on a atv or skidoo as it sits in the machine without harming anything electrical?
I have always taken them out in the past,guess I'm getting lazy in my old age.

Yes, best to disconnect the battery from the vehicle but for a quick charge jump you can leave it hooked up.

If you are worried about it just unhook the ground wire.

I trickle charge the batteries on my older Polaris ATV's without unhooking all the time. I've been doing it for a long time and no harm.

I don't know about newer machines with the fancy electronics. Probably best to look up manufacturer's instructions.

If concerned, just unhook one of the cables.

I don't think you'll have any problem tho, we charge batteries in cars all the time without unhooking. In fact, most cars you have to reteach them how to run if you unhook the battery!

I do it all of the time on my 2005 Honda not like them batteries last that long anyway. Trickle chargers don’t push much juice anyway.

Thanks for the replys all.
Guess I will take them out to charge just to be on the safe side..

With the price of things today, good idea..

A guy needs to weigh the price of a gel battery vs an acid one to see what’s the better deal over time.

Might consider a Solar charger, just hook it up and forget it till you need the equipment.

I buy extra lawnmower 350cc batteries to have on hand as the mower, splitter and 4 wheeler will all take the same one. I wait for the sales to come on then pick up a couple then charge them from time to time until they are needed.

Thought about that for the off season,but I only get a dead battery in one of the machines every couple years.Usually at the beginning of the season after it has sit for a few months.

an alternator charges the battery while everything is hooked to it and your driving

you might want to avoid pulse chargers but your typical 2amp charge or smaller while it is connected shouldn't hurt anything

A gel battery last longer than most acid ones but they cost a lot more in your situation the gel might be a better option but down the road it’s going to fail it just might take longer.

Yes you can, everyone of the farmers I know charges them right on the machine and hooked up. I've always done it with my machine. Mine is a 2018 Polaris

dont try to charge when frozen
takes a battery 24 hours at room temp to thaw out
many times a frozen battery will separate the plates and you dont have a 12v any more

some guys I know have solar chargers hook up for reassurance at the remote cabins

Chickmechanic today did a good review on redoing a mag that the magnets loosened and the lawnmower was not charging

I do it all the time, charge on low amp and heavy amp if I'm inclined to get it going right away.

When your charging the battery the voltage is roughly thje same as the battery, amps are the determining factor on how fast it takes to charge the battery.

Its no different than when the alternator is charging the battery.

Battery charger has no effect of any consequence on the rest of the electrical system.

I don't know the answer but..., I'm impressed Boco asked a question

Lol I thought the same thing.

Really, it's quite impressive.