Even if your RV is just like a car on the go, you need to know things about it because there is a big difference between an RV and a regular car. Especially about what keeps it running on the inside.
If you are RV camping, for sure you wanted the best on your trip. No problems, especially with power and electrical concerns. RV camping is meant to be your home away from home. If it does not feel comfy, then it does not serve its purpose.
What you need to understand in maintaining is the RV Lithium Battery. This battery is different from the batteries we use in our standard cars. So let’s dive into how we can maintain the best quality of our RV Lithium Batteries.
RV Lithium Batteries and their purpose
If you have been RV camping since the beginning of time, for sure, you have started with the lead-acid batteries. This type of battery erodes with that rusty colored stain, but even so, it still works. It also has a more extended period of charging time.
And due to all of these flaws, a discovery about batteries came into existence. And thus, Lithium batteries existed. The difference between lithium batteries between lead-acid batteries is within their structure.
Here, the positive side of the battery is created with lithium-based metal oxide and the negative side with graphite. There is also a separator between them to avoid touching each other. Lithium batteries charge faster than lead-acid batteries because you can charge them in higher amperage.
This feature makes it very pleasing for those who love to dry camp. Another thing that makes this a good investment is that it is lightweight compared to lead-acid batteries.
Maintenance Guidelines for RV Lithium Batteries
Follow this guide to ensure that your RV Lithium Battery will perform to its maximum capacity. In addition, you can also ensure that your battery can last more days than intended.
Battery Maintenance
The moment you upgrade to Lithium Batteries, observe it right away. If it gives justice to the upgrade, you are on the right path. As time pass by, check if the battery health is still the same. Gradually time the charge status of the battery. If it is still 100 percent, then everything is good.
But the moment the charge status drops to 80 percent, you must consider replacing them already. Also, if the battery has more charge time than usual, it is time to replace it.
If you are going to store the battery, make sure to follow the storing instructions in the manual. If you kept it with charge but when you checked it is drained, consider it damaged. Never attempt to reuse it.
Charging Maintenance
Always follow the charging maintenance instructions. Never put it out of charge if it is not entirely fully charged. Do not overcharge it too. Just note in your mind that if you are going to troubleshoot the batteries for some issues, test one at a time only. If you test them both, you will end up with two uncharged batteries.
Storage Maintenance
Now for storage, you need to be extra careful. Most of the batteries of this like have troubles coming back to life from storage mismanagement. So follow these to avoid that tragic mishappening:
- Remember to charge or discharge the battery at 50 percent before storing.
- Do the same for every six months.
- When storing the battery, ensure to remove the battery from the product.
- The recommended temperature for storage is five degrees Celcius to twenty degrees Celcius. If you store it higher than 20 degrees Celcius, the battery will self-discharge and have a lesser life span.
Handling Precautions
You must know how to handle the batteries with care. We all know that they possess danger if not handled properly. So for the safety of everyone onboard the RV, check this out.
Never try to disassemble or puncture the battery. This might harm the structure of the storm and may cause any leakage. Also, never short the external contacts of the battery. And please make sure to remember that it is not advisable to dispose of them in fire or water. Why? It will corrode in water, and it will leak stains that are harmful to the environment and the living things in that water body. If in fire, then it will eventually explode.
Always keep them away from children. Well, you know how kids are. They tend to play with everything, not knowing the danger behind it. Plus, avoid storing the batteries in areas where they will be exposed to extreme vibration and shock. It might disassemble in the internal structure or the outer part of the battery.
There might be a time that it will leak fluids. In that scenario, never contact the fluid, especially on your skin. Dispose of them properly. If it circulates in the ground, clean them with care. Also, if it happens to get in touch with your eyes, never rub your eyes. Wash your eyes with water.
If it is possible to do it under running water, that is better. Make sure to run water on the eyelids to remove any fluid residue. Seek medical attention after.
Lithium-ion battery fires are often caused by internal short circuits, which can occur due to manufacturing defects, mechanical damage, or excessive heat. Overcharging the battery or using incompatible chargers can also contribute to thermal runaway, a chain reaction leading to the release of large amounts of heat and potentially a fire. To understand the risks and prevention methods, it’s crucial to know what causes lithium ion battery fires and how to properly maintain these energy storage units.
Transportation Guide
This part is to ensure that you are safe along the way. Check if it is legal to carry lithium batteries in the places you are going to. This is to avoid any possible delays in your travel. Also, never travel with a damaged or unusable lithium battery as it may harm your travel and health.
Conclusion
RV Lithium batteries are undeniably one of the great inventions made in history. You will see that it has helped many RV campers and other users too. But every good thing always has its own set of flaws. That is why we need to ensure that we know how to handle them.
We hope that reading this section has highlighted the importance of maintaining your RV Lithium batteries to use at their maximum capacity.
