[JeffInNC]

Has anyone tried a trickle charger on the battery in the Spark during the off-season? I know the manual says to remove the battery for charging. Not sure why. I have a trickle charger on my motorcycle which works great to keep the battery in top shape.

Thoughts?

 

[GoAllDay]

I was actually thinking the same thing. Curious to see how this works out or what others have to say.


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[QuackDoc]

It all depends on storage temp and what kind of trickle charger you have. Freezing conditions are very hard on batteries, especially when they're not being used. It's best to take the battery indoors where it can stay warm if your garage isn't heated. A trickle charger is ok to freshen it up every few weeks while being stored, but if you want to leave it plugged in all the time you need a charger with a maintenance mode that isn't putting a charge on constantly, because the small PWC batteries have a relatively small capacity. I'd worry about overcharging with an unregulated trickle charger.

 

[Cormacs]

Both my sparks sit in the shed battery installed and a battery tender hooked to both all winter.


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[David Tuerk]

Just make sure it's a good charger, you'd be surprised how many people can't figure out why their batteries wont crank over their engine come spring time when they have boiled them dry.

They want you to remove the battery to charge it due to the chance there might be fuel vapors in the hull that go boom when you connect your charger.

 

[John Metzger]

It took me all of 5 minutes to pull my battery this weekend. I don't see why there's a desire to leave it in the ski all winter.

 

[Cormacs]

It took me all of 5 minutes to pull my battery this weekend. I don't see why there's a desire to leave it in the ski all winter.

I don't see why there is a desire to take it out?


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[John Metzger]

I don't see why there is a desire to take it out?


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Because the owners manual specifically says to not charge it while it's in the ski?

 

[Cormacs]

Because the owners manual specifically says to not charge it while it's in the ski?

Precautions.


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[Cormacs]

My batteries even have the battery tender quick connects permanently attached so I just have to plug them in. I think the manual is talking more about charging the battery, this is really only maintaining. Battery maintainers don't provide enough voltage for the battery to off gas.

Edit...
Your post got me interested so I investigated further. Battery Tender's website even mentions "Safe for enclosed engine compartment." The tender in maintenance mode doesn't produce enough current to create the dangerous hydrogen gas that the manual is worried about.


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[John Metzger]

Trickle Chargers...

I admit that I have a mistrust of unattended trickle chargers having had them fry a couple of deep cycle marine batteries over the years when left for a winter.

After spending decades pulling heavy dual 12V batteries from boats for winterizing, popping the dinky battery from the Spark was just so **** easy I couldn't see a reason why not to do it. Now I can store it in a nice warm house instead of a cold(ish) garage.

 

[JeffInNC]

I just set a monthly reminder to hook mine up to the battery tender for a few hours to keep the battery topped off. I disconnected the (+) cable from the battery to be on the safe side, but left the battery in the hull.

I keep my ski in the garage which doesn't get all that cold in the winter anyway.

 

[Cormacs]

I've had good luck with battery tenders, touch wood. I have both sparks wired in parallel and on the same tender all winter. On a double trailer it isn't all that easy getting the battery out of the right one, even tougher putting it back in.


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[Dangeruss]

On Board Factory charger?

Reviving this charger thread...


I just picked up a 2016 3up IBR and it has a wall plug already wired into the battery. I haven't used it yet or really traced the wires to where they hook in. Was this a factory option? Has anybody seen this before?

 

[Birdjay]

On Board Factory charger?
...
I just picked up a 2016 3up IBR and it has a wall plug already wired into the battery. I haven't used it yet or really traced the wires to where they hook in. Was this a factory option? Has anybody seen this before?

Would love to see a picture of that? I don't see it on any drawings.