How to keep your camper battery from dying over the winter?

The kids will be back to school, the beaches will be deserted, and you’ll be thinking about winterizing your camper trailer. If your vehicle’s battery often has no juice in the cold months, you may wonder how to keep it from dying over the winter. The short answer is to keep its charge from dropping too low while avoiding overcharging.

Why does my RV battery keep dying at low charge?

But when a battery stays at a low charge (below 12.5 volts) for a long time, the crystals get too large to break down and the battery is busted–who knew? Charge your battery fully and frequently, and never let it drain below 50%. Your RV battery is 64% water.

What happens to the crystals in a RV battery?

The crystals disappear when the battery’s charged. But when a battery stays at a low charge (below 12.5 volts) for a long time, the crystals get too large to break down and the battery is busted–who knew? Charge your battery fully and frequently, and never let it drain below 50%. Your RV battery is 64% water.

How often does a camper battery need to be charged?

This can happen more frequently than you’d expect, roughly every two weeks. Sometimes you get about a full month, or four weeks, before you need to recharge. The problem is this: normally you use your running vehicle or a source of shore power to charge your battery when your camper is in use.

What’s the best battery for boondocking or dry camping?

One of the best RV batteries for short-term boondockers is this one: Optima Batteries 8016-103 D34M BlueTop Starting and Deep Cycle Marine Battery (12 Volt) This is a long-lasting 12-Volt RV battery that will fit boats, other small vehicles, and is great for short camping trips.

Why does my RV battery keep going dead?

This mistake is periodically made by new RV owners and those who store batteries for infrequent usage. The battery is going to slowly discharge its power over time. It will, eventually, go dead. A low level of power from a trickle charger can prevent this, though it may not fully charge the battery.

How long does a battery last in a RV?

Don’t be surprised if the batteries only last an hour or two after that. This mistake is periodically made by new RV owners and those who store batteries for infrequent usage. The battery is going to slowly discharge its power over time. It will, eventually, go dead.

Why does my coach battery go dead when plugged in?

If you can measure an increase in DC voltage at the battery bank when the coach is plugged in, then the battery charge circuit is at least complete and probably working. If the voltage does not go up when plugged in, look for a blown fuse in the charge circuit in the converter/charger.