5 Things You Need to Know About RV Batteries
5 Things You Need to Know About RV Batteries
Posted on March 16, 2020
Powering Your RV
1. There are two types of batteries that you need to be familiar with in your RV. For drivable RVs or motorhomes (such as diesel pushers), there are chassis batteries, sometimes known as starting batteries, which power your motor-home's engine. A chassis battery is just like a car battery, except it is bigger to accommodate the larger RV engine. In addition, both motor-homes and towable RVs have house batteries, which power everything except the engine. This includes televisions, water pumps, lights, appliances, and more.
2. Your RV has two distinct house battery systems: a 120-volt AC system and a 12-volt DC system. The 120-volt system runs your RV's major appliances, such as the refrigerator or air conditioning. You need to be hooked up to electricity at a campground or running an electricity generator in order to power this system. The 12-volt system charges when you're driving, hooked up, or running your generator. It powers things such as the water system or interior lights. It can be used even when the RV isn't hooked up, at least until the battery power runs out.
3. There are many different types of RV batteries on the market, but two of the most common choices are deep-cycle batteries and lithium batteries. Deep-cycle batteries are lead-acid batteries that use the same chemistry to create and retain power as a car battery, but it produces a steady amount of current over a longer period. They last for approximately 400-500 charge cycles. On the other hand, lithium batteries are small, light, and require less maintenance. However, their initial cost is more than three times the cost of deep-cycle batteries, which limits the amount of RV owners who opt for one. But they last for as many as 5,000 charge cycles.
4. You will need to store your battery properly during the winter months when your RV is not in use. Freezing temperatures can also completely kill your battery if it is sitting for months on end. You should consider removing your RV's batteries and storing them inside your house and charging them if the voltage falls below 80%. If it is not possible to remove the batteries from your RV, you should disconnect the batteries to eliminate wattage consumption. If possible, you should also ensure you fully charge the battery once a month.
5. Battery maintenance is important while your RV is in use, too. You should clean terminals and posts, test-crank amps/volts, top off battery fluid, and apply anti-corrosive spray on battery posts in order to achieve maximum performance and longer battery life. Maintenance varies depending on the type of battery you have.
The Hitch House is a professional RV dealer that can assist you with RV ownership in Ontario.