Winter Battery Storage & Maintenance
I was recently asked a question and felt like the answer could be useful to lots of RVers, so I am using the question as the topic for this article.
Q: Hi Mark, we live in Colorado and we are preparing our RV for storage. I just had the RV winterized, but I am concerned about how or what to do to store my RV batteries. Any advice would be appreciated.
A: The two most common causes for RV battery failure are undercharging and overcharging. Undercharging is a result of batteries being repeatedly discharged and not fully recharged between cycles. If a battery is not recharged the sulfate material that attaches to the discharged portions of the plates begins to harden into crystals. Over time this sulfate cannot be converted back into active plate material and the battery is ruined. This also occurs when a battery remains discharged for an extended period of time, like during storage. Sulfation is the number one cause of battery failure. The second leading cause of battery failure is overcharging. Overcharging batteries results in severe water loss and plate corrosion. With that said let’s look at how to properly store your RV batteries.
Before we talk about storing the batteries we need to talk about battery safety. Lead acid batteries contain sulfuric acid which is extremely corrosive and can cause severe burns or even blindness. And the hydrogen gas that batteries produce, when they’re charging, is very explosive. When you work around batteries you need to wear safety glasses and gloves, remove all jewelry and do not smoke or use any open flames.
Caution: If you accidentally get battery acid on your skin, flush it with lots of water and if it gets in your eyes flush with low pressure water for 15 minutes and call a doctor.
When you put the RV in long term storage it’s a good idea to remove the batteries and put them in storage too. This is quite simple to do. The first thing we want to do is visually inspect the batteries for any obvious damage. Any fluid on or around the battery may be an indication that electrolyte is leaking from the battery. A damaged or leaking battery should be replaced immediately. Whenever you remove any battery always remember to remove the negative terminal or cable first, and then the positive cable.
Battery Tip: When you remove a battery turn off the ignition switch, all electrical switches, and any battery disconnect switches before you disconnect the battery cables. Whenever you remove any battery cables label them first so you remember how they go back on the battery next spring. When you reinstall the battery do it in the reverse order. Install the positive cable first and then the negative cable.
Clean the batteries with a 50/50 mixture of baking soda and water if necessary. Now you can check the electrolyte level in each cell and add distilled water if necessary. The minimum level required, before charging a battery, is at the top of the plates. If it’s below the plates add enough distilled water to cover the plates before you charge the battery.
Test the battery state of charge with a voltmeter or hydrometer and charge any batteries that are at or below 80% state of charge. An 80% charge is approximately 12.5 volts for a 12-volt battery and 6.25 volts for a 6-volt battery. Lead sulfation starts when a battery state of charge drops below 80%. After charging the batteries check and fill each cell to 1/8 inch below the fill well with distilled water. Overfilling cells will cause battery acid to overflow.
Caution: Batteries should only be charged in a well ventilated area and keep any sparks and open flames away from a battery being charged. Check the electrolyte levels before and after charging batteries.
A discharged or partially charged battery will freeze much faster than a charged battery. Store the batteries in a cool dry place but not where they could freeze. Batteries in storage will loose a percentage of current through internal leakage. It’s not uncommon for a battery to discharge up to 10% a month when it is being stored. Cold temperatures slow this natural discharge process down and warmer temperatures speed the process up. Test the stored battery state of charge every month and charge batteries that are at or below an 80% state of charge.
Completely charge the batteries before re-installing them next spring. For optimum performance you can equalize the batteries after they are fully charged. Battery equalizing is a controlled overcharge on a flooded lead acid battery after it has been fully charged. Equalizing reverses the buildup of negative chemical effects like stratification, a condition where the water and acid separate and the acid concentration is greater at the bottom of the battery than at the top. Equalizing also helps remove some of the sulfate build up on the battery plates. Equalizing is fine as long as there is not excessive heating or electrolyte boiling over. Some battery chargers have an equalization cycle or charge setting. After charging a battery, set the battery charger on equalizing voltage and charge it again. You need to test the specific gravity every hour during equalizing. Equalization is complete when the specific gravity readings no longer rise during the gassing or bubbling stage. Keep in mind if equalizing a battery is done correctly the electrolyte should not boil over but it will create a good bit of bubbling, and when the cycle is finished you will need to add distilled water to the cells.
Note: If you don’t feel comfortable working on or around lead acid batteries have battery maintenance done by an authorized service center.
If you decide to leave the batteries in the RV while it is in storage remember to check the state of charge monthly and charge any batteries at or below an 80% charge. If your RV converter charger charges the battery(s) at a constant rate (around 13.5 volts) this is too high for a float charge and can deplete the electrolyte over time. In this situation plug the RV in periodically and allow the converter charger to charge the battery(s) for 8 to 12 hours. Some RV converter multi-stage chargers and aftermarket chargers are designed to maintain a float charge on the battery without removing the batteries from the RV. Remember, for the converter charger to work the RV will need to be plugged in to electricity.
Watch a video clip on Saving your RV Batteries
For more in depth information on RV batteries check out our Deep Cycle Battery Care & Maintenance DVD
Happy Camping,
Mark Polk
![[del.icio.us]](http://images.del.icio.us/static/img/delicious.small.gif){kind=small}
I have a question I owne a class B (Leisure Travel) i have just dicarded my 2 12 volts deep cycle batteries and replaced them with 2 6 volts batteries connected in series> My RV is plugged into shore prower and normally the batteries would charge themself but after 4 days the batteries are still discharged,I Tested the RV charger and it is producing 13.70 volts
HELP?
If the voltage measured AT THE BATTERIES is 13.7 volts, that should be sufficient to initiate a slow charge. That is a voltage value more in keeping with normal “12V system
voltage”, albeit a little high for continued battery connection after a full charge. If you’re measuring the voltage elsewhere, check it at the batteries. To initiate a charge, an initial
voltage of somewhere around 14.2-14.4 volts would be appropriate. A Cytek or Battery Tender will provide this voltage initially, tapering down to a ‘float’ of about 12.8-13 volts.
.
I leave all three batteries in situ and keep a Cytek or Battery Tender “float charger” connected continuously when the RV is inactive. I have a Miata that has never had the battery removed for charging and is stored for 7 months during the winter. It also has one of the aforementioned float chargers continually connected and active. The current AGM battery is seven years old. Batteries, particularly the “golf cart” 6 volt batteries (in series) in my motorbox are waaaaay too heavy to remove for charging IMHO. (Removal not being necessary as explained)
.
The foregoing is assuming there is 120 V continuously available where the vehicle is stored.
will there be any damage to my diesel engine if i mix my old oil into the fuel tank it has a 100 gal. tank.
Did anyone ever hear of AGM batteries? They’re sealed so forget battery acid.
I have four 6 v batteries in my fifth wheel (there are others than motor coaches) and I’ve installed a cutoff switch so I can disconnect the batteries during storage.
Works for me!
Except for the last poster nowere did you say disconnect the battery. The Propane gas detector takes power all the time as do some radios. They will kill your battery soon enough. better yet take the battery into the house or somewhere that will not freeze. That way if it goes dead(from natural discharge) it will still be able to be charged. But if a battery freezes it’s shot and may burst.
Helloooo Thomas, did you not read the article?
The article clearly states:
“When you put the RV in long term storage it’s a good idea to remove the batteries and put them in storage too.
Battery Tip: When you remove a battery turn off the ignition switch, all electrical switches, and any battery disconnect switches before you disconnect the battery cables. Whenever you remove any battery cables label them first so you remember how they go back on the battery next spring. When you reinstall the battery do it in the reverse order. Install the positive cable first and then the negative cable.”
GEESH!
how to mantenance loose batterey, i had lose power batterei , can i resolve it