OT - RV Batteries

Wandering Sagebrush

Wandering Sagebrush

Free Range Human
Yours truly forgot about the LP detector being on in the Airstream anytime the batteries are connected (regardless of being in storage mode or not). I've managed to let the batteries go flat twice now. :oops: :oops: After reading the owners manual (again :oops: :oops: ), I remember that it only takes a couple of weeks for this to occur.

A question... Does anyone know if the batteries are degraded significantly from being discharged all the way a couple of times?
 
If they are in good shape(fairly new) they will probably charge up and be OK. The amount of damage depends on how long they are left in a discharged state. Also temp. - if they go dead - the electrolyte is then water and they will freeze - and need to be replaced. It also depends if the load that caused the drawdown is still in place. If for example you draw your battery down trying to start your engine and then the load is removed - the battery will self recover to a certain extent.

Charge them and have them tested. I would suggest a low voltage cutoff switch to protect them or a low tech solution would be a post mounted disconnect.

Regards, Rob
 
I have a battery master switch in my fifth wheel in the battery compartment. I specifically turn it of any time we aren't in the camper. It looks just like a typical round red battery switch available at any auto parts store. The data suggests that any time you run a battery flat that you'e significantly degraded the battery life. They will come back up to full charge, but you've taken total life off the battery. I think you are looking at 5% total off battery life with each total flat discharge. Others have different numbers, but it is significant enough that diligence in managing your battery charge is the rule of the day. Deep cycle batteries such as used in RV's are, I'm led to believe will suffer less with a full discharge than starting type batteries.
 
Thanks for the feedback. I may wire in a battery switch that totally disconnects the batteries from the trailer. Much easier than disconnecting the ground lead, or removing the batteries.
 
Any deep discharge will damage the battery slightly. Most of the time the batteries will still serve well, but the amount of capacity is slightly reduced. I like to put a pulse desolator on the batteries after this deep discharge--it will often reverse most of the sulfate deposition. I always completely disconnect RV and boat batteries. One of our neighbors had some parasitic draw from his radios etc on the house battery. He had left it with out being disconnected. The starting battery is fine, but he will have to replace the house battery. (It was left discharged for some time)
 
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