If you want to keep traveling and adventuring in your RV, you need to take good care of its battery. Proper maintenance is essential to extending the life of the battery. How do you keep your RV’s battery in good shape? The first step is to arm yourself with knowledge. Learn about the different types of RV batteries and how to care for them with this overview of what you need to know about your RV batteries.
Which Battery Is Right for Your RV?
There are three common types of RV batteries, each with their own pros and cons. The first type is the flooded or lead-acid battery. This traditional option remains a popular choice among RVers due to its affordability and accessibility. You can purchase flooded cell batteries in both serviceable and maintenance-free varieties. Next is the absorbed glass mat (AGM) battery, which contains a mat that absorbs hydrogen as the battery produces it. AGM batteries don’t leak, are harder to freeze, and require less maintenance than other types of deep cell batteries. Finally, the lithium RV battery is a newer alternative that, while expensive, is also smaller, lighter, and requires less maintenance. Lithium batteries also tend to have a longer lifespan than other types of RV batteries.
Common RV Battery Maintenance
Routine care and maintenance make up a large part of what you need to know about your RV batteries. Each battery type has its own maintenance routine that you should follow closely. However, there are a few tips you should follow for each battery type. Be sure to clean your battery terminals to remove any corrosion buildup. You can use a mixture of baking soda and water or a battery contact cleaning product to do this, as well as a toothbrush to scrub away any corrosion.
You should also take care when charging and discharging your batteries. Let your batteries discharge to around 50 percent on a regular basis. This will help keep your battery in good shape and increase its lifespan. However, be careful not to let the charge level get too low. You should avoid overcharging the battery as well. Both of these mistakes can cause damage and decrease the battery’s lifespan over time.
Finally, ventilation is crucial to the safety of both your battery and yourself. No matter what type of RV battery you have, use proper ventilation to ensure better air quality and avoid the risk of battery damage or even explosions.
Winter RV Battery Maintenance
Taking care of your RV battery is important no matter the season. In the winter, there are a few extra steps you can take to ensure your battery stays safe and functional. If you store your RV for the winter, carefully remove the battery and store it in a warm place to prevent freezing. Check on the battery throughout the season and charge it if it drains below 80 percent. If you travel with your RV in the winter, be sure to inspect the battery before every trip. Make sure it is fully connected and charged. Throughout your travels, keep the battery well-insulated to prevent freezing and keep it well-ventilated to prevent damage or explosions. Lithium batteries require the addition of BatteryWarmers to keep the internal temperature above freezing. Operating a frozen lithium battery can result in permanent damage to the battery. These steps are a crucial part of winterizing your RV. Before you head out into the cold, be sure to purchase RV heaters for sale from UltraHeat. When you install heating pads and other winterization products, you ensure a safe journey through any climate.