The last thing you want is to find out is that you have a flat battery just as you are setting off on a road trip in your campervan. If you are an RV owner, this problem is more like to affect you than an owner of a standard car.
Most people will use their RV through the warmer spring and summer seasons, then put them in storage over the winter. It’s smart to do this if you aren’t going to use it as it will be safe and protected until you next need it.
The flip side to this is that the RV could be sat there for months which isn’t healthy for the battery. In this article, we will explore how to keep your camper battery from running flat so you can get out on the road with no issues.
How does a battery get flat?
To stop a flat battery from occurring, you must know how a battery can get flat.
Every battery has a limited number of times it can be charged. You charge it fully, then over time, it discharges until it has no more charge to give. When a battery is purchased it will offer (close to) 100% of the charge it states as its set capacity. Over time, this capacity and its charging ability decreases.
Regardless of what battery you buy, its performance is bound to become worse as you use it. Of course, not all batteries are built equal:
- Lead-acid batteries are common in campervans. They have a reputation for being robust and being able to discharge a large number of times. Furthermore, they can discharge a large amount of their capacity without getting damaged. These batteries have been known to last for 5 years with the correct care easily.
- Absorbent glass mat (AGM) batteries are modelled on lead-acid batteries. The only difference is that glass fibres replace the lead. The glass allows for a better battery discharge, and it doesn’t require any real maintenance. For these reasons, they cost more than lead-acid batteries.
- Lithium-Ion batteries are referred to as the gold standard in the world of batteries. They are the longest-lasting, most reliable batteries. They are smaller but more powerful than any other battery. Their dense practical nature is what makes them popular in smartphones. Equally, they are gaining huge popularity in the camper community for their power and reliability.
Whichever battery you have, the truth is it can get flat. The honest mistake many campers will make is that they will leave an appliance, such as the lights, on without knowing. The following video gives a great overview of batteries and how they work.
Should I leave my battery on charge?
This seems like a smart idea on how to keep your camper battery from running flat at face value. Although batteries are simple in nature, keeping them constantly on charge is actually damaging to the battery.
Even though it is full of charge, an extra charge will trickle in. This can affect the internal structure of the battery. This damage can cause all sorts of problems, from inconsistent discharge to complete failure. So just leaving the battery on charge for 6 months while your camper is in storage is likely to cause you a problem rather than leave you with a healthy, fully charged battery.
Getting the battery charging level correct
The key to having a healthy battery is to not overcharge it and to never let it run to zero. With a battery monitor, you could see what percentage your battery is at. You never want the battery discharging more than 50% as a good general run to follow.
When the charge gets low, you want to recharge it. This way, it can charge back up to its capacity, ready to discharge again. If you go camping in the winter, aim to discharge to only 75% as the cold makes your battery particularly vulnerable to damage.
Remove your battery to maintain its health
Removing a leisure battery from your camper is straightforward to do. You need to find it and unplug the terminals whilst the electricity is off. You can do the same for the engine battery in your RV if you like. However, these can just be jump-started and will recharge while the vehicle is running.
It is good practice to remove the leisure battery from your RV if you store it in the winter – simply bring the battery into your house. This way, it won’t get cold enough to get damaged. You can hook it up to a battery monitor and charge it when its charge drops below 70% or so. This is perhaps the best tip for ensuring you don’t have a flat battery in your RV. Monthly monitoring should be enough to keep your battery healthy.
How To Keep Your Camper Battery From Running Flat Summary
The best way how to keep your camper battery from running flat is to monitor its charge. In an ideal world, you never want your camper battery to discharge to less than 40% of its capacity. If it runs below 40%, you risk irreversible damage occurring. So even if you did revive it, its performance would decrease.
Be mindful of battery age and health, as if the battery isn’t performing, you may be due a new one. Have fun getting out on that road full of charge!