Tech Topics: Easily maintain your Jet Ski's battery with this $5 quick-connect charging dongle

[@politicsandtrains]

Great idea, as the push pins that hold that bty cover in place are not easy to remove each time.

[@JDsWaterWorld]

Agreed!

[@joeyperez6993]

I use the Sunner Power 12w solar panel charger and it works really well. Its got a built in regulator and controller so its just plug in play once you attach the SAE connectors to the battery.

[@JDsWaterWorld]

Yes I have a 10w panel I use, great way to maintain your ski! I should have mentioned that in my video!

[@joeyperez6993]

​@@JDsWaterWorldYou can always do another video discussing solar panels and what use, what not to use, and tips to avoid frying your battery

[@SteveAppel-r2o]

@@joeyperez6993I like that idea.

[@solarchild1]

Most small solar panels also have same plug.5 or 10 watts

[@JDsWaterWorld]

Yes, I should have mentioned that!

[@edwardbowles8613]

I have a hillbilly charging system. I keep 5 skis packed into a small building over the winter. 2 standups and 3 runabouts. Have to climb around and over to access them. Was always a pain with a trickle charger to move it around as I rotate charging each ski. Eventually I came up with a cheap and simple method. I bought several 2 prong two wire extension cords. Cut the female end off with enough cord to conveniently place the plug in a good location in the engine compartment of each ski. Put round terminals on the cut wires and attached to the battery. The big slot of the plug is my dedicated positive. Small slot negative. Have them attached to each battery. Now my charger stays in one location and I can use the repaired leftover extension cords to run to my charger from the skis. I plugged the unused outlets on the female ends attached to ski batteries with silicone. I keep a childproof plug cover over the slots I use to charge when not in use. Has made battery maintenance much easier.

[@JDsWaterWorld]

Haha well if you haven't burned your garage down and that method works to get you out on the water, sounds good to me! They do sell fairly cheap extension cords with maybe 12ga SAE quick connects- if you're using a low amperage maintainer just to keep batteries topped off

[@fzr1000981]

I leave my battery door off (I also leave the ECU door off, more air) and use an Optimate6, best auto charger I've used hands down and I've probably tried them all. Last month of the season here

[@JDsWaterWorld]

Looks like a great charger- it's on my list to buy one and try it out! Thanks for the tip

[@dankisnt7004]

Funny story a dealer left one of these quick connects in my new ski. Was a little annoyed they did but at least they maintained it!

[@JDsWaterWorld]

Haha well atleast they did that..when I bought my ski the dealer threw in the electrolyte and then put the battery on a 10 amp quick charge long enough for the ski to fire up and then told me it was ready to go..I watched it all in horror and questioned their tactics to which they replied "this is how we do all the skis" and this is one of the highest volume dealers in the world..reinforces my opinions about dealerships

[@stuartpeck26]

Way ahead of you on that front. It’s a PAIN to access/remove/install battery on the STX-160

[@JDsWaterWorld]

lol I went out a few weeks ago and the Ultra LX was dead..went to use my jump pack..also dead from getting salt water on it and shorting it out..luckily had a charger in my car and topped it off enough to get it started 🤣. This was after I posted my top 5 things to check video...🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️. I thought the Ultra LX battery had been topped off the night before but the alligator clip didn't have a good contact and the charger just showed "full" I didn't verify with multi meter 🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️

[@stuartpeck26]

@@JDsWaterWorld my dad drilled it into my head growing up that I should keep a pair of jumper cables in every vehicle I own as well as maintenance and fuel logs. The fuel log might seem excessive, but I like keeping a record of what’s run through my engine so I know who to blame if I ever get sold water not gas

[@SuperSport2024]

Does the quick connector come with that charger or do you have to purchase it separately?

[@JDsWaterWorld]

@SuperSport2024 some maintainers do include a fused quick connect, but for a jet ski or marine use you will need one with a water proof cap to prevent the connector from corroding

[@chillichuck1]

I've always been nervous about hooking up my maintainer without disconnecting my main battery leads. You're saying that a low amp maintainer has a zero chance of damaging my ski electronics?

[@JDsWaterWorld]

The ECU, etc., is not under power until the main relays are activated. I would never "charge "a battery with the main leads connected. If you are using a brand name, low amperage maintainer, you should not have any issue. Now if you are storing your ski over the winter or for longer periods, I DO recommend removing the battery from the ski. Keeping the maintainer attached when not using the ski for one or two weeks at a time with the main leads attached has not been any issue for me personally and that is why I shared this video. Again, it should be a brand-name maintainer NOT a trickle charger or cheap Chinese maintainer

[@jrg4435]

What do you think about lithium batteries??

[@JDsWaterWorld]

I know some guys have had great success with them- I do not have any experience with one in a saltwater Jet Ski..I would be curious to try it though

[@solarchild1]

Where's my commision.thanks for charging my battery.

[@JDsWaterWorld]

$5 for the dongle, $225 for labor to install