How to Maintain Your RV Battery

Keeping your RV battery free of corrosion and dirt will extend its life and eliminate complications. Most appliances and other major systems in your RV depend on the battery working properly.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Wire Brushes
• Water
• Vaseline
• Baking Soda
• Rubber Gloves

1. Access the battery you wish to check.
2. Make sure you're checking the 12-volt DC battery and not something connected to the 120-volt AC power supply.
3. Check the cables for breaks, corrosion or stripped insulation.
4. Check that the terminals are tightly fitted to the ends of the cable.
5. Remove cables from the battery, negative first, and clean with a solution of baking soda and water.
6. Scrub the terminals with a wire brush.
7. Clean the terminal posts with the same solution.
8. Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly to the terminal posts. Reconnect the cables to the battery.

Tips & Warnings

• The most common causes of premature battery failure are overcharging, sustained undercharging, sulfation and poor maintenance.
• Running the engine or plugging it in to a 110-volt power source will charge the battery.
• Be careful not to apply too much petroleum jelly.
• Electrolyte (battery acid) is corrosive to metal, skin, cloth and so on. If spilled on skin or squirted into eyes, flush with baking soda and water to neutralize the acid, and get immediate medical attention.
• Batteries can give off explosive gases.