Understanding the Causes of Motorhome Battery Drain
Keeping your motorhome’s battery in good working order is an essential part of RV travel. After all, you won’t be able to power your lights, oven, television or other electronic appliances if your battery is dead. For this reason, you must understand what can cause your battery to drain.
For more information about motorhome maintenance and servicing, contact the expert team at Motorhomes of Texas. You can also visit us at our convenient location in Nacogdoches, Texas, which also provides service to Lufkin and Henderson.
Most Common Causes of Battery Drain
Although several different things can lead to battery drain, the most common factors are related to the age and overall condition of the battery. Your battery typically has a lifespan of 5 to 7 years. Using a good charger and keeping your battery well-maintained and in good condition may help to extend the life of your battery. Nonetheless, batteries that are more than five years old tend to drain much faster.
How well you maintain your battery is also important. That's why you should invest in a high-quality charger and make sure to charge your battery regularly. Letting your battery fully drain down often or using a cheap charger can quickly decrease its lifespan and hasten lost charges. You also need to remember to charge your battery after each use. In fact, letting your battery remain in an uncharged state for any extended period is one of the worst things you can do.
Generally speaking, you should never use your battery when the charge drops below 12 volts as this can lead to damage. Moreover, charging a battery that is below 12 volts usually requires the use of a smart charger. Otherwise, internal damage can occur.
Temperature, Hidden Loads and Other Things to Consider
Temperature can directly affect your battery charge, and this is especially true when the battery isn’t fully charged. Extreme cold is always tough on batteries, but they are still able to withstand cold temperatures far better when fully charged.
If you notice that your battery is draining more quickly than usual, the first thing is to check that you didn’t leave anything turned on. This can include lights and other obvious power draws, but also less easy-to-notice things like the inverter. In addition, older motorhomes may have disused items like aerial and TV boosters that are no longer used, but still connected to the battery.
Some motorhome battery drain issues are easy to diagnose, but others are much more difficult to spot without a trained eye. If you’re having issues with your motorhome battery or anything else, give Motorhomes of Texas a call. We serve Nacogdoches, Lufkin and Henderson.