Batteries – Lifeblood of Gadgets

There has never been a better time to own an RV. Hybrids, travel trailers, fifth wheels and motor homes are featuring more electronics than ever before, along with increased sleeping capacities to accommodate larger families, or just friends. One thing the industry has yet to catch-on to, however, is catering to dry-campers. The typical trailer comes with a single Group 24 battery, while a fifth wheel or motor home might come with a pair. Either solution is barely adequate for anything more than a weekend of summer camping, however.  When we first started camping, our biggest concern was water. We used too much fresh water which, in turn, created too much gray water. As we gained experience, our water lasted longer and we realized that our (then) trailer’s 40-gallon fresh water tank was adequate for most trips. Our Group 24 battery, however, was more like a 10-gallon tank!

The analogy of a water tank is a good one for batteries. We usually think of volts when it comes to batteries, but it is more useful to think of batteries as storage tanks for current (amp-hours). A lot of effort gets expended on debating the merits of different kinds of batteries; 12-volt vs. 6-volt, wet cell vs. AGM, etc, but the bottom line is that a Group 24 battery holds about 80 amp-hours of current, a Group 27 about 105 amp-hours and a pair of 6-volt batteries about 210 amp-hours. That is all fine and good, but how many amp-hours do you need? It is a good question, and there is no single answer that will address everyone’s needs. In our pre-satellite TV and microwave oven days, we would use about 60 amp-hours per day. Now that we have those toys, and four Group 27 batteries to support them, we use about 150 amp-hours each day. Could we get by with two batteries? No, and here is where batteries differ from water tanks – you cannot run a battery “dry.” In fact, unless you have 6-volt batteries, which are very rugged and designed for deep discharge cycles, it is a good idea to only use about 25% (12.4 volts, on a volt meter) of your batteries actual capacity. That is only 20 amp-hours on a Group 24 battery, which is why attempting to dry camp with these can quickly destroy them. Even a pair of Group 24 batteries, which is what our Class C had when we purchased it, cannot withstand the repeated discharge cycles of (even moderate) dry camping.

When it comes to getting away from it all, you can never have too much battery capacity. Increasing your RV’s battery capacity is one of the best upgrades you can make, and it provides a solid foundation for further upgrades that will make your camping experience as relaxing and enjoyable as it can be. And isn’t that what it is all about?

Happy camping!