Battery tender

[Eagle River Mike]

Ok, I decided to get lazy this year and not disconnect or take the batteries out of my sleds during summer storage. I store my sleds in my garage and there is some evidence of mice activity although they have never caused a problem. I purchased a 4 bay battery tender which came with the eyelet and alligator connectors. If I wire it up with the eyelet connectors, I am not sure what I would do with all the slack during the riding season so I simply hooked them up with the alligator connectors. Due to the orientation of the batteries and clearance, I can not get the side panels on the sleds shut with the alligator connectors hooked up. I now have the side panels propped open slightly. I am a bit worried that I made easy access to vital wiring for the mice. I guess I could hook up the eyelet connectors during storage and be able to shut the side panels but that goes against making things easier and if I am going to disconnect the batteries to install the eyelets, I might as well pull the batteries and bring them inside. Anyone running battery tenders and using the eyelet connectors? If so, what do you do with extra length of connector while riding? Zip tie it to something? Sleds are ski doos. 2010 GT 600 Sport, 2014 MXZ Sport and 2016 Renegade 800 Adrenaline. Thanks,

 

[skeeter2010]

If the cables are long enough run them up to the handle bars and create a plug port for an electric shield

 

[whitedust]

Have you looked at the stock Yamaha eyelet battery set up. I'll put a maintainer charge to my battery to eyelets from aligator clips in June then again in October. My battery is strong & does well with a few days a year maintainer charge other than those charges the sled stays closed next to a box of decon in my trailer. I was concerned about the decon thought it may attract mice but so far has worked well no mice that I can see. You need to get ride of mice asap as can chew wiring or piss in engine enter thru exhaust. Nerf golfballs block my Apex XTX exhaust easy in easy out.

 

[Wyelde]

If the cables are long enough run them up to the handle bars and create a plug port for an electric shield

Agree with Skeeter, I wired the eyelets directly to the battery and put a 2 prong trailer type connector it that comes out by the handlebars, I can plug in the battery tender, electric shield, and assorted other devices to it. I did put a 5 amp inline fuse on the positive lead near the battery, just in case.

 

[misty_pines]

I connected the eyelet connectors to the battery and just plug the tender into the 2 prong connector during storage. Works great. I never take the battery out of the sled. During the riding season, I bunch up the extra wire from the connector and stuff it between the battery and the battery bracket. You could use a zip tie if you want to keep the wire more secure when riding.

If you have accessories, mounting the two prong connector up by the handlebars makes sense like the others mentioned.

 

[old abe]

You could shorten the length of the eyelet/connecter leads, or do as I and simply put the charger/tender clips on the batteries for a few hours every few months. Many times 10 to 15 minutes does it. I also have Ski-Doo's as do you. I also use the Decon wedges on the running board toe holds. Never any mice problems.

 

[groomerdriver]

Pretty much what others have said here. The eyelets go onto the battery and string the wire (zip tie it to something) from the battery to an accessible, convenient place outside of the sled. Zip tie the extra wire underneath the hood somewhere. As AP mentioned, install an inline fuse JIC.

My 2 Yamaha 4s' have a nice little area on top of the RH footwell. The SAE 2-prong connector that comes with most chargers goes nicely into this area. I keep battery "maintainers" (Optimate 3's) 24/7 on my sleds year round. The battery on my 05 Vector finally had to be replaced last year.....on it's 10th season.

Mouse prevention = if you are that concerned about it, get flexible metal braiding to slip over the wires. If a mouse chews through that, he/she will chew through anything.

 

[Pizza Man]

I use Battery Tender Jrs. on my Goldwing Trike and one my snowmobile during the off season.
Had the original Battery in my 08 Apex up until I sold it last month. I change my trike battery every 3 years.

 

[gkolar]

I have a Ski Doo GSX. Battery is on the right side. I used the eyelet connectors on the battery side and ran the plug end of cord out by where your right foot goes. Zip tied the extra cable in a bundle right at the battery. When you ride the plug end tucks back behind the metal foot plate/rest (totally out of your way). Don't need to open and close the side panel each time. I leave it plugged in all the time when not riding and over summer.