What Is The Difference Between Car And RV Batteries
The typical car battery is generally used for short term bursts of power, usually about 5 seconds or enough time for starting the car’s engine. especially since there are many amenities on-board the typical RV that need to be powered as well. For this, an RV battery is designed for sustained output at relatively lower energy burst. This ensures the complete RV experience of being able to take your home on the road.
Car batteries have much more reactant surface area exposed for the energy-creating chemical reactions to take place due to their thinner, more porous plates. A car battery can then generate short term bursts at high output that the lead/acid plates can permit. A battery made for and RV however is different in that it is made with a denser material with thicker plates, allowing it to sustain long term generation of low energy output.
This kind of battery is called a deep cycle battery and can also be found on boats and yachts for powering equipment on-board. To protect it from shedding damage related to vibrations, an RV battery typically has more reinforcement. It also needs to be charged in a different manner than you would usually encounter with a car battery. A car battery receives continual charging while the engine is in operation, meaning that there is less maintenance involved even with conventional lead/acid batteries.
On the other hand, deep cycle batteries require a compatible charger and need to be charged on a regular basis. If it is too cold, give it an hour or two to warm up before hooking it up to the charger as it should not be charged at colder temperatures. Also, do not keep it hooked up to the charger once it is full as it will actually corrode the grid and reduce the overall live of the battery.
It is important to note the difference between battery types before making a purchase as different vehicles often need different types of batteries. There are different types of deep cycle batteries, each with their own benefits and disadvantages. Flooded cell batteries are the most common but require constant maintenance, while maintenance free batteries can either factory-sealed or self-sealed.
Tags: automotive, autos, deep cycle battery, hobbies, recreation, rv batteries, vehicle
