Preparing your snowmobile for winter is a must. This includes checking if your snowmobile battery is still in its top working condition.
Getting just about any battery for your snowmobiling adventure is not enough. You will need something that can power up your engine in any given condition, no matter how cold.
In this article, we will be discussing some of the best snowmobile batteries available in the market, along with a few tips on how a snowmobiler can select your sled battery and maintain it for its longer healthier life.
My Personal Recommendation
If you are looking for a snowmobile battery pack, I highly recommend the Weize YTX20L-BS because of its great features.
This battery has a 12-volt output and a capacity of 18Ah. The chemical composition of the internal is lead-acid which has a higher density weighing 12.8 pounds with a chassis dimension of 6.89 x 3.43 x 6.1 inches.
One main advantage of this battery is the lead-acid composition. Lead-acid is a mature technology and is relatively cheap to manufacture and buy so, they provide the lowest cost per unit capacity for rechargeable cells but gives you great performance when in use.
The premium quality absorbed glass mat technology (AGM) is ideal for snowmobiles and other automobiles because this technology uses a very fine fiberglass mat that absorbs the battery acid, making the battery spill-proof.
These are the main consideration of why this snowmobile battery is great. So, make sure to check out the customer reviews of the Weize YTX20L-BS to see their thoughts.
Best Snowmobile Batteries in 2021
Weize YTX20L-BS High-Performance AGM Battery
Weize YTX20L-BS is just the kind of battery one would want for his snowmobile. This unique power generator has a voltage of 12 volts and a capacity of 18 amps. The high Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) of 270 provides an optimal starting power and gets the sled running in no time.
There is no filling required for this battery as it is a pre-filled battery, completely ready to use. What’s more, is that it boasts a 100% maintenance-free feature. Its heavy-duty container is made excellently to resist any type of shocks and vibrations making it a completely safe and secure battery unit.
Weize YTX20L-BS can be mounted in any position without any fear of spilling. It is equipped with Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) and Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) technology for the complete security of the chemistry within. Moreover, it is a rechargeable battery with high characteristics such as
- High Discharge Rate
- Wide Operating Temperatures
- Long Service Life
- Low Shelf-Discharge
- Deep Discharge Recover
- Shock and Vibration resistant
Without a doubt, this is one of the best snowmobile battery options out there. Whether it is the extreme cold conditions or vice versa, this ultimate power supplier will keep your snowmobile running with no problems at all.
EarthX Blue ETX36D Lithium (LiFePO4) Battery
Starting your sled is not a problem with this powerful beast. EarthX Blue ETX36D is a result of the latest technological innovations that surpasses the classic lead-acid batteries in all terms of reliability, performance, and even safety. It is one of the best battery options during snowmobiling adventures.
It is an extremely lightweight battery with a very low shelf discharging rate. The lithium iron phosphate construction is so solid that the battery can sit on the shelf for almost a year without freezing, boiling, or corroding. This type of battery is 100% leak-proof and the batteries can be installed even upside down without risking anything.
The best part is that it has a high CCA of 320 which is strong enough to power to start your sled easily. Moreover, it is completely maintenance-free as there is no filling required at all. It even comes with a fast-charging feature that charges the battery 2.5 times faster than a conventional lead-acid battery.
Some of the highlights of this battery are
- Extremely Lightweight
- Maintenance Free
- Very High CCA
- Fast Charging
- Very low discharging rate
- Higher shelf life
EarthX Blue ETX36D lithium-ion battery is one of the best snowmobile batteries available in the markets right now. Its high power, safety, and sustainability features make it one of the best choices for your sled. You don’t even have to buy a new charger for this battery since your old lead battery charger will work just fine.
NICHE YTX24HL AGM Battery
NICHE YTX24HL has been a popular choice for Yamaha motorcycles and Ski-Doo snowmobiles, especially Expedition, Legend, and Skandic 1000 models. Equipped with a CCA of 320, this battery is robust enough to easily power start your snowmobile in any condition.
This is a completely rechargeable battery and requires no maintenance at all. The Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) technology makes this battery completely spill-proof and safe. Its strong container makes it easy to withstand any vibrations and allows it to be carried safely without risking any damage.
It’s cleverly constructed to perform evenly in all weather conditions. Some other interesting features of NICHE YTX24HL are mentioned below
- Pre-filled and ready to use
- 100% maintenance-free
- Leak and spill-proof
- High CCA
- Works in all weather conditions
- Resistant to shock waves and vibrations
NICHE YTX24HL AGM battery is a wonderful choice for a snowmobile battery. Its high power and AGM tech will keep your sled up and running for a long time.
How to Choose a Snowmobile Battery?
Picking up the right snowmobile battery is not as difficult of a task as you may think. All you have to do is take into account a few common factors. However, making hasty decisions like buying any battery that fits in your snowmobile will only cause you problems later.
Given below are the things that you need to consider while choosing a battery for your snowmobile.
Battery Size
Battery size is one of the most common things that people forget to consider while purchasing a snowmobile battery. The battery won’t fit unless and until the dimensions of the battery and your vehicle match. Therefore, make sure to check the dimensions of your old battery or the size available in your sled, before finally buying the battery.
Starting Power or CCA
Cold Cranking Amps or simply CCA is the measure of power that is delivered by the battery over 30 seconds. The higher the CCA of a battery, the easier it is for the battery to start your snowmobile. Check the CCA of your old battery to understand the CCA required by your vehicle to start.
However, the CCA does not only affect the starting power of your motor sled but also the age of your ride and even the aftermarket accessories installed.
This mainly happens because the components of your snowmobile start deteriorating with age and demand more power to sustain. Similarly, any non-original equipment installed, tends to drain more battery. Therefore, it is always recommended to purchase a snowmobile battery with a very high CCA value.
Maintenance
Battery maintenance is one of the key factors that affect the overall life of the battery. If you wish to have a battery that lives long, then it is important to maintain it properly.
However, most batteries these days are available maintenance-free and are easily rechargeable. This implies that there is no maintenance required for modern-day batteries and when they are completely discharged, they can be recharged again.
Therefore, make sure to check whether the battery you are about to purchase requires maintenance or not. If yes, then it is considered better to go for a modern battery that has no need for maintenance and has fast charging abilities.
High Shelf Life
You obviously won’t be using your snowmobile during the summers, when it is comfortably packed and stored away till its season arrives. Now, during this time, if the battery is not stored properly and if it does not have a good shelf life, then it may get damaged, corroded, or become useless before it is utilized again.
In this case, you will have to purchase a new battery for your snowmobile every year, which might not be very ideal for you and your pocket.
Therefore, it is extremely important to consider the shelf life of a snowmobile battery before finally making your decision. Having a good shelf life will keep the battery active for a long time and will allow the users to use the battery flexibly, whenever it is required.
Battery Type
Now, deciding what type of battery you would want for your snowmobile is another important decision you have to make before finalizing your choice. Given below are the various types of batteries that are available in the market for your snowmobile.
AGM Batteries
Absorbed Glass Mat or simply AGM batteries are one of the most ideal types of batteries for snowmobiles. These have a high CCA value and provide excellent starting power even in extreme weather conditions. Some of the highlighting features of this battery are mentioned below.
- Pre-filled and ready to use
- Zero maintenance required
- Leak Proof and Spill Proof up to 90-degree angle
- High CCA value
- Ideal for extreme weather conditions
- Excellent resistance to shocks and vibrations
- Cheaper than Gel Batteries but with superior starting power
Gel Batteries
This type of battery requires no maintenance at all as there is no need for an electrolyte filling before or after the installation of the battery. It is strongly constructed to resist shocks, vibrations, and to handle harsh climatic conditions as well. The special features of this type of battery are mentioned below.
- Pre-charged and ready to use
- Zero maintenance as no filling required
- 100% spill and leak proof
- Excellent resistance to shocks and vibrations
- Low self-discharge
- Suitable for seasonal use
- Supports deep discharges as well and can be safely stored for several months
Lead Batteries
Lead batteries are very popularly known for their excellent reliability, high performance, and extra-long life. Their ability to provide high power and performance makes it one of the top battery options of premium quality that are designed for extreme requirements. Given below are the strong features of lead batteries.
- Zero maintenance required
- A very high starting power and thus a very high CCA value
- 100% spill and leak proof
- Ideal for extreme weather conditions
- Excellent resistance to shocks and vibrations
- Low self-discharge makes it suitable for seasonal use
- Supports deep discharges and can be safely stored for several months
Lithium-Ion Batteries
Lithium-ion batteries are one of the latest innovations in the field of power storing devices. This battery is exceptional in every way and surpasses the conventional lead-acid batteries in reliability, performance, and even safety. Find the highlighting features of lithium-ion batteries below.
- Extremely lightweight than any other type of battery
- Has a very long lifetime
- Completely maintenance-free
- 100% spill and leak proof
- Extremely low self-discharge, even during long storage periods
- Fast charging
- The old lead battery charger will work fine for charging new lithium-ion batteries
As you can see above, most of the batteries nowadays do not require any maintenance and are relatively safe to use and store. They also have a high starting power and can be suitably used in extreme weather conditions as well. You can choose any type of battery given above for your snowmobile to work smoothly.
How to Charge a Snowmobile Battery?
Once you have the battery for your snowmobile, it is important to know how to charge it. Maintenance is not required, but it is up to you to keep the battery charged at all times. In many cases, it has been observed that not charging the battery for long durations has affected the life of the battery drastically.
Therefore, follow the instructions given below to charge your snowmobile battery regularly.
- The first thing you need to do is figure out the type of battery you are currently using for your snowmobile
- Now, if you have a lead-acid, gel, or AGM type batteries, then you can use a trickle, float, or a smart charger to charge, but do not use these to charge lithium-ion batteries,
- A Trickle or fully manual chargers are the most simple and take AC power converting it to DC, however, it is important to turn off the charger once the battery is charged, otherwise, you can risk an overload
- Float chargers are another easy way to charge your batteries as they provide constant and safe current to the battery
- Smart chargers monitor battery progress and they stop charging as soon as the battery reaches an optimal level preventing damage to the battery
- For Lithium-ion batteries, check the make and manufacturer of the battery and buy a suitable charger for the said battery
- Once you have the chargers ready, the next step is to take the battery out of your snowmobile, follow the instructions below to do so
- Start by disconnecting the cables connecting your snowmobile and the battery, take out the negative cables first, then followed by the positive cables
- Then release the battery from anything that is still connecting it to the snowmobile and then gently lift it out
- Make sure to read your snowmobile manual before taking out the battery in case if there are any special instructions you need to follow
- The next step is to connect the battery charger, you can attach the charger to the battery terminal in any order, but make sure to check that they are properly connected
- When the charger and the battery are connected properly, simply plug in the charger and let it charge
- The safest place to charge your batteries is outside your house or in a well-ventilated area as battery overcharging is considerably dangerous
- If you are using a non-smart charger, then it is highly recommended that you monitor the battery progress from time to time
- A smart charger will probably tell you when the battery is fully charged, however, for other charges you will have to use a multi-meter to check the charging progress
- Once the battery is fully charged, place the battery back into the snowmobile, make sure to read the manual properly to avoid mistakes while placing the battery back
The process may seem lengthy and cumbersome at first, but in fact, it is a simple process and anyone with the right equipment can do it. Make sure to carefully follow the safety precautions to avoid any damage to you, your snowmobile, and the surroundings.
Final Words
No matter if you are using a Polaris, Arctic Cat, Ski-Doo, or any other popular snowmobile brand, your celebration will surely fall short if you do not have a battery that could provide the power they need.
Snowmobiles are the means of adventure and travel in heavy snow areas. In those freezing conditions, you would want your snowmobile to power-start smoothly. Only a good battery that is charged well can provide the necessary power for starting the snowmobile swiftly.
Therefore, to avoid pull starting your motor sled and to keep your snowmobile working smoothly, make sure that you choose a good battery that is safe, does not require maintenance, charges easily, and performs excellently.
