How to Charge Your RV Battery

Reviewed by Jason Shackelford

Last Updated: October 16, 2024 References

Everything in an RV, including the lights and the appliances, is operational only through a charged RV battery. You may have to charge the battery a few times if you take your RV out on a regular basis. If you know how to charge your RV battery, you can be sure you'll have the power to enjoy all the perks of your recreational vehicle.

Steps

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This will prevent unintentional injury.
You could have more than one battery, depending on the size of your RV. The battery location can vary from one RV model to the next.

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Wear heavy gloves when removing the cables and always remove the black cable (the negative side) first before removing the red cable (positive side).
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Clean the connections on the battery from any corrosive substance.^{[1]
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- Mix 2 to 3 tablespoons (30 to 45 milliliters) baking soda with enough water to make a paste.
- Apply the paste to the connections on the battery.
- Use a wire brush to scrub off the corrosive material.
- Wipe the paste off with clean water and a rag.
- Apply petroleum jelly to the terminals to prevent further corrosion.^{[2]
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If it is low, pour distilled water into the battery using a funnel. Fill up to the fill line.^{[3]
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Connect the positive side to the red connection first and then attach the negative side of the battery with the black connection or clamp the black connection to a metal piece to ground it.^{[4]
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The indicator light will come on when the charger finishes.^{[5]
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First, replace the positive cable and tighten it with the wrench. Then reattach and tighten the negative side.
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If I have a car battery running my camper through a generator, how can I charge it?

Community Answer

You can charge your batteries by plugging your camper into a household 120-volt electric outlet at home or a campground.

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My battery is not charging from the alternator. What can I do?

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Test your alternator to be sure it is putting out 12-14V. If it is, check your battery -- it may have bad cells and be unable to accept a full charge. Also, check your cables to and from the battery for any corrosion, as this is a sign of a bad connection. Check all grounds thoroughly -- this is the leading cause of most shorts.

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Are the two batteries in my Winnebago connected in parallel or series? The vehicle is a class C 2013.

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Positive to positive, negative to negative is parallel; series is negative to positive, negative to positive. Parallel will not double your volts but will double your amps; series will double your volts and not your amps.

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Tips

You can jump-start the battery with jumper cables if you do not have a battery charger.

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Your battery may not require distilled water. If you have this type of battery, it will not have an access cap.

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There are different types of RV battery chargers that you can use. A 3-stage charger works well because it will slow down as it reaches a full charge, so you don't have to keep an eye on it the whole time it is charging.

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Warnings

Be careful not to get any of the battery acid on your skin. It will burn. If you do get acid on your skin, wash it off with a mixture of water and baking soda.

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Do not attempt to charge the RV battery with the RV running.

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Do not allow the baking soda to leak into the vent holes in the battery, or it will lessen the life of the battery.

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Do not remove the battery cables without wearing heavy gloves, or you could get a shock.

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You must remove the positive cable first. Removing it last could cause a spark.

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Only use distilled water in the battery. If you use tap water, it could cause contaminants to enter the battery, negatively affecting the performance of the battery.^{[6]
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