The electronics inside your RV are powered by its battery. As such, it’s important to properly maintain and store it. This will ensure your RV battery keeps running for years to come. Here’s an overview of what you need to know about taking care of it.
What’s an RV battery?
RV’s use what’s called a deep-cycle battery, which are designed to provide steady power over an extended period of time. They’re reliable, powerful and can easily handle high energy demands. However, extreme temperatures can reduce their lifespan. Consequently, extra care must be taken when storing and maintaining them.
Battery maintenance
Regular maintenance is the best way to keep your RV battery in good shape. To ensure you don’t run into any unexpected problems on your next outing, perform routine visual inspections to verify the battery case and cover aren’t cracked and that there aren’t any loose or damaged wires. Since dirty, rusted batteries discharge more quickly, it’s a good idea to keep the battery clean and corrosion-free. Periodically wipe down and clean away any rust with a paste made from baking soda and water.
Battery storage
Proper storage plays a key role in keeping your RV battery in good working order. In fact, improperly stored RV batteries are susceptible to freezing and overheating, which can lead to premature deterioration. You should always store your RV battery fully charged and maintain a 75% state-of-charge throughout the off-season. To do so, check the battery every 90 days and recharge it if necessary. To avoid overcharging the battery, use a smart charger that automatically shuts off once the battery has reached its full capacity.
There are numerous electronic accessories in an RV that can slowly drain the battery even when it’s not in use. These are referred to as parasitic loads. Consequently, it’s best to disconnect the battery and store it in a cool, dry place to prevent it from self-discharging completely over the off-season.
RV batteries tend to have varying lifespans depending on the size, type and brand. However, most batteries last about five to seven years when properly cared for.
Battery dealer in Western Canada
At Prairie Battery, we carry a wide variety of deep-cycle RV batteries and other products to keep your recreational vehicles powered, including solar accessories, chargers, inverters, power adapters and more. Contact us today for more information. You can reach us at our Winnipeg, Brandon, Regina, Toronto or Edmonton location.