What You Need to Know About Your RV Batteries
Whether you are a new or experienced RVer, it is important to become familiar with the types of RV batteries you need. It’s also good to know about all kinds of batteries so you are familiar with the options. Learn about the pros and cons of different RV batteries and how to maximize your battery life below.
If you ever need a replacement battery for your RV and want to do the work yourself, it’s important to know the differences. In terms of specific battery types — like what size battery you need for a travel trailer — it depends on the specific components of your RV. If you can drive your RV and use home appliances, it will come with more than one kind of battery to perform both functions.
The types of batteries are:
Also called the starter battery, this is the battery used to run your drivable RV’s engine. It starts the RV’s auto component using large currents over short periods. Your chassis battery has the following properties:
The battery that supplies 12 volts to your RV is also called the house battery and you might have more than one. This is a type of deep cycle battery that powers the home appliances in your RV, like your microwave, refrigerator and TV. Your RV house battery has the following properties:
If you have a towable RV, you only need to keep up with the 12-volt battery. It is important to make sure your battery is operating so your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors function.
The amp hour rating determines how long your battery can run before it needs to be recharged. In technical terms, it measures how many amps your battery can deliver for a given number of hours until the battery has discharged. For example, if a battery can produce 5 amps for 20 hours before it discharges, the rating would be 100 amp hours. That’s a strong battery.
You might be asking this question because you want to learn what the best RV battery is, but the answer is that it depends on more than this single factor. The amp hour rating is important for deep cycle batteries, but you also want to have the correct amount of voltage. The battery itself needs to be safe to use inside an RV.
Marine batteries are designed for boats instead of RVs. They have heavier plates than other types of batteries and are designed to withstand sudden, forceful movements and intense vibrations from a motor. The amp hours on this type of battery should be fairly high.
Three construction types of deep cycle battery include the:
These are also called wet-celled batteries. These common deep cycle batteries come in two styles:
With a fibrous mat wedged between this battery’s plates, it is a more expensive option than the average deep cycle battery. You can charge one like a lead-acid battery, but they are leak-proof, unable to freeze in cold temperatures and mostly maintenance-free.
This type of battery used to lack deep cycle applications, but now more are being produced for this purpose. Lithium-ion batteries have an internal management system for maximum safety. They provide more power than many other types of batteries and they are lighter and more compact than lead-acid batteries.
Gel cell batteries are great options, but the application and your planned use for them are both important factors. Some of the most common disadvantages that gel cell batteries have are:
Lead-acid batteries are a very common type to find in an RV and are highly universal, working well in many different applications. Common disadvantages for this type of battery are:
The overall life expectancy of your RV batteries depends on these factors:
Most battery types require proper care to function properly. Batteries with a lead-acid component might be connected in a series, where an important factor in the battery life is how deeply it cycles during each use.
A battery cycle is one complete discharge from 100 percent down to about 50 percent and then re-charged back to 100 percent.
To maintain your RV batteries, do the following:
Deep cycle batteries come in all different sizes. Some are designated by Group size, like group 24, 27 and 31. Basically, the larger the battery the more amp hours you get. Depending on your needs and the amount of space you have available, there are several options when it comes to batteries, including:
When your RV battery fails, it might be because of undercharging and overcharging, two very common reasons for this issue.
Although other issues might be the cause, failure is often the result of frequently discharging the batteries without fully recharging them between cycles. If the battery is left discharged for long periods, it is also at risk. Many types of batteries are unable to tolerate this treatment and will eventually stop working properly.
The sulfate in the battery will harden and crystalize without fully recharging. This is called sulfation. The crystallized sulfate in your battery is eventually fixed in place, unable to convert back into an active plate material.
When batteries are charged for too long or at too high of power, numerous issues can result. Batteries lose water when overcharged, and severe enough water loss can make them unable to operate. The plates can also become corroded if the battery is overcharged. Corrosion will make your battery unreliable.
Ready to hit the road in your RV? Make a reservation at a KOA Campground today, or contact us if you have questions. We have a variety of ways to stay, with plenty of RV Sites located across the country.
KOA’s resident RV expert, Mark Polk, and his wife Dawn started RV Education 101 in 1999. Since that time RV Education 101 has helped educate millions of RV owners and RV enthusiasts on how to properly and safely use and maintain their RV. Mark’s favorite past times are RVing in their 35-foot Type A motorhome, and restoring vintage RVs, classic cars and trucks. For more information on how to learn about RVs the easy way, visit RV Education 101. Be sure to check out their RV Online Training Course too!