Avoiding Common Mistakes When Charging Your RV Battery

Common Mistakes When Charging RV Batteries

Freedom and adventure call every time a new destination hits the map and the RV is rolling down the highway. When the RV stops, the adventure can end quickly, because the RV battery can stop functioning. RV batteries power the water pump, lights, refrigerator, and provide charging access for all of the travelers gadgets. When RV batteries are not properly maintained, they can stop working. Charging batteries the correct way is not very difficult, but you may find that some battery charging mistakes can lead to a battery going dead sooner than anticipated. In case your battery is not functioning properly, there are many options of rv battery chargers available on the market, especially from power solution companies like swengao.

Using the Incorrect Charger for Your Battery Type

This mistake is possibly the biggest. Batteries are not the same and do not like to be charged the same way. You probably have either a standard flooded lead acid battery, or possibly a newer AGM, gel cell, or even lithium setup. Each requires a distinct charging profile. If you just attach random charger, you could be under charging it, meaning it never reaches full capacity, or over charging it, which can quickly cook and ruin the battery. A quality rv battery charger will either have a setting you can select for your battery type, or be designed for a specific type. Make sure you know what battery is in your rig and that your charger is a match. Using the right one is the first big step to making your battery last.

About imprecise charging rate

When cooking, you may notice that your meal takes longer to prepare than fast food, but the meal you cooked always tastes better than the fast food, right? It's the same thing with batteries and charging. Charging rate is measured in amps. Using a charger with a high amp rate may create too much heat when charging a lower capacity battery bank. Too much heat is bad because it can warp the internal battery structures. If charger is too weak it may take a long time to charge the batteries. Guessing the perfect rate can be very tricky, but for the most part you can assume that the charger that is equal to the battery capacity, or "C rate", will work for you. If you are able to find a battery charger that is designed to be used with your specific battery, it should work well. You just have to choose one that is designed for your system.

Ignoring the Temperature Where You Charge

Ignoring the temperature where you charge can affect the battery life. Consider the fact that the temperature determines how a chemical reaction takes place. The difference between charging a battery on a cold day versus a hot day is like the difference between charging a battery on a cold day versus a hot day. If the battery is too cold, the charging wires can cause permanent internal damage. If the battery is too warm, you can overcharge the battery and vaporize the electrolyte. The better RV battery charger models have a feature called temperature compensation to bypass the risks. The main difference between temperature compensation and the other models is that temperature compensation charges the battery at different voltages depending on the temperature of the battery. If your battery charger does not have that feature and you are RV camping at a place where the temperature changes drastically, try to prevent the battery from falling too far above or too far below the ideal range.

Allowing A Battery To Sit Discharged For Prolonged Periods

Life can get busy, and before you know it, the RV is sitting in the driveway for a few months between trips, and the battery gets forgotten. A battery, especially a lead-acid battery, is vulnerable for damage the longer it is allowed to stay in a discharged state. Sulfation is one of the most damaging types of self-discharge associated with lead-acid batteries, where sulfur crystals build up around the lead plates and form hard structures that will lessen the battery's ability to hold a charge, and can render the battery unusable. To prevent this from happening, make it a point to periodically check the battery while it is in storage. The best approach to maintaining the battery is to connect the battery to a maintenance charger, or trickle charger/smart charger. These devices will only charge the battery to a sufficient level and will avoid overcharging the battery. A few extra minutes of attention while the RV is sitting can prolong the life of the battery substantially.

Not Keeping Things Clean and Connected Tight

A loose cable and minor dirt can spell disaster. Dust, moisture, and perhaps some acid deposits will encircle your battery terminals in time. This crud can create an electrical path, leading your battery to discharge even with everything turned off. Those cable connections also need to be cleaned and tightened. When a connection is loose or corroded, that creates resistance. This makes it more difficult for an RV's charger to do what it is supposed to and for energy to get to your RV. You may even notice warm cables, which means energy is being wasted. Periodically, check your battery. Take it out, and make a mixture of baking soda with water. Use that to scrub the terminals and then rinse with water and dry it. You can do the same to the cables, and then make the connections tight when you're done. This can create a habit that keeps everything in order.

Your RV battery care comes down to a few key practices. They include using the correct charger for your battery, monitoring charge speed and charge times, and keeping things clean and well-maintained. It may require a bit of effort, but your battery will be good to go for your next adventure.