There are a few potential causes for an RV battery to get excessively hot:
1. Overcharging
If the RV's converter/charger is malfunctioning and overcharging the batteries, it can cause the batteries to overheat. This excessive charging creates heat within the battery.
2. Heavy Current Draws
Trying to run too many AC appliances or depleting the batteries deeply can result in very high current draws when charging. This high current flow generates significant heat.
3. Old/Damaged Batteries
As batteries age and internal plates deteriorate, it increases the internal battery resistance. This causes more heat to build up under normal charging.
4. Loose Connections
Loose battery terminal connections create resistance to current flow, resulting in heating at the connection points.
5. Shorted Cell
An internal short within a battery cell caused by damage or manufacturing defect concentrates the current unnaturally and creates hot spots.
6. Ambient Temperatures
Batteries housed in an area with very high ambient temperatures like a hot engine compartment can overheat more easily.
7. Alternator Overcharging
For motorized RVs, an unregulated alternator putting out too high of voltage can overcharge and overheat the chassis/house batteries.
Excessive heat is detrimental to lead-acid and lithium batteries, accelerating degradation. It can also potentially cause battery case swelling, cracking or fire hazards. Monitoring battery temperature and addressing the root cause is important for battery lifespan and safety.
Post time: Mar-16-2024
