Many people enjoy the freedom and convenience of RVing, but if your RV battery isn’t holding a charge, it can quickly ruin your trip. Thankfully, there are some things you can do to troubleshoot and hopefully fix the problem.
In this blog post, we’ll outline some potential causes of a weak or dead battery and offer tips on how to get your RV back up and running.
So, if you’re experiencing problems with your RV battery, keep reading for helpful advice.
5 Reasons Why RV Battery Not Holding Charge
Here are a few reasons why your RV battery may not charge.
1) Overloaded/Old Circuit Boards
Sometimes the onboard electronics of your RV can put out too much power, which will prevent batteries from recharging.
This problem tends to happen with older RVs because their circuit boards do not handle energy output efficiently. One way to assess this is to look at other electronics in your RV and see if they are all working properly. If not, it may be time to upgrade your circuit boards.
2) Faulty Charging System
If your RV’s charging system is faulty, it will not be able to recharge your battery no matter what you do.
There are a few things you can check to see if your charging system is working properly.
- First, make sure the charging cord is plugged in all the way.
- If it is, check the fuse box for blown fuses and replace them if necessary.
- You can also test your RV’s charging system by using a voltmeter.
3) Low Battery Voltage
If your battery voltage is low, it will not be able to hold a charge.
You can test your battery voltage by using a voltmeter. If the reading is below 12 volts, you will need to replace your battery.
4) Corroded Battery Terminals
If the terminals on your battery are corroded, it will not be able to hold a charge.
You can clean the terminals with baking soda and water or by using a terminal cleaning brush.
5) The Charger is Set to Float Mode
If your battery charger is set to float mode, it will prevent batteries from being recharged when they are low.
Make sure your charger is switched to one of the other charging modes.
How to Troubleshoot RV Battery Not Charging?
If you’re having problems getting your RV battery to charge, here are a few tips to help you troubleshoot the issue.
1) Check the Fuses
If your RV’s charging system isn’t working, the first thing you should check is the fuse box.
There may be a blown fuse that is preventing your RV from charging its battery.
Simply replace the blown fuse and check to see if you can start your RV.
2) Turn on All Electronics
If your RV’s electronics are causing a power surge, it may prevent batteries from receiving a charge.
Turn on all of your appliances one at a time and allow the system to reset before turning on the next appliance.
Continue this process until you find which device is causing the problem.
Once you locate the device, simply unplug it or turn it off when it’s not in use.
3) Test Charging System with Voltmeter
Testing your charging system with a voltmeter is a quick and easy way to determine whether or not there is an issue with your RV’s charging system.
All you need to do is attach the voltmeter probes to the terminals on your battery and observe the reading. If the meter reads 12 volts or above, your RV’s charging system is working properly.
If it doesn’t, there may be a problem with your charging system that needs to be fixed.
4) Clean Battery Terminals
If the terminals on your battery are corroded, it will not be able to hold a charge.
You can clean them with baking soda and water or by using a terminal cleaning brush.
5) Check Charger Settings
If your battery charger is set to float mode, it will prevent batteries from being recharged when they are low.
Make sure your charger is switched to one of the other charging modes.
6) Replace Battery
If your battery voltage is low, it will not be able to hold a charge.
You can test your battery voltage by using a voltmeter. If the reading is below 12 volts, you will need to replace your battery.
7) Replace Circuit Boards
If your RV’s circuit boards are overloaded or old, it may prevent batteries from being recharged.
One way to assess this is to look at other electronics in your RV and see if they are all working properly.
If they’re not, it may be time to upgrade your circuit boards.
What to Do Next If RV Battery not Holding Charge?
If you’ve tried all of the tips listed above and your RV battery still isn’t charging, it’s time to take it in for repairs.
There may be a problem with the RV’s charging system that needs to be fixed.
Some common problems that can prevent batteries from being recharged are corroded terminals, a blown fuse, or a faulty circuit board.
Whatever the problem is, it will need to be fixed to get your RV battery charging again.
Why Does My RV Battery Keep Dying?
We’re often asked that question, which leads us to believe that many RVers are puzzled by the same thing. We’ll try to give some reasons for this problem and then offer up a solution or two.
First of all, it’s important to understand what you mean when you say “drain.” If your battery won’t hold a charge because it keeps being drained, there could be something inside your unit drawing current from one or more batteries even though you have turned everything off.
This is usually indicative of a short somewhere that will require service to locate and fix.
You also need to realize that just about anything plugged into an AC outlet may remain drawing current even if switched off unless unplugged – including lights! It takes very little drain to keep a battery from holding a charge so it’s important to rule out all other possibilities before assuming you have a short.
Another possibility is that your RV’s converter isn’t working properly and is not converting AC current to DC as it should.
This will cause the battery to slowly discharge whether or not anything is plugged in or not.
The way to test for this problem is to disconnect the shore power cord and see if the battery voltage increases. If it does, your converter is bad and needs to be replaced.
One thing that often goes wrong on motorhomes is the 12-volt fuse panel.
It’s easy for fuses to blow without warning for no apparent reason, which will prevent the RV battery from charging.
The way to test for this is to remove the fuse panel cover and check each fuse. If one or more are blown, replace them with new fuses of the same rating.
Why Is My RV battery dying so fast?
There could be several reasons why your RV battery is dying so fast.
1. One possibility is that you’re not using the right type of battery for your unit. Most RVs require a deep-cycle marine battery, which is designed to be discharged and recharged many times.
If you’re using a standard automotive battery, it will not last as long because it’s not meant to be drained and recharged frequently.
2. Another possibility is that you’re not charging your batteries properly. Make sure that you’re using a good charger and that the batteries are being charged fully.
If you’re using solar panels to charge your batteries, make sure they’re properly installed and that they’re getting enough sun exposure.
3. It’s also possible that your RV is not properly insulated, which can cause the battery to discharge quickly. The way to test for this is to check the insulation in the walls, ceiling, and floor of your RV.
If it’s not up to par, you may need to add more insulation to keep the battery from dissipating its charge.
Will an RV battery recharge when the RV is plugged in?
Yes, if the RV’s converter is working properly it should recharge whenever you plugin.
This can be problematic for some people because they may not want to pay for an extra night at the campground while their batteries recharge.
If this is a concern of yours, there are portable battery chargers on the market that will enable you to recharge your batteries at home away from the campsite.
These chargers are typically small enough to fit in your pocket, so they’re very convenient to use.
Most Relevant: Do RV Batteries Charge When Plugged Into Shore Power?
Final Thoughts
It’s important to troubleshoot any issues with your RV’s charging system as soon as possible.
Not only will this ensure that your RV runs smoothly, but it will also help prolong the life of your RV battery.
If you’re having problems getting your RV battery to charge, try using the tips listed in this article. If those tips don’t work, take your RV in for repairs.
The bottom line is that if your RV’s battery isn’t charging, there’s probably a problem that needs to be fixed.
By following the tips in this article and by taking your RV in for repairs, you should be able to get your RV’s battery up and running again. Thanks for reading!