AGM Batteries - good/bad for sleds?

[Mills]

I just purchased an AGM battery for my Viper. From Caltric. , Hitachi is the manufacturer of their batteries and I want to try it as many of the Yuasa batteries I have put in my 4 stroke sleds have lasted only 2 years. AGM batteries are supposed to provide superior power and have a much higher resistance to vibration. Has anybody used an AGM battery in their sled and if so, how did it perform compared to the stock Yuasa battery??

 

[biffdotorg]

I'm sure there are other threads on here that reference battery life in the vipers. Of all the Yamahas I have owned, the Yuasa batteries have lasted for years. Other than the vipers. They both would kill whatever battery I installed in two seasons.

So I am glad you said this was in the viper, as I really don't know what will get you longer life. They have to have some sort of parasitic drain on them somewhere.

 

[earthling]

The YUASA batteries last up to 7 years in my powersports vehicles, typically 5. I keep them on a battery tender in the off months, I have never had a problem. AGM batteries are the best of the lead acid options for how we use them. Any residual drain on your vehicle will kill any battery given enough time.

 

[Mills]

Just had to replace the Yuasa battery in my Apex also. It was shorted somewhere and would not take a charge. Going with the AGM battery in it as well. I know the Apex has parasitic drain so I either have it on a tender during the riding season or take it out during summer months. I usually start the Viper during the summer several times and let it idle to get it up to temp and then shut it off after about 10 min. after reaching temp. I was not able to do that this year and now the battery is shot. I have a USB port plugged into the "cigarette lighter" port on the dash. It is not a charger just a converter to USB port, I am wondering if that is parasitic and caused the battery to die?

 

[ksiesel]

The Yuasa batteries that are in these sleds stock are also AGM batteries. I've had very good luck with them. In fact, I'm still on my original Yuasa in a '15 Viper. I do take the battery out of the sled and leave it on a battery tender all summer long though.

 

[Mills]

I looked over both my Viper and Apex Yuasa batteries and do not see AGM printed on or molded into either one. Because of this I have always used the "Standard" setting on my charger instead of the "AGM" setting to charge them. Would that have affected them in any way?
What is the difference in how a charger charges batteries between the standard and AGM settings?

 

[ksiesel]

See bottom of page 3 for proof they are AGM:

https://www.yuasabatteries.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2024-Yuasa-Battery-Application-Guide-Digital-PDF.x40980.pdf

According to this article, the AGM has less internal resistance so yes, it's possible that using a charger not meant for AGM could shorten the life of the AGM by running too high of voltages at the top of charge.

Here’s How to Charge an AGM Battery and Why It’s Different | Interstate Batteries

Absorbed glass-mat batteries offer incredible performance, but you could ruin them with them with the wrong battery charger.

www.interstatebatteries.com

 

[Mills]

tha

See bottom of page 3 for proof they are AGM:

https://www.yuasabatteries.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2024-Yuasa-Battery-Application-Guide-Digital-PDF.x40980.pdf

According to this article, the AGM has less internal resistance so yes, it's possible that using a charger not meant for AGM could shorten the life of the AGM by running too high of voltages at the top of charge.

Here’s How to Charge an AGM Battery and Why It’s Different | Interstate Batteries

Absorbed glass-mat batteries offer incredible performance, but you could ruin them with them with the wrong battery charger.

www.interstatebatteries.com

Thanks for the info.

 

[biffdotorg]

Just had to replace the Yuasa battery in my Apex also. It was shorted somewhere and would not take a charge. Going with the AGM battery in it as well. I know the Apex has parasitic drain so I either have it on a tender during the riding season or take it out during summer months. I usually start the Viper during the summer several times and let it idle to get it up to temp and then shut it off after about 10 min. after reaching temp. I was not able to do that this year and now the battery is shot. I have a USB port plugged into the "cigarette lighter" port on the dash. It is not a charger just a converter to USB port, I am wondering if that is parasitic and caused the battery to die?

I had one on a viper that did just that. It drew just enough to kill the battery. And for sure over the summer. I got rid of that and all seemed to be good to go. your mileage may vary.

 

[ksiesel]

For these USB chargers, if you wire them to the accessory power connector down by the chain case, they will only have power when the key and kill switches are on. This will avoid the problem of draining the battery with the parasitic draw of the DC conversion transformer that converts 12V to 5V for USB.

I don't have one of these on my sled, but I do have a motorcycle and went through the same thing. Put the USB plug on a switched power source and all good - just can't charge phone when machine is not on.