​A Complete Battery Guide For The Polaris RZR And RZR 4-Door!

The standard batteries that come stock in Polaris RZR side-by-sides are perfectly fine for powering factory machines. They generally hold up well in both cold and wet environments, they last for years, and they can even handle a bit of extra draw from aftermarket lighting accessories. That being said, however, stock Polaris RZR batteries do have their limitations, and they’ll struggle to perform when power-hungry parts like sound systems and winches are used in unison. But regardless of whether you’re after a simple stock-style Polaris RZR battery replacement, a Polaris RZR battery upgrade, or an RZR dual battery kit / battery relocation kit, here is everything you need to know about Polaris RZR batteries, battery chargers, and UTV battery setups as a whole!

AGM, GEL, Or Flooded Batteries?

Sealed batteries that require minimal maintenance are the standard in side-by-sides today. And although AGM batteries, flooded batteries (i.e. wet cell batteries), and GEL cell batteries are all variants of the traditional lead-acid battery, AGM (absorbed glass matte) batteries are widely regarded as the best for use in off-road applications.

AGM batteries for the Polaris RZR are a bit more expensive, but that’s really their only drawback. In addition to being lighter than flooded batteries, AGM batteries are also designed in a way that makes them spill proof and resistant to impacts. Furthermore, because of there unique configuration, AGM batteries offer the least amount of internal resistance, which increases voltage outputs, quickens charging times, and lower the rate of self-discharge due to heat and other losses. Add to this the ability to deep cycle, and you’ve got yourself a battery that can do anything those old GEL and flooded batteries can do, only better!

Shallow Cycle Vs Deep Cycle Batteries

Deep cycle batteries are designed to provide steady amounts of power over extended periods of time -- with the ability to discharge nearly 80% of the stored energy (as opposed to the normal 2-5% discharge). Shallow-cycle batteries, on the other hand, are better suited for situations that call for short blasts of energy, rather than a prolonged supply.

Unless you intend to bring your bike home and place it on a charger between rides, a deep cycle battery alone may not be the best option. Shallow cycle batteries are the perfect solution for starting vehicles, as they’re able to deliver lots of power in short periods of time as well as rapidly recover from short-but-strong power draws. A deep cycle battery can definitely output enough juice to start a Razor, but it’s going to take a lot longer to recover from that. If you do a fair bit of stopping and restarting when you ride, a deep cycle battery is more likely to die on you. But if you find yourself being heavy on the winch or playing music when the vehicle is off, you might be better off with a deep cycle battery. Better still, a Polaris RZR dual battery kit could be the optimal route to get the best of both worlds! 

Polaris RZR Dual Battery Setups

If your buggy is full of extras like light bars, sound systems, particle separators, winches and whatnot, you’ll almost certainly need either a bigger battery or a secondary battery. There are many different ways to use a second battery, but the principle idea is to save the main battery so that it always has enough power to start the machine, then use the secondary battery to power the aftermarket add-ons.

A popular way to configure a dual battery system in the Polaris RZR is to use an isolator, a solenoid, and a fuze block. You simply wire all the accessories to the fuse block and then place the solenoid on the main wire for the secondary battery -- which puts everything on keyed power. While it is possible to wire your accessories directly to the battery itself so that they stay on while the vehicle is off, this opens up the potential for unwanted battery drain.

Should I Use A Battery Isolator?

Some folks run their batteries in parallel, using a battery tender to charge and maintain both of their batteries at once. This, however, puts a lot of strain on the stator and charging rectifier, which simply can’t match the charging capability of an alternator. Polaris RZR battery isolators will save your stator by charging only one battery at a time, then moving on to the other once the first battery is full.

Voltage isolators for the Polaris RZR are like cheap insurance. You wouldn’t run anything in your electric system without a fuse, would you? So why wouldn’t you use an isolator? They aren’t too expensive, and they're far more beneficial than they are detrimental. Granted, if you’re running two batteries so that you have sufficient power when the subwoofer hits and the winch is pulling, having your batteries wired in parallel is probably fine if the vehicle is always on. But for redundancy, a battery isolator is great. Alternatively, you could just carry a jump pack or battery charger to use when your battery dies, but this is extra weight and hassle that can be easily avoided!

Wiring your setup in a way that “isolates” the batteries from each other so that one gets completely drained while the other remains fully charged is a good way to do it, but you can also hook the main power feed to one battery and the main ground feed to the other so that both batteries drain and charge equally. At the end of the day, it all depends on your specific needs and the amount of time, efford, and money you’re willing to put into your dual battery setup!

Can You Mix And Match Batteries In A Dual Battery Setup?

Every battery manufacturer under the sun will tell you to never connect different sizes and styles of batteries, as they’ll constantly charge off each other until one eventually dies. They discourage this practice, however, not because it’s impossible, but rather, to avoid liability.

While it is true that different types of batteries (like lead acid and liop) can’t be tied together with or without an isolator, you can mix batteries of the same type (i.e lead acid, AGM, etc.) but of different ages and capacities... so long as you don’t exceed the capabilities of the smallest / weakest battery. As long as the smallest battery is capable of powering everything on its own, then adding a second, larger-capacity, battery will not be a problem. We wouldn't recommend using different age batteries, though, because if one has a bad cell, it can harm the other.

Best Batteries For The Polaris RZR

Whether you’re running a dual battery setup or sticking with the simple single-battery configuration, you can’t go wrong with the Polaris RZR batteries by Odyssey, XS Power, or Yuasa. Many riders with dual battery systems use a PC1200 or PS1200 battery to act as the primary, and a PC975 or PS925 battery for the secondary. Other good batteries for the Polaris RZR 4 include the AcDelco battery, the Antigravity battery with a built-in jumper pack, and the ET30XL Deka AGM battery.

Whether you’re after a Polaris RZR battery tray to change your Polaris RZR battery location, or some battery-related parts like trickle chargers, tenders, and battery disconnect switches, we’ve got everything you could need right here at Everything Polaris RZR! So leave that cheap lawn mower battery at NAPA where it belongs and get the right battery, battery connectors, and battery tie-down straps to meet your needs at Everything Polaris RZR!