RV Battery Upkeep is Important to Your RV
RV batteries are a vital part of an RV’s energy system. In any case, they retailer and provide electrical vitality on your RV’s 12-volt system. Your RV batteries present energy for important RV facilities resembling lights, the water pump, the 12-volt fridge, the furnace, the range high, and the 12-volt RV TV.
That stated, whether or not you’re parked at a scenic boondocking website or powering lights after darkish in a campground, your RV batteries want somewhat care and upkeep. With out it, even the perfect batteries will lose their capacity to produce energy while you want them most.
1. Understanding Battery Sorts
Most RVs use some type of lead-acid battery to produce energy to the 12-volt energy system. Lithium LiFePO4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) batteries have been gaining loads of recognition within the RV world lately. Every battery kind has particular upkeep and care necessities.
Lead-Acid Batteries
Lead-acid batteries use the reversible chemical response between lead, lead dioxide, and sulfuric acid. Throughout discharge, these elements react to provide electrical energy, and through charging, the response is reversed to revive the battery’s chemical vitality. To try this effectively, your RV batteries want somewhat assist from you.
- Flooded lead-acid (Commonest, want common watering)
- Sealed AGM (Upkeep-free)
- Sealed gel batteries (Spill-proof and maintenance-free)
LiFePO4 Batteries
LiFePO4 batteries makes use of an analogous means of utilizing a chemical response to provide and retailer electrical vitality. Nonetheless, LiFePO4 batteries use lithium, iron and phosphate as chemical substances as a substitute of lead and sulfuric acid to provide and retailer electrical energy. These batteries use a means of lithium-ion motion when charging or discharging. When the battery is charging, lithium ions transfer from the cathode to the anode, however when discharging, they transfer from the anode to the cathode. As this occurs, {an electrical} present is created. It’s this movement of ions and electrons that gives helpful vitality that gives energy for the RV.
- LiFePO4 Lithium-Ion Batteries:
- Extraordinarily low-maintenance
- Lifespan: 5–10 years
2. Examine battery housing, terminals, and connections often
IMPORTANT: Battery acid is extraordinarily corrosive and might shortly burn via clothes and pores and skin. Due to this fact, earlier than you do something with lead-acid RV batteries, be sure you put on eye safety, lengthy sleeves, and gloves.
RV home batteries are typically a type of issues many RVers don’t take into consideration till they don’t work. With that in thoughts, taking time to examine home batteries each 4–6 weeks permits you to keep on high of small points earlier than they change into larger issues. Listed here are the steps you must observe.
- Battery housing: Examine the battery housing for anomalies like cracks, bulging, and/or leaks.
- Terminals and connections: Examine battery terminals and guarantee connections are tight and freed from corrosion. Corrosion appears like white or blue-green powder across the battery terminals and connections. In case you occur to seek out any terminal corrosion, proceed to step 3.
- Disconnect the battery: You are able to do this both utilizing the battery disconnection swap or do it the old-school manner and disconnect the terminals one after the other. All the time disconnect the unfavourable terminal first after which disconnect the optimistic terminal. When reconnecting, use the reverse order. That’s, join the optimistic terminal first, after which the unfavourable.
- Use a baking soda paste to neutralize and take away corrosion from terminals
- Make a thick paste by mixing baking soda with somewhat water.
- Apply to corrosion utilizing an previous toothbrush or a wire brush.
- Enable the paste to sit down for a couple of minutes to neutralize the corrosion.
- Rinse or wipe off with a humid rag or paper towel.
- Apply a light-weight coat of dielectric grease on every battery terminal to inhibit corrosion.
3. Examine and refill flooded lead-acid batteries
Flooded lead-acid batteries comprise lead plates that want to remain submerged in a sulfuric acid resolution to perform correctly. If the extent of liquid within the battery turns into low, the battery gained’t cost or carry out correctly, and its lifespan will probably be shortened.
- Examine ranges after charging, not earlier than
- Put on PPE: a long-sleeved shirt (ideally one you don’t like), eye safety, and gloves for this job
- Take away the cell lids
- Solely use distilled water to fill cells simply above the plates
4. Keep Correct Cost Ranges
LiFePO4 Lithium batteries may be discharged to 100% capability with out affecting their lifespan (or so it’s claimed), however the identical will not be true for deep-cycle lead-acid batteries. Deep discharging lead-acid batteries beneath 50% capability can drastically shorten their life. Due to this fact, it’s a good suggestion to keep watch over battery voltage ranges utilizing your RV’s battery monitor. Moreover right here a couple of issues you are able to do to delay the lifetime of your RV home batteries.
- Cost them earlier than and through storage.
- Hold them charged when not in use.
- Don’t overcharge batteries. That is usually expressed as a C-rate that’s 10% of the battery capability. For instance, a 100Ah flooded lead-acid battery ought to be charged at a price of lower than 10 amps. Slower charging permits the electrolyte to combine correctly, stopping the acid from separating and settling on the backside. This maximizes battery efficiency and longevity.
5. Battery storage suggestions
Storing RV home batteries correctly when your RV isn’t in use will assist delay their lifetime. That stated, improper storage of RV batteries will shortly destroy them. Right here’s what you must learn about storage necessities of each lead-acid batteries and LiFePO batteries.
Lead-Acid Battery Storage
- Retailer lead-acid batteries in a cool, dry surroundings.
- The perfect temperature for lead-acid battery storage is between 50°–77°F (10°– 25°C)
- By no means expose lead-acid batteries to freezing temperatures or excessive warmth.
- Retailer lead-acid batteries within the RV if the RV is plugged into energy. This may maintain them charged.
- If plugging into an influence supply isn’t an choice, take away the batteries and retailer them the place they’ll be shielded from freezing temperatures.
- Cost batteries earlier than storage.
- Examine cost degree each month, and recharge as crucial.
LiFePO4 Battery Storage
LifePO4 batteries have totally different storage necessities than their lead-acid counterparts. Right here’s what you must know.
- All the time disconnect LiFePO4 batteries earlier than storage.
- Charging LiFePO4 batteries to 100% capability earlier than storage can kill them. The perfect cost degree for storing LiFePO4 batteries is 30–50%.
- The perfect storage temperature vary for LiFePO4 batteries depends upon how lengthy they’re being saved:
- Lower than 30 days: -4℉–140℉
- 30–days: 14℉–95℉
- Greater than 90 days: 59℉–95℉
- By no means retailer LiFePO4 batteries in direct daylight or in scorching temperatures.
- LiFePO4 batteries may be saved as much as a yr with out considerably affecting their lifespan. Nonetheless, battery-charge ranges ought to be checked each three months.
RV Battery Upkeep Retains Your Energy Programs Drawback Free
Sustaining your RV home batteries is a straightforward method to maximize their lifespan so you may benefit from the all of the facilities your RV’s 12-volt system provides. Not solely that, however correct care and upkeep of home batteries helps keep away from pricey RV technician calls and costly RV battery substitute.
RV LIFE Upkeep is a useful service that simplifies monitoring and scheduling important RV upkeep particular to your RV. That makes maximizing the lifespan of your RV simpler than ever.
