{"id":2572,"date":"2019-10-11T11:31:43","date_gmt":"2019-10-11T18:31:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/?p=2572"},"modified":"2022-09-18T07:26:13","modified_gmt":"2022-09-18T14:26:13","slug":"6-reasons-your-rv-battery-keeps-dying","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/6-reasons-your-rv-battery-keeps-dying\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Reasons Your RV Battery Keeps Dying (with Fixes)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>There\nis something undeniably rustic and thrilling about traveling in an\nRV. Nothing can throw a wrench into a road trip quite like an RV\nbattery that won\u2019t stay charged. Unfortunately, there are many\nreasons why your battery may be losing charge, and it may take some\ntrial and error to figure out what the culprit is. However, there is\nno reason to lose hope because RV <a href=\"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/how-to-fix-an-overheating-rv-battery\/\"  rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">battery issues can be easily fixed<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>There\nare 6 reasons that may be causing your RV battery to keep dying, and\nthey are:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li><strong>Sulfation<\/strong>\n\t<\/li><li><strong>Parasitic\n\tloads<\/strong>\n\t<\/li><li><strong>Self-discharging<\/strong>\n\t<\/li><li><strong>Overcharging<\/strong>\n\t<\/li><li><strong>Undercharging<\/strong>\n\t<\/li><li><strong>Lack of\n\tmaintenance<\/strong>\n<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>There is no need to worry, though. Each of these issues can be fixed, and you can be enjoying the countryside again before you know it! Each battery issue comes with its own indications to look for and its own fixes.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/dreamstime_m_74852414-1024x681.jpg\" alt=\"RV Battery\" class=\"wp-image-2779\" width=\"591\" height=\"392\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/dreamstime_m_74852414-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/dreamstime_m_74852414-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/dreamstime_m_74852414-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/dreamstime_m_74852414.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 591px) 100vw, 591px\" \/><figcaption>ID 74852414 \u00a9 Norgal | Dreamstime.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hustling-maker-3800.ck.page\/a52a82303e\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/email-sign-up-button-1-maintenance-1024x128.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5824\" width=\"600\" height=\"64\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_63 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-661276b46f9de\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #5d7772;color:#5d7772\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #5d7772;color:#5d7772\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-661276b46f9de\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/6-reasons-your-rv-battery-keeps-dying\/#1_%E2%80%93_Sulfation\" title=\"1 \u2013 Sulfation\">1 \u2013 Sulfation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/6-reasons-your-rv-battery-keeps-dying\/#2_%E2%80%93_Parasitic_Loads\" title=\"2 \u2013 Parasitic Loads\">2 \u2013 Parasitic Loads<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/6-reasons-your-rv-battery-keeps-dying\/#How_to_Properly_Charge_Lead-Acid_RV_Batteries\" title=\"How to Properly Charge Lead-Acid RV Batteries\">How to Properly Charge Lead-Acid RV Batteries<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/6-reasons-your-rv-battery-keeps-dying\/#The_Life_Cycle_of_Lead-Acid_RV_Batteries\" title=\"The Life Cycle of Lead-Acid RV Batteries\">The Life Cycle of Lead-Acid RV Batteries<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/6-reasons-your-rv-battery-keeps-dying\/#How_to_Store_RV_Batteries_When_They_are_Not_in_Use\" title=\"How to Store RV Batteries When They are Not in\nUse\">How to Store RV Batteries When They are Not in\nUse<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/6-reasons-your-rv-battery-keeps-dying\/#RV_Battery_Types_Which_One_is_Right_for_You\" title=\"RV Battery Types: Which One is Right for You?\">RV Battery Types: Which One is Right for You?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/6-reasons-your-rv-battery-keeps-dying\/#Final_Thoughts\" title=\"Final Thoughts\">Final Thoughts<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_%E2%80%93_Sulfation\"><\/span>1 \u2013 Sulfation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The\nnumber one cause of lead-acid batteries failing is <em>the buildup of\nlead sulfate crystals on the battery<\/em>. This is called sulfation,\nand it happens when a battery isn\u2019t allowed to get a full charge.\nIn these cases, the lead sulfate crystals build up and stay on the\nbattery plates. If there is too much sulfation, the chemical to\nelectrical conversion of the battery is affected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Sulfation\ncan also lead to the following issues:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Longer\n\tcharging times\n\t<\/li><li>Excessive\n\tbuildup of heat\n\t<\/li><li>Shorter\n\tbattery running times \n\t\n\t<\/li><li>Much shorter\n\tbattery life\n\t<\/li><li>Battery\n\tfailure\n<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Two\ntypes of sulfation can occur on your battery: <em>reversible and\npermanent<\/em>. Reversible sulfation can be fixed if it is caught\nearly enough; however, permanent sulfation cannot be reversed. The\nmain reason that you should never store your battery with an empty\ncharge is because sulfation will happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The\nsulfation of lead-acid batteries is inevitable, but it can definitely\nbe slowed. <strong>The main causes of sulfation are:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>When a battery is overcharged <\/li><li>When a battery is stored above 75 degrees <\/li><li>When a battery is stored without being fully charged <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Prevent and Fix Sulfation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>To prevent sulfates from building up on your battery, you must make sure that your battery has a charge that will not drop below 12.4 volts when stored. Additionally, there are <strong>anti-sulfation devices<\/strong> that you can purchase that can help to prevent and reverse sulfation by applying pulses to the battery terminals of a healthy battery.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, since permanent sulfation damage cannot be reversed, it is important to properly maintain your battery in order to lessen the buildup of sulfates and prevent sulfation from becoming a major issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_%E2%80%93_Parasitic_Loads\"><\/span>2 \u2013 Parasitic Loads<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Parasitic loads are the different systems in your RV that are connected to your battery and draw power from it when they don\u2019t need to. Once your engine is off, the alternator is no longer running, and anything still drawing power will take it from the battery in the RV.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Parasitic\nloads can cause the following issues with batteries:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Draining\n\tbattery charge\n\t<\/li><li>Shortening\n\tthe battery life\n\t<\/li><li>Making it\n\tdifficult to recharge the battery\n\t<\/li><li>Sulfation\n<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Fix Parasitic Loads<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>RV batteries fall victim to many parasitic loads because of the amenities found inside modern RVs<\/strong>. Electronically run objects like refrigerators, microwaves, televisions, lights, GPS systems, cell phone charging systems, and more can all become parasitic loads when you turn off your RV.  <\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/dreamstime_m_144722869-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Battery Voltage\" class=\"wp-image-2542\" width=\"662\" height=\"441\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/dreamstime_m_144722869-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/dreamstime_m_144722869-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/dreamstime_m_144722869-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/dreamstime_m_144722869.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 662px) 100vw, 662px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>If\nyou suspect that your battery is suffering from parasitic loads, you\ncan use a <strong>digital multimeter<\/strong> to test your battery. Once your\nRV\u2019s ignition is turned off, you connect the digital multimeter to\nyour battery, and it will tell you if anything is draining your\nbattery. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After\nyou\u2019ve determined the presence of parasitic loads, you have to use\ntrial and error to figure out what is actually draining your battery.\nYou should take turns pulling out the fuses of different objects\nwithin your RV to see which one is draining the power of your\nbattery. You won\u2019t be able to avoid all parasitic loads on your\nbattery, but you can eliminate the largest ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3 \u2013 Self-Discharging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Self-discharging is an issue that affects all batteries<\/strong>. This is not as much an issue or defect as it is simply a characteristic of all batteries. Keep in mind, though, that self-discharge can be increased by poor battery handling, and the effects of it are permanent. <strong>Age, cycling, and elevated temperature will increase the self-discharge of a battery.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>RVs use lead-acid batteries, which have one of the lowest self-discharge rates. They lose about 5% per month. However, after the battery begins to age, lead acid causes sludge to build up in the sediment trap that can cause soft shorts within the battery \u2013 leading to higher rates of self-discharge.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hustling-maker-3800.ck.page\/a52a82303e\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Email-sign-up-ad.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5840\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Email-sign-up-ad.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Email-sign-up-ad-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Email-sign-up-ad-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Email-sign-up-ad-768x384.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><br><\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hustling-maker-3800.ck.page\/a52a82303e\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/email-sign-up-button-2-maintenance-1024x128.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5831\" width=\"512\" height=\"64\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/email-sign-up-button-2-maintenance-1024x128.png 1024w, https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/email-sign-up-button-2-maintenance-300x38.png 300w, https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/email-sign-up-button-2-maintenance-600x75.png 600w, https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/email-sign-up-button-2-maintenance-768x96.png 768w, https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/email-sign-up-button-2-maintenance-1536x192.png 1536w, https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/email-sign-up-button-2-maintenance-2048x256.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Fix Self-Discharging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Because\nself-discharging is a naturally occurring phenomenon in batteries, it\nis impossible to completely avoid it. But you can help to lessen the\nself-discharge that your battery experiences. One of the most\nfrequent causes of elevated self-discharge is leaving a battery out\nin the heat. <strong>In fact, the self-discharge rate doubles for every 18\ndegrees Fahrenheit that the temperature increases.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Older\nbatteries will typically self-discharge more because of their age, as\nwell. Poorly manufactured batteries will suffer from high\nself-discharge from the beginning.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/IMG_9594-e1571683275105-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"Deep Cycle RV Battery\" class=\"wp-image-2759\" width=\"689\" height=\"517\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/IMG_9594-e1571683275105-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/IMG_9594-e1571683275105-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/IMG_9594-e1571683275105-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/IMG_9594-e1571683275105.jpeg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 689px) 100vw, 689px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4 \u2013 Overcharging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Overcharging is another common issue that causes batteries to die<\/strong>. It is usually caused by human error (using a battery charger incorrectly) or not having a properly working alternator to regulate battery charge. Using the incorrect charging voltage or leaving the charger connected to the battery for too long are both ways to overcharge your battery using a battery charger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Issues\nthat can arise because of overcharging your battery can include:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Complete\n\tbattery failure\n\t<\/li><li>The sulfuric\n\tacid and distilled water mix can begin to boil and cause the battery\n\tto overheat, become hot to the touch, melt, or swell\n\t<\/li><li>Flammable\n\thydrogen can start to build up inside the battery\u2019s sealed cells\n\twhich can cause the battery casing to swell or cause gas seepage\n\t(once this hydrogen meets oxygen, it becomes very dangerous \u2013 one\n\tsmall spark can ignite the gases and cause an explosion)\n\t<\/li><li>Corrosion of\n\tpositive battery plates\n\t<\/li><li>Increased\n\twater consumption\n<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Fix Overcharging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>You can test your battery to see if it is overcharged by using a digital multimeter<\/strong>. Connect the multimeter to the battery terminals while your RV is running at idle. A perfectly charged battery will be around 12.6 volts, which is considered fully charged at 2.1 volts per each of the six internal cells. When you begin to turn things like the air conditioner, lights, and radio on, the volts will rise to an average of 14 volts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your battery is registering with more volts than this, <strong>it is overcharging<\/strong>. You should check your alternator for overcharging. If you are charging your battery with a battery charger, use a low amp setting to apply a trickle charge and prevent overcharging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A professional charging suggestion is to charge your battery only after it has used 50% of its total capacity.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hustling-maker-3800.ck.page\/a52a82303e\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/email-sign-up-button-1-maintenance-1024x128.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5824\" width=\"600\" height=\"64\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5 \u2013 Undercharging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Like\novercharging, undercharging can negatively affect batteries as well.\nThis occurs when you do not let a battery return to full charge after\nit is used. <strong>Undercharging quickly leads to sulfation<\/strong>. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Issues\nthat arise as a result of undercharging your battery are:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Sulfate\n\tformation on cell plates\n\t<\/li><li>Shorter\n\tbattery running times\n\t<\/li><li>Complete\n\tbattery failure\n<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Fix Undercharging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Undercharging\nis just as bad as overcharging, and being smart with your charging\ncan help to prevent it. <strong>Always make sure that you charge your\nbattery up to its fully saturated charge before storing it to prevent\nthe formation of sulfate<\/strong>. Improper charging is the biggest reason\nfor the depletion of active material within the battery, which\nresults in a shorter battery life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6 \u2013 Lack of Maintenance \n<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Batteries\nrequire maintenance in order to make them last. Improper battery\nmaintenance can cause a variety of issues. Maintenance issues that\nare most important are acid stratification and surface charge. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/dreamstime_m_47242280-1024x510.jpg\" alt=\"Battery Maintenance\" class=\"wp-image-2780\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/dreamstime_m_47242280-1024x510.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/dreamstime_m_47242280-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/dreamstime_m_47242280-768x383.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/dreamstime_m_47242280.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>ID 47242280 \u00a9 Nehru | Dreamstime.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Acid stratification maintenance<\/strong> requires making sure that the acid within the battery is equally distributed for overall performance. <strong>Surface charge<\/strong> issues arise because of the sluggishness of lead-acid batteries which can result in a heightened state of charge on the outside of the battery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Fix It<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Sufficient\nbattery maintenance is important. <strong>Following these guidelines can\nhelp to lengthen the life of your RV battery:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Allow for a fully saturated charge of 14 to 16 hours in a well-ventilated area. <\/li><li>Don\u2019t store lead-acid batteries without charge. Do not store them below 12V. <\/li><li>Try to avoid deep discharges because they result in short battery lives. If you are using your battery under a heavy load, briefly charge it during short breaks of 1 to 2 hours to help prolong its life. <\/li><li>Make sure to never let the electrolyte drop below the top of the plates. When plates are exposed, they sulfate and can become inactive. If your electrolyte is low, just add enough distilled water to cover the plates before charging. Once the charging is complete, fill the water to the correct level typically marked by a fill line. <\/li><li>Never add acid. This can raise the specific gravity level too much and cause excessive corrosion. <\/li><li>It is recommended to only use distilled or de-ionized water for your battery. Some places have tap water that is usable, but you should check before using tap water always. <\/li><li>A new deep-cycle, lead-acid battery may only be charged to about 70% capacity. You will format your battery by using it at this capacity for gentle use or loads for its first five cycles to lengthen the battery life. <\/li><li>Check the capacity of the battery before you purchase it. If a new battery has a very low capacity, it is not going to perform as well as those that are new with high capacity. <\/li><li>A standard automotive battery can&#8217;t handle deep discharges like a deep cycle or marine style battery. This makes deep cycle batteries a better solution for RV house batteries.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Cleaning RV Battery Corrosion With Baking Soda\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/7UriBKL7Lk8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Properly_Charge_Lead-Acid_RV_Batteries\"><\/span>How to Properly Charge Lead-Acid RV Batteries<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>RVs are built with the house electrical system in mind. For this reason, they have multiple ways to keep the house batteries charged up for extended off grid use. The typical ways that an RV electrical system keeps the lead acid house batteries charged are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Alternator<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Whenever the RV engine is running the alternator is being turned which provides current and voltage to the RV&#8217;s on board charge controller. Whenever the battery charge gets depleted through use the controller senses that it needs to be topped up and provides the required charge it needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Shore Power<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Whenever your RV is stationary with the engine off and connected to external power, like it often is at an RV park, the battery is charged through shore power. Similar to the alternator the shore <a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/choose-rv-surge-protector\/\" >power also feeds through the surge protector<\/a> and into the charge controller which supplies charge to your battery when it is needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Generator<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are off camping off grid (without shore power connected) it is <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/rv-generator-fuels\/\" >common to have a generator<\/a> to supply your charge controller with the power it needs to charge your battery. Most RVs have onboard propane or diesel generators mounted below the chassis but you can also use an external generator to do the job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Solar Panels<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Solar panels are very popular for use with RV electrical systems. With solar panels mounted on your RV roof, your batteries can be kept charged year round as long as they are not obstructed by sunlight. Even if your RV is sitting for extended periods the addition of solar panels can ensure your battery&#8217;s charge stays topped up at all times. <\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/IMG_9030-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"RV Solar Panels\" class=\"wp-image-2777\" width=\"683\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/IMG_9030-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/IMG_9030-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/IMG_9030-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/IMG_9030.jpeg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The most effective way to extend the life of your RV batteries and ensure that they stay in proper working order is to maintain a proper level of charge at all times. The combination of all these methods will ensure that happens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Life_Cycle_of_Lead-Acid_RV_Batteries\"><\/span>The Life Cycle of Lead-Acid RV Batteries<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The life of your RV batteries will ultimately be determined by the way you manage the charging and discharging of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, if you make sure that your batteries never discharge below 30% of their maximum charge they tend to have a 50% longer life span than if they were to be completely discharged before being charged. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another determinant of battery life is the surrounding temperature that it operates in. Most lead acid batteries are happiest in an environment that remains between 50 and 75 degrees F (10 &#8211; 25 deg C). The longer the battery spends outside of this range the more its lifespan is affected. Both extreme heat and extreme cold can lead to a dramatic reduction in battery lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are in the market for a new battery check out my <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/diehard-battery-review\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"4339\" >Die Hard Battery Review.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hustling-maker-3800.ck.page\/a52a82303e\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/email-sign-up-button-2-maintenance-1024x128.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5831\" width=\"512\" height=\"64\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/email-sign-up-button-2-maintenance-1024x128.png 1024w, https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/email-sign-up-button-2-maintenance-300x38.png 300w, https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/email-sign-up-button-2-maintenance-600x75.png 600w, https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/email-sign-up-button-2-maintenance-768x96.png 768w, https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/email-sign-up-button-2-maintenance-1536x192.png 1536w, https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/email-sign-up-button-2-maintenance-2048x256.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Store_RV_Batteries_When_They_are_Not_in_Use\"><\/span>How to Store RV Batteries When They are Not in\nUse<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>RV batteries are not cycled consistently like car batteries because they can go months without being used. RVs are not commonly used all year round because they often sit inactive for the winter season. These periods of inactivity can wreak havoc on the life of a battery, so it\u2019s important to know how to properly store your RV batteries when they are not in active use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Some\ntips for storing your RV batteries during inactivity are:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>It is best to completely remove your battery from your RV during inactivity, but if you cannot remove it completely, make sure to disconnect the appliances in your RV to lessen parasitic loads. Appliances like radios, refrigerators, smoke detectors, and propane detectors should all be disconnected from your battery. Make sure you also regulate any solar panels that you have and unplug any converters in your RV. <\/li><li>Check the voltage of your stored batteries monthly and charge them up as they naturally self-discharge. It is good to keep them charged above 80%. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Learn more in our article, <a href=\"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/store-rv-battery-winter\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"4625\"  rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How to store an RV battery<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>When\nyou take care of a lead-acid, deep-cycle RV battery properly, they\ncan easily last up to 5 years!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/battery-1024x680.jpg\" alt=\"RV Battery\" class=\"wp-image-2543\" width=\"692\" height=\"459\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/battery-1024x680.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/battery-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/battery-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/battery.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 692px) 100vw, 692px\" \/><figcaption>File ID 91835072 | \u00a9 Albert Karimov | Dreamstime.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"RV_Battery_Types_Which_One_is_Right_for_You\"><\/span>RV Battery Types: Which One is Right for You?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>RVs\nneed to have deep-cycle batteries because of the frequent and deep\ndischarges and recharging that RV batteries tend to go through.\nDeep-cycle batteries come in three different designs: <strong>liquid\nelectrolyte wet cells, gelled electrolyte, and absorbed glass mat.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Liquid\n\telectrolyte wet cell batteries<\/strong> are also known as conventional\n\tflooded-cell batteries. They have a good capacity for a low price.\n\tThese batteries need to be filled with water periodically, or they\n\tcan ruin. The battery terminals require regular cleaning, as well.\n\t<\/li><li>\n\t<strong>Gelled electrolyte batteries<\/strong> are also called gel batteries.\n\tThey have a thick, gel-like electrolyte inside of them instead of\n\twater. They cost a bit more than wet cell batteries, and they tend\n\tto last longer.\n\t<\/li><li><strong>Absorbed\n\tglass mat batteries<\/strong>, also called AGM or dry batteries, have\n\ttheir electrolyte soaked into the fiberglass matting that covers\n\ttheir lead plates. These batteries are maintenance free, cost more\n\tthan the other batteries, and can be mounted on their sides.\n<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Final_Thoughts\"><\/span>Final Thoughts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Taking\nproper care of your RV battery is necessary in order to prevent the\nadded expense of having to buy a new battery every year. Learning the\ntypical reasons that RV batteries die and how to prevent it is vital\nto making sure that your RV is ready to run when you decide you want\nto take a road trip!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Sulfation,\nparasitic loads, self-discharging, overcharging, undercharging, and\nlack of maintenance are the usual suspects of battery death, but they\nare all relatively easy to prevent with regular attention and smart\nbattery charging.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There is something undeniably rustic and thrilling about traveling in an RV. Nothing can throw a wrench into a road trip quite like an RV battery that won\u2019t stay charged.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2779,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[150],"tags":[],"author_meta":{"display_name":"Beau","author_link":"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/author\/mcmanus_beau\/"},"featured_img":"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/dreamstime_m_74852414-300x200.jpg","coauthors":[],"tax_additional":{"categories":{"linked":["<a href=\"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/category\/rvs\/rv-maintenance\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">RV Maintenance<\/a>"],"unlinked":["<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">RV Maintenance<\/span>"]}},"comment_count":"0","relative_dates":{"created":"Posted 4 years ago","modified":"Updated 2 years ago"},"absolute_dates":{"created":"Posted on October 11, 2019","modified":"Updated on September 18, 2022"},"absolute_dates_time":{"created":"Posted on October 11, 2019 11:31 am","modified":"Updated on September 18, 2022 7:26 am"},"featured_img_caption":"ID 74852414 \u00a9 Norgal | Dreamstime.com","series_order":"","acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2572"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2572"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2572\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5865,"href":"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2572\/revisions\/5865"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2779"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2572"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2572"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lifeonroute.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2572"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}