Battery maintenance for hibernation RVs

With Winter just around the corner, many recreational vehicles will be going into hibernation. Whether it’s the sports car, motorbike, jetski or RV, owners will want to ensure that their vehicles are ready for them when the sunshine returns while also getting the most longevity out of their batteries.

Lead-acid batteries lose power gradually over time when not in use, so after months of hibernation they might not be up to the task. While this is fairly common knowledge, the fact that it degrades the longterm health and efficiency of batteries may come as a surprise. Maintenance costs aside, having the vehicle ready to go on a whim is always nice.

What if the vehicle is a daily drive, the battery is always charged, isn’t it? If the vehicle is driven on a lot of short trips, the battery may not receive enough charge to recover the energy lost when cranking at the start of the trip. Many modern vehicles also feature a smart charging alternator profile which disengages when the battery is near full capacity. If the battery is never near capacity due to short trips, this will place more load on the engine and cost more in fuel.

That’s where REDARC’s SmartCharge AC to DC battery chargers come in. They’re so simple to use, just connect the charging clips to the battery

(or use the optional plug connection), connect to an AC power supply (such as your home sockets) and push the ON button. When finished, simply wind up the cables and that’s it. Not to mention, they’re rated to IP65 – so these SmartChargers can be used both outdoors and in damp environments.

Compatible with most battery types, including AGM, lead acid and lithium, the SmartCharge range is available in 4, 6, 8, and 10amp variants. They automatically adjust to suit the battery voltage and type for cars, boats, motorcycles or caravans.

These smart battery chargers provide peace of mind, because users know their battery is getting the right amount of charge it needs without the risk of overcharging. Once a battery is fully charged, the charger goes into sleep mode. In this mode the charger wakes up every seven days to check the batteries status and resume charging if required. Alternatively, if the battery drops below 12.6 volts it will also resume charging.

From reducing maintenance and fuel costs to the convenience of having the vehicle ready when you are, there’s plenty of reasons to consider a REDARC SmartCharge AC to DC charger. For more information visit redarcelectronics.co.nz/acbattery-chargers