Diagnosing “boiling” and stinky batteries
Dear Gary, I just bought a used coach equipped with dual auxiliary batteries. I used my voltmeter to test them and only got a reading of 8.5 volts. When I checked the cells I found they all were almost...
View ArticleStoring RV batteries during a harsh winter
Dear Gary, I have a new motorhome and this will be its first winter. What is the best way to handle RV batteries during the winter? Should I leave the batteries in and keep the coach plugged in or...
View ArticleAre “maintenance-free” batteries really maintenance free?
Dear Gary, How do I know if I have maintenance-free batteries in my motorhome or if I have to periodically check the water levels? —Kirk P. Dear Kirk, I’m guessing you’re referring to the automotive...
View ArticleRV Electricity – Troubleshooting 101: Over-current testing
Mike, I have a question but, as I said at the RVillage Rally, it’s a little long. What would cause a pair of 2kW generators to overload when charging my batteries? Looking for your guidance in what...
View ArticleWhy is RV battery bank leaking electrolyte?
Dear Gary, I have a 2002, 31-foot Jayco. Why is my battery bank leaking acid? I have two batteries and two solar panels with a PWM charge controller. When we bought it, it was hooked up to power; now...
View ArticleWhy are my RV batteries drying out?
By Chris Dougherty Chris Dougherty is a certified RV technician. Here is a letter he received from a reader while he was serving as RVtravel.com’s technical editor. Dear Chris, I have a 50-amp transfer...
View ArticleShould you box up your batteries?
By Russ and Tiña De Maris If a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, a battery in the box is worth at least two in the junk pile. Eh? If your rig doesn’t provide “inside storage” for your house...
View ArticleRV Electricity – Can a 9-volt battery start a fire in your RV?
Dear Mike, I recently read where a 9-volt battery thrown away in a trash can started a fire in a garage. Can this really happen? What do we have to do to keep safe in our RVs? —Donny F. Dear Donny, In...
View ArticleBatteries for boondocking
Here’s a question from a reader of RVtravel.com about boondocking. Hi Bob, Thanks for the great information. Mike and I prefer to boondock and stay away from campsites whenever possible. I think...
View ArticleWhy are RV batteries setting off CO detector?
Dear Gary, On a recent camping trip, we were connected to 30-amp shore power. During the night, our CO alarm went off. Since there was no stove or furnace operating, I felt the alarm was defective. I...
View ArticleIs reverse osmosis water safe for your RV batteries?
By Russ and Tiña De Maris Not long ago we got a message from a reader who was traveling across the United States. Before he left home, he’d hit the local shopping centers looking for distilled water...
View ArticleAvoiding “mysterious” RV battery deaths
By Russ and Tiña De Maris A dead RV battery is always a frustration, and oftentimes a mystification. Why did it die? RV batteries are good for a limited number of use/charge cycles. As we’ve often...
View ArticleKeep those expensive RV batteries alive!
By Russ and Tiña De Maris A critical factor for RVers who boondock – camp away from utility hookups – is that of a viable battery bank. Keeping those batteries properly charged can make the difference...
View ArticleWhy would you want a lithium battery pack?
By Greg Illes Lithium batteries have truly extraordinary advantages for certain types of RV life — but they have their “dark side” as well. You need to be very well informed to make the “lithium...
View ArticleSteps to conserving and supplying power for RV boondocking
Here’s a question from a reader of RVtravel.com about boondocking. Hi Bob, My wife and I have boondocked a couple of times and like it, but it seems that we run out of power too soon. What are the...
View ArticleHow to add RV batteries
Hey Doc, I recently purchased a used Class A Newmar coach. Where do I find out what rating of battery needs to be used for replacement? The specific gravity on the existing batteries is low and after...
View ArticleWinter boondocking – time to prepare “electrically”
By Bob Difley We’re well on the way to winter. Depending on how weird the warming planet skews the weather, you may be spending more days in the northern climes as days stay hotter longer before...
View ArticleRV battery wiring explained
Hi Gary, I have an older Nash 5th wheeler. I have one completely dead battery in it now. I want to replace it with two (Group 24) 12-volt batteries. I’m not sure how to hook them up. There is not...
View ArticleAdvantages of AGM batteries in motorhome
Dear Gary, I’m thinking my coach batteries may need replacing within the year. I asked my RV dealer whether AGM batteries are a good idea. Currently it has the older flooded-cell type that came from...
View ArticleCharging 6-volt RV batteries
Hello Gary, Is there a way to charge my two 6-volt batteries with a regular stand-alone battery charger? If so, how would you hook up the positive and negative charger clamps —George Hi George, I’m...
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