Deep Cycle Battery Questions - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Soody · RV-Dreams Family Member

Deep Cycle Battery Questions

Soody · RV-Dreams Family Member

Guess this is an 'accessory' too. I ordered a custom decal for back of the TT.
"Roam If You Want To"
Silly but it made me happy :)

Ann-Hank · RV-Dreams Family Member

A deep cycle battery is "capable" of being discharged to 30 - 50% of it's capacity but not required with each use. Your batteries are rated in amp hours, and this simply means that it is capable of discharging a calculated amount. For example, if your battery is rated at 85aH, it is capable of discharging 85 amps in a 20 hour period when new and fully charged. It is important to exercise your batteries by discharging and charging, but avoid deep discharges where your battery voltage drops below 11.5 volts. This puts a strain on your batteries when charging and will shorten their life. A good, reliable monitoring system is well worth the money, and will pay for itself in short order.
As far as checking your battery water level, make it a habit to check every month. When adding water, use only distilled water and make sure each cell is filled to it's fill line - no more. And every three months it's a good idea to check specific gravity with a hydrometer and record your readings. If your batteries require an inordinate amount of water your charge level could be too high, and one or two cells needing more water every time could mean trouble down the road. Batteries are expensive, but with some attention they'll offer years of service.

Technomadia · RV-Dreams Family Member

At least as important, if not more so, than discharging your batteries, is learning to properly charge them. Lead Acids need to be fully charged fairly regularly to maintain their health, and the last 20% is a slower charge rate. You should also learn about equalization for flooded cells.

Properly maintained, a set of lead acid batteries tend to be rated for about 500-1000 life cycles. Depends on multiple factors, such as brand of battery, health of them, etc.

- Cherie

Soody · RV-Dreams Family Member

Great info. Thank you both. The TT came with one battery, I may add a sister after this maiden voyage. The monitoring system and hydrometer sound like a good addition to get now. And I will start a 'Captain's Log' to track my maintenance, monitoring and data for the trailer and truck. Going now to read about equalization...

Ann-Hank · RV-Dreams Family Member

It's a great idea to log pertinent maintenance issues, and in the case of your specific gravity readings you're watching for changes. For example, if you see a 3% difference in the cell readings it might be time to equalize. This is simply a controlled, higher than normal charge that can rejuvenate your batteries. If you determine this should be done, follow your chargers instruction manual to the letter. Not all chargers are capable of equalizing, and not all batteries are capable of being equalized. Gel cell and AGM batteries should never be equalized. You are on the right track by staying on top of your maintenance issues.
Hank