How To Replace Deep Cycle RV 'House' Batteries

RVing in the boondocks is a lot easier when your RV batteries are in good shape. Whether you have 12-volt, 6-volt golf cart batteries, or AGMs, here's how to replace your RV house batteries when the time comes.

For more information, check out the post on our blog:

Our motorhome came with 4 6-volt house batteries, wired in series parallel to equal 2 large 12-volr batteries. They power our onboard lights, water pump, vent fans and other 12-volt equipment, plus our 110-volt household appliances though an inverter, which converts 12-volt DC power into 110-volt AC current.

Regular care and maintenance kept our original batteries in good shape for 6 years. When the time came to replace them, we chose to splurge on a set of Lifeline AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) batteries These are the same size 6-volt batteries, wired in series-parallel, just like our old flooded lead-acid deep cycle batteries. But they're completely sealed, accept a charge faster and perform better in every way. They're just pretty expensive!

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[AlarmingTwitch]

Just bought a 20yr old, 40ft diesel pusher and have so much to do to get it back in perfect working order. Focusing on one thing at a time is helping not to get overwhelmed. Thank you for this excellent information.

[jaymiepobanz]

This is Mark. With the help of your video and its battery and cable organization tips, I did battery and cable cleanup and replaced the main house battery positive cable which would have given out soon. All was done with No issues at startup on my 2000 Alpine Limited Edition DP. Thanks a bunch and yours is the only RV site I need to use.

[garytilkin]

I hope you still read these comments.  I am not mechanically incline. I watched you video twice, took out my batteries, put the new ones in and was done.  I went back to double check what I might have forgotten.  Just one thing, I did not take the tags off.  While doing this project, I messed up on a couple of wires but by checking and double checking the tags, also by relooking at the picture, it was perfect.  Much easier to put them back then take them off.  You guys did me a great service. Thank you

[annag]

PERFECT, thank you for telling me exactly what I wanted to know: negative wires are 1st to disconnect, last to reconnect. Wonderful demo and explanation, im building my first rv battery bank and I wanted to know the best way to lay wire. Your knowledge directly helped me make a choice.

[RVwithTito]

Nice clean process. I would add that It's a good time to create or update the wiring diagram for your battery system. For example, let's say there's a wire connected to your batteries that you are unsure of. Find out where it goes, add it to the diagram and label it. An up-to-date diagram will come in handy should you decide to add battery monitoring systems, solar controllers, inverters, etc.. THANKS!

[JayBazuzi]

Good stuff, as usual.

I like to treat the terminals with dielectric grease. This reduces corrosion, which keeps the connections tight for a long time.

[michaelferik]

Like how you used the Lifeline AGMs. Back in 2003 I upgraded my lead acid boat batteries with the Lifelines (GPL-1400T plus the the GPL-27T) and they have been nothing but reliable, year in year out. After serious use finally replaced them both in 2012. Costly but worth it for peace of mind on the water.

[lionsullivan]

Thanks so much for your informative videos! They are a great source of information and can save many $ for those of us who are retired and simply cannot afford to pay every time something needs to be repaired or fixed on our RVs! Again, thanks guys!!

[gpapink]

Gents as always thanks for the video. I just replaced the 2 12V AGMs that came with our new Dynamax Isata with 4 LifeLine 6V's. Your tips and cautions very useful. The kids are getting the 12V's for their tow behind.

[lass-inangeles]

I love your videos!!! This one was excellent. I have to do this and worried so much about getting a shock and safety issues. Very well explained, clear, concise, and good tips. Very much appreciated guys!!!

[jman]

Another great tutorial video! I will replace this way when the time comes for me to swap out my batteries. My Tiffin coach is only 2 years old so I should be good for at least a couple more years :-)

[frankdowe]

Great information. I just ordered Lifeline replacement batteries for my Jayco Seneca.  Love all your videos. Thank you for passing on your knowledge .

[tightlines]

Thank you, great video, keep up the awesome work. What a shame, 655 views and only 34 thumbs up, come on people, is it that much of an effort to give a video a thumbs up after viewing it and walking away with a wealth of free information? A lot of work goes into recording, editing and posting video's at no cost to you and all you have to do is give it a THUMBS UP. Pathetic!!!

[robertosgood]

Just remember to account for the slower charge rate required for AGM over lead acid. Newer converter chargers are usually multi stage, but our older '89 class A wasn't. One charge rate causing heat, faster off gassing and potential bulging and damage to AGM. If you upgrade one component, make sure the other related ones are compatible.

[AlittleSmokey]

Fantastic. My wife and I have bought our first trailer. That being said.. I am interested in learning more. Thank you so much for all that you do and have done. That being said.. I am ignorant on many details on batteries. I understand AH or capacity/duration, but what exactly is RC? Does a higher RC value give more cycles through the battery or usable capacity? I am sure I asked the question wrong.. but thank you in advance.

[rickdowling]

HI guys, This is an old video, but I'm thinking you will still reply, which is what makes you so great for the rest of us. I have this task before me and my current plan is to switch out my original 6 wet cell 6 volts with the same Lifeline AGMs that you did. So even thoug the video is old, the info is VERY timely! I looked at Lithium, but since we rarely dry camp I'm pretty sure it would be a waste of money. Even though your video is old it is still perfectly on point for me. I'm a tad concerned my current cables wont be the right length for the new batteries to do the same connections. How did you validate beforehand that yours would work for you with the new batteries? ALso, can you remember about how long the process took? Trying to figure out a good window to take this on since we are also full time. Again thanks for all of the info you guys have provided to so many folks for so long. We really appreciate it!

[TheSonicendeavor]

Nice clean process. Thank you for posting this. One thing I'm concerned about is the Magnum inverter manual says to always disconnect the positive first to prevent the unit from seeking ground via the data cables and frying the controller, battery monitor, etc. Does turning off the main breaker as you showed accomplish disabling the inverter, or should it be turned off separately?

[artg]

Thank you for the video! Trying to find out where is the main breaker is located in my 2014 Itasca navion for the house battery so I cold turnit off while replacing!?!?!?

[craigpotter]

Yep big thumbs up from me as usual lol. Another great video guys thanks.

[teedub]

okay so I just bought my coach about a month ago (used 2004 Newmar DS) and it has wet batteries. For the first attempt at maintaining by adding distilled water - I messed up. I thought I was told to fill each cell till full. So yep, thats what I did. Wrong. :(

So I'm waiting for them to boil down, knowing that I'm also loosing electrolyte. I'm planning on a baking soda bath in a day or so for the batteries and tray they sit on, plus anything else it touched/dripped on.

The batteries are old and should be replaced anyways, so I'm taking this as a learning opportunity to educate myself on batteries. I'd like to get 4 AGM batteries and had been looking at the BatteryStuff website. I'm not sure which model you guys bought of the Lifeline battery - do you show that somewhere? I also want to replace the 2 Chassis batteries at same time, wondering which you bought as well. Thanks for your info! Much appreciate it ... Oh BTW - I think I"ll pass on doing my own installation, you make it look easy but I'm not that excited about messign with it all. OH! If you have any suggestions for cleaning up the battery tray and lube the rollers that would be terrific! Thanks in advance.