How to Charge Your RV Battery. Everything in an RV, including the lights and the appliances, is operational only through a charged RV battery. You may have to charge the battery a few times if you take your RV out on a regular basis. If you know how to charge your RV battery, you can be sure you‘ll have the power to enjoy all the perks of your recreational vehicle.
A camper’s battery usually charges through the use of a converter which takes AC power and converts this power to DC power. Alternatively, a camper’s battery could be charged directly through the tow vehicle’s alternator, solar power, or even wind power.
Easy Steps to Charge Your RV Battery
- Turn off your RV and make sure you set the emergency brake. This will prevent unintentional injury.
- Locate the RV battery. You could have more than one battery, depending on the size of your RV. The battery location can vary from one RV model to the next.
- Remove the battery cables from the battery using a wrench. Wear heavy gloves when removing the cables and always remove the black cable (the negative side) first before removing the red cable (positive side)
- Clean the connections on the battery from any corrosive substance.
- Mix 2 to 3 tablespoons (30 to 45 milliliters) baking soda with enough water to make a paste.
- Apply the paste to the connections on the battery.
- Use a wire brush to scrub off the corrosive material.
- Wipe the paste off with clean water and a rag.
- Apply petroleum jelly to the terminals to prevent further corrosion.
- Open the fill cap on the top of the battery to see whether the distilled water level is low. If it is low, pour distilled water into the battery using a funnel. Fill up to the fill line
- Attach the RV battery charger to the battery. Connect the positive side to the red connection first and then attach the negative side of the battery with the black connection or clamp the black connection to a metal piece to ground it
- Plug in the charger and turn it on.
- Allow the charger to charge the RV battery completely. The indicator light will come on when the charger finishes
- Unplug the charger and remove the connections.
- Reconnect the battery. First, replace the positive cable and tighten it with the wrench. Then reattach and tighten the negative side.
- Charge the other batteries in the same way if your RV has more than one battery.
- Take extra precaution not to cross group house & chassis battery systems as you could blow a charger inverter.Example.jpg]]
Related Questions
Can I charge my batteries from multiple sources at once?
Yes, you can charge your batteries from multiple sources at once without hurting your batteries. For example, you could have your solar panels hooked up while you’re also hooked up to shore power. Your system will protect your batteries from overcharging.
Can I overcharge my battery?
Yes, it is possible to overcharge your battery which is bad for the battery and can even be dangerous. This is why it is important to buy the appropriate equipment before charging your batteries from any source.
Can discharging a battery too far ruin the battery?
Yes, batteries should never be run down past the manufacturer’s recommended percentages. For example, most deep cycle marine batteries will have a reduced lifespan when drained below 50%. Lithium batteries can generally be run down to about 20%.
A standard car battery may die after only being run down a few times. This is why it is never a good idea to drive your car after your alternator has died.
In Summary
There are many ways to charge a camper’s battery. Most people will take advantage of multiple sources of charging. The way you charge your battery will depend on where you are using your camper and what you are using its battery to run.
No matter what system you use for charging your battery, always be sure to use the recommended charging tools or you will risk harming your battery.
