The changing of the weather is a powerful tool that this planet possesses. It cleanses and restores nature to keep it alive. As for humans and their technology, they are also susceptible to weather changes.
And our RV batteries are just one of human technology that is greatly affected by weather changes. If it gets too hot, an unexpected battery explosion might happen. If it gets too wet from pouring rain, it will start to rust and deteriorate. In this section, we will see what will happen when snow or winter affects it.
If you think flammable and exploding items like an RV Battery is safe during winter, well, it is subject to face problems as well. During winter, it is not just water that freezes, so are our RV batteries. Let us check this article to see the signs of a freezing RV battery and avoid them from happening. You can also check this post to see the other caring tips for RV battery different brands.
Signs of RV Battery Freezing
After every season change, especially from winter, you should know the signs of a good and working battery. If you can differentiate a good one from the frozen one, you will be able to avoid any possible accidents.
1. The battery case has cracks all over
Typically your battery is in good condition if it has no cracks or dents on any surface. If upon storing it during winter and it has damages, then you should note using it already. We know that you are curious as well as to why this happens.
Just imagine yourself out there on the balcony during winter. Yes, you are well clothed with the right coat, bonnets, and gloves. But even having all those insulation, you still get cracked or chapped lips. This is because you forgot to put lip balm on. And that is the same thing with an RV battery.
Even though it looks fine, do not ever attempt to use the cracked RV battery right away as it can pose harmful effects. You don’t know if, when running, it will leak toxic gases and chemicals that will possibly endanger those who are near it. Or, much worse, damage your RV!
2. The battery looks bloated.
You will immediately notice this as you will see the sides have bulged out already. It will look like a bloated stomach on each of the sides. Sometimes it does have several bumps located around the whole battery.
The reason why this happens is like when you are outside in cold winter. Prolonged exposure will make you feel like your face is swelling. Again, if this is the case, do not attempt to use the battery as it is highly susceptible to explosion.
3. There is no liquid sound when you move the flooded cell.
This only means that the inside of the battery is frozen shut. There is nothing you can do about it already. If this happens, never attempt to jumpstart the battery. If you think that it will defrost it, well, you are wrong. The moment the spark hits the inside of the RV battery, the battery itself will feel shocked by the sudden electricity and explode.
Tips to avoid freezing your RV Batteries
Now that you know the signs of freezing, we will inform you about the things you can do to avoid it from happening.
1. From a trickle to a roar: Full charge or not
You must check out the temperature drop in your area first. Usually, the temperature determines the state of charge the battery should be in. Say, for example, you typically have a -92 degrees Fahrenheit temperature. Then it would be best if you stocked your batteries at full charge to avoid them from freezing.
Since every place has a different cold season length, you need to know what to do to keep your battery safe. If your area has a more extended winter season than others, you need to charge your battery periodically.
You can also use a solar trickle charger. This charger does not charge the battery completely, but it can keep it from slowly discharging itself.
2. Battery Insulation
Just like living things, this RV Battery needs to insulate itself from the cold too. All you have to do is buy insulation pads that you will cover in storage. It will serve as its blanket in the cold season, keeping it from frostbites.
If you think that this is just another expense, well, treat it as an investment instead. Why? Because if that RV battery freezes, you will need to spend on maintenance and buying a new one. Which we all know is much expensive than an insulation panel or cover.
But you need to check the insulated wrapped battery from time to time. This is because higher temperatures tend to discharge at a faster rate. If you have electricity during winter, t is better to keep it charging at a trickle instead.
3. Keep it inside
The best tip to keep it from freezing is to avoid direct contact with the snow. And it is by putting it inside your house or anywhere in your area that has good insulation. Plus, keeping it inside hinders it from getting extra moisture from unfreezing snow or cold weather.
Also, if you think covering it with an insulation pad while outside is fine, well, it’s not. If the insulation pad is covered with snow, it will lose its ability to insulate heat on the battery.
Conclusion
Your RV battery is an investment that you need to secure. Furthermore, as it takes good care of you when you use it, you must take care of it when it needs it. As you read all the information that we have provided, we hope that it helped keep your battery from freezing.
A frozen battery is something that we must avoid. And it can be avoided by some little tricks known worldwide by the RV community. Want to share something by experience? Please do not feel shy about sharing it with us. Let’s create a helpful and superb community of RVers.
