks! When you say you put the pigtail on the battery when the top was off and then just go through the side panel, do you mean you just keep it on the battery all the time and connect when needed? You can leave it on all the time and drive with it on? Probably a stupid question but I just never thought about it.

Sarge707

· #19 · Sep 15, 2014

Straightbangin said:
Sarge, thanks! When you say you put the pigtail on the battery when the top was off and then just go through the side panel, do you mean you just keep it on the battery all the time and connect when needed? You can leave it on all the time and drive with it on? Probably a stupid question but I just never thought about it.

Yes, You leave the Pigtail connected to the battery and it has a Cap on the connection point and then you take off the connection cap and connect to the maintainer (Plug in maintainer last) . When through- Unplug Maintainer First- then Unplug the connection to the pigtail last and Put the Rubber cap back on the pigtail and drop it back in the hull away from the motor area.

I used battery Clamps Before I took the top off BUT you need to be very careful if you use clamps???? Not recommended for New People.

Straightbangin

Discussion Starter · #20 · Sep 15, 2014

Gotcha. Ya true. I'm looking to use my ski as often as I can year round so won't need a tender but was just wondering. I'm super careful when I use the clamps on my scooter.

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