The summer months can be hard on your RV’s battery. Overcharging and high temperatures can kill batteries. So frequently check the batteries is extremely important and you may even have to preform some maintenance. This isn’t necessarily difficult, but there are some precautions you should take to avoid spilling or splashing electrolytes or a battery fire or explosion.
Let’s take a look at an excerpt from Gary Bunzer’s book, Woodall’s RV Owner’s Handbook, that details these risks and also provides safety guidelines for how to avoid an RV battery accident.
Risks of Spilling and Splashing Electrolyte
Why it’s Dangerous:
Spilled or splashed electrolytes can cause chemical burns to skin and eyes, destroy your clothing and damage wood, metal, painted surfaces under or around the battery.
How to Reduce Risk:
Protect yourself!
- Avoid contact between electrolyte and skin, eyes, or clothing.
- Wear splash-proof safety goggles when working on RV batteries
- Wear protective clothing such as rubber gloves that extend up the forearms and an apron
- Rinse off the gloves and apron before removing them
Protect the RV
- Don’t let battery acid splash on any surface
- Neutralize spilled or splashed electrolyte with a solution of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)in water
- Rinse the spill area with clean water
- Wipe dry with disposable material (rag or paper towel)
- Use a small plastic funnel or battery fill bulb when adding water to the cells in order to prevent splashing
Risk of Explosion or Battery Fire
Why it’s Dangerous:
Flooded electrolyte batteries produce highly flammable hydrogen gas as a by-product of recharging. This gives rise to the risk of explosion or fire.
How to Reduce Risk:
- Provide proper ventilation while working on the battery or in the battery compartment
- Avoid sparks and open flame (don’t light a smoke!)
- Always reinstall the cell caps before charging or discharging the battery.
If you are planning to do any work on your RV battery or need any help checking the battery, be sure to give us a call or come down and see us.
