RV Batteries need proper upkeep to keep working. These batteries are prone to corrode on terminals, corrosion on terminal affects voltage. This damages the voltage flow. It forms around wire connections and can affect the battery capacity.
If you have to store RV Battery for long, the following are a few tips that will help you to maintain them and assure they don’t become useless when needed.
Corrosion
Flooded cells out-gas when they are charges. As these gasses have sulfuric acid, they corrode anything they come in contact with. Outgassing means bubbles appear through water acid solution in RV battery, and scatters a film of acid via cell vents.
If you see a wet film on top of the battery, this means the cell out-gassed. This isn’t a major issue with sealed batteries, but they warrant an inspection.
Battery Brush
What can you do with Corrosion on terminals? Let’s go back to basics, prevent. Prevention is a key element of maintenance so cleaning the terminal and applying anti-corrosion agent is the first step.
Cleaning should be done with a wire brush as many battery brushes are made to brush top post batteries and clean the attached parts. You can use a paste with these brushes. Take Baking Soda, and add water to make your own paste.
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Use a toothbrush to apply the paste to corner and crevice of the battery. Once you have cleaned, you need to add dielectric grease to post, and cable ends to prevent corrosion. There are also convenient anti-corrosion sprays, but if you can’t spare money, you should use Vaseline.
Maintenance
You need to replenish cells from time to time. The liquid is a mixture of water and acid, but as water evaporates, it has to be replaced. Therefore, you have to check the water in cells as you remove caps, Liquid should be 1/8 or a ¼ inch above the top of lead plates. If not, then you better add distilled water.
The water produced by reverse osmosis. Therefore, you better check the batteries on a monthly schedule and get an idea how quickly it evaporates. Therefore, you adjust the schedule to refill before it reaches the top of plates.
Keep them Clean
Clean the metal parts near your RV Battery as they also suffer from corrosion. Spray with a hose and wash battery are with a solution of baking soda and water. If frame supports batteries and shows sign of rust or carrion, then you better clean it with baking soda.
Work towards removing flakes with a wire brush. You may need to use a chemical treatment to get better results. Last but not least, assure the connections are tight, try and wiggle cables, and re-tighten to see if they are loose.
Discharge and Equalize
Repeated discharging and recharging affects the capacity, flooded cell won’t hold a charge. Therefore, you have to equalize to restore this. You need a charge with equalization mode that can charge at 15.5-16.2 volts with 1 amp current. The equalization will break up chemicals affecting the battery capacity.
