Advantages of Having a Dual Battery Kit in Your UTV
So you’re enjoying your new UTV to its full potential, right? You’re proud of it and the fact that you can enjoy the great outdoors with the convenience of an SUV but the compactness of an ATV at the same time. And sure, look, nobody’s saying your UTV isn’t awesome. It is. But you can always improve it.
Sure, there are many mods out there that you can apply. However, adding a second battery should be a priority on just about anyone’s list, regardless of the type of rider that you are. Adding a second battery adds advantages both off and on the road and allows you to do multiple things that would be hard otherwise. But enough fluff, let’s get to the meat of it.
Main Benefits of Installing a Dual Battery Kit in Your UTV
There are many reasons why you should add a second battery. For a start, maybe you want to benefit from a new sound system. The default system in a UTV is good enough for many folks, but many of us won’t be pleased with it. So if you’re looking for that extra oomph from your favorite songs, a second battery is necessary.
Another good reason for adding a second battery is riding your UTV at night. Ideally, the electrical system should produce more electricity than it is consuming, and installing a second battery ensures that this will always be the case. As such, you will be able to blast music and put more powerful lights on your UTV without worries.
Furthermore, if your first battery runs out, you’ll be able to charge it from the second battery so that it won’t’ completely die off and get damaged in the process. You know what that means. Fewer maintenance worries and far fewer chances of getting stuck on a dirt road without electricity.
How to Install the UTV Dual Battery Kit
Now we’re not gonna lie, doing so is a bit tricky since every UTV is a bit different. In most cases, you can place the second battery underneath the driver’s seat. Next, you’ll need to get three battery cables from an electrical or aftermarket car part or purchase one of our kits that come with the cables already included, so you won’t need to worry about that.
Next, open the hood and disconnect the two cables that are connected to your main battery. By following the instructions that come with our kit, you’ll be able to figure out how the wiring goes depending on your make and model. Once you’re done with the cable handiwork, it’s time to move on to the final steps of this process.
Adjust the battery so that it safely stays in place and use all the possible screw parts. Put the seat or cover back in its place and you’re practically done. Now it’s time to test the unit.
Basic Steps to Test Your Dual Battery UTV Kit
Again, you can find this info out by reading the instructions that come with each of our dual battery kits that you can find on this website. However, to make your life a little easier, we’re going to give you the basic gist of things right now.
Start the UTV and observe the isolator. The electrical system will reach 13.4 volts or higher and the isolator will illuminate. This happens after about two minutes. What this means is that the circuit is closed and both batteries are connected together. As such, they are both being services by the alternator and other intricate circuits.
Once lit, you can shut off the engine so that the main charging source goes offline. When the voltage level drops below 12.9, the isolator switch will shut off and you will know if the batteries are charging properly.
Do note that you might need to turn off the headlights, accessories, and any other thing that consumes electricity for at least two minutes so that the test result will be accurate. It is okay to turn the key on but do not start the vehicle when verifying this step.
Now you can reconnect everything, thus undoing the disconnections you’ve made during the tests. If everything worked well, then great. If not, feel free to contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a UTV dual battery kit worth it?
Yes, it is worth it for the benefits presented in this article alone. Think about it this way: you’ll always have an emergency backup in case something goes wrong with your alternator. Not only that, but you’ll also be able to enjoy a better sound system or just play music on your regular one without having to run the engine continuously.
Will dual batteries hurt my alternator?
No, as long as the kit that you’ve purchased is reliable and you’ve set everything up correctly. This is why we insist you either read the instructions or get an electrician to handle the task of installing a UTV dual battery kit. However, you should know that the engine will use a tad more gas to be able to operate and charge both batteries if you configure the isolation system to rely on both simultaneously.
Why is it difficult to fit a second battery to a vehicle that has smart alternators?
There is no definitive answer to this question, and things can get quite complicated when trying to explain it to people who aren’t savvy regarding electrical systems. If you own a smart alternator, it would be wise to let an electrician handle the installation process. That way, you’ll know for sure that everything is working as intended. Good luck!
Final Thoughts
We hope that this article was pretty clear in conveying the benefits of a UTV dual battery kit as well as how to install and test it. In any case, we wish you the best of luck in selecting the kit that fits your needs. If you have any questions, feel free to message us at Radmail@yahoo.com!