How to Charge Your RV Battery

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Everything in an RV, including the lights and the appliances, is operational only through a charged RV battery. You may have to charge the battery a few times if you take your RV out on a regular basis. If you know how to charge your RV battery, you can be sure you'll have the power to enjoy all the perks of your recreational vehicle.

Steps

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    This will prevent unintentional injury.
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    You could have more than one battery, depending on the size of your RV. The battery location can vary from one RV model to the next.
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    Wear heavy gloves when removing the cables and always remove the black cable (the negative side) first before removing the red cable (positive side).
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    [1]
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    If it is low, pour distilled water into the battery using a funnel. Fill up to the fill line. [3]
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    Connect the positive side to the red connection first and then attach the negative side of the battery with the black connection or clamp the black connection to a metal piece to ground it. [4]
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    The indicator light will come on when the charger finishes. [5]
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    First, replace the positive cable and tighten it with the wrench. Then reattach and tighten the negative side.
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    Example.jpg]]
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  • Question
    If I have a car battery running my camper through a generator, how can I charge it?
    Community Answer
    You can charge your batteries by plugging your camper into a household 120-volt electric outlet at home or a campground.
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    Not Helpful 8 Helpful 26
  • Question
    My battery is not charging from the alternator. What can I do?
    Community Answer
    Test your alternator to be sure it is putting out 12-14V. If it is, check your battery -- it may have bad cells and be unable to accept a full charge. Also, check your cables to and from the battery for any corrosion, as this is a sign of a bad connection. Check all grounds thoroughly -- this is the leading cause of most shorts.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question
    Are the two batteries in my Winnebago connected in parallel or series? The vehicle is a class C 2013.
    Community Answer
    Positive to positive, negative to negative is parallel; series is negative to positive, negative to positive. Parallel will not double your volts but will double your amps; series will double your volts and not your amps.
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      Video

      Tips

      • You can jump-start the battery with jumper cables if you do not have a battery charger.
        Thanks
      • Your battery may not require distilled water. If you have this type of battery, it will not have an access cap.
        Thanks
      • There are different types of RV battery chargers that you can use. A 3-stage charger works well because it will slow down as it reaches a full charge, so you don't have to keep an eye on it the whole time it is charging.
        Thanks
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      Warnings

      • Be careful not to get any of the battery acid on your skin. It will burn. If you do get acid on your skin, wash it off with a mixture of water and baking soda.
        Thanks
      • Do not allow the baking soda to leak into the vent holes in the battery, or it will lessen the life of the battery.
        Thanks
      • Do not attempt to charge the RV battery with the RV running.
        Thanks
      • Do not remove the battery cables without wearing heavy gloves, or you could get a shock.
        Thanks
      • You must remove the positive cable first. Removing it last could cause a spark.
        Thanks
      • Only use distilled water in the battery. If you use tap water, it could cause contaminants to enter the battery, negatively affecting the performance of the battery. [6]
        Thanks
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      Things You'll Need

      • Wrench
      • Heavy gloves
      • 2 - 3 tablespoons (30 - 45 milliliters) baking soda
      • Water
      • Wire brush
      • Rag
      • Petroleum jelly
      • Distilled water
      • Battery charger

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      References

      1. ↑ https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/r/advice/car-maintenance/how-to-clean-battery-corrosion
      2. ↑ https://www.meineke.com/blog/how-to-clean-a-car-battery/
      3. ↑ https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/r/advice/car-maintenance/how-to-fix-a-car-battery
      4. ↑ https://www.meineke.com/blog/charge-car-battery/
      5. ↑ https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a26862050/charging-car-battery/
      6. ↑ http://all-about-water-filters.com/distilled-water-batteries-works/
      7. https://rvshare.com/blog/7-things-need-know-rv-battery/
      8. https://koa.com/blog/rv-battery-life-tips/

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