October 10, 2023

RV Battery Voltage Chart

Short on Time? Here’s The Article Summary

The article discusses the importance of understanding battery voltage charts for RVs. It explains that these charts help monitor the battery's lifespan by showing the voltage output over time in relation to its state of charge. The article emphasizes the need to consult a voltage chart when selecting a battery to ensure compatibility with the RV's electrical system.

It provides typical voltage charts for RV batteries, showing the voltage range for various states of charge. The article also recommends using deep cycle batteries for RVs due to their long life cycle and reliability. It suggests using portable power stations connected to solar panels for continuous charging and reduced recharge times. In conclusion, the article encourages readers to consult voltage charts and do research when selecting batteries for their RVs, as each battery type has different functions and requirements.

Introduction

Traveling the countryside has become a lot easier in modern-day recreational vehicles thanks to the addition of electricity. If you want to go globetrotting and enjoy all the conveniences of modern-day life, using an RV battery voltage chart is a great place to start.

Nowadays, it’s possible to live a sustainable life completely out of your RV and you won’t have to give up any electricity while doing so.

If you want to utilize a battery to power devices in your RV, then you have to engage with a voltage chart to ensure suitability. So, if you’re in the process of selecting a battery and trying to make sense of a voltage chart, then you have come to the right place.

This article clears up any confusion you may have about battery selection, as well as aid you in the selection of a suitable battery through a battery voltage chart.

What Is a Battery Voltage Chart?
Standard RV Batteries

What Is a Battery Voltage Chart?

A battery voltage chart is a tabulated representation of a battery’s voltage output over a certain amount of time in proportion to its state of charge.

Typical voltage charts are represented in a graph where the y-axis is voltage, and the x-axis is the battery’s state of charge or SOC. However, these metrics can also be depicted in a table, making it much easier to read and understand.

The main function of a battery voltage chart is to monitor the lifespan of your battery. To put it into perspective, let’s say we have a specific battery with a voltage of 12 volts fully charged.

Over time this voltage decreases due to various factors. Using a battery voltage chart, you can estimate the remaining capacity of your battery and determine when it needs to be recharged.

You cannot overlook battery voltage charts when selecting a battery for your recreational vehicle. Failure to consult a battery voltage chart beforehand can result in the selection of an incompatible battery that will weaken a lot faster due to the electrical requirements of your RV.

Modern RVs are fitted with powerful batteries that allow you to use various electronic devices inside the vehicle, such as the kettle or the microwave.

However, some RVs don’t have batteries installed, which means that you have to select a suitable battery that can efficiently run with the conditions of your recreational vehicle.

Many RV drivers struggle to find a suitable battery and end up settling with one that’s not even closely compatible with the RVs system. This is where the importance of RV battery voltage charts comes into play.

Typical Battery Voltage Chart for RV

Below you can find what a typical battery voltage chart looks like and how it can be used to determine your battery’s state of charge.

Voltage	State of Charge (SoC)
12.7 and higher	Indicates a full charge
12.4 – 12.6	Indicates a 75% charge
12.2 – 12.3	Indicates a 50% charge
11.8 – 12.1	Indicates a 25% charge
11.7 and lower	Indicates a depleted/fully discharged battery

If you require a more accurate reading with a precise state-of-charge percentage, then you can refer to the table below.

Voltage	State of Charge (SoC)
12.6 and above	100%
12.5	90%
12.42	80%
12.32	70%
12.20	60%
12.06	50%
11.9	40%
11.75	30%
11.58	20%
11.31	10%
10.5	0% (depleted)

Remember that these figures can change based on the kind and quality of the battery as well as outside variables like usage and temperature. To obtain an exact reading of your battery's voltage, you should utilize a multimeter or voltmeter.

As you can see the relationship between voltage and battery charge is not linear. The voltage in a battery can change rapidly, especially when it is close to being fully depleted. This is why it is always recommended to appropriate measuring tools to accurately measure the state of charge of your battery.

You should also note that the tables above aren’t universal. The value changes depending on the type of battery. For example, a 6-volt lead acid battery has a higher voltage at a 100% charge state than the voltage represented in the tables above.

A 6-volt lead acid battery with a 100% state of charge has a voltage of 6,44V, while a 12-volt lead acid battery with a 100% charge gets a voltage of 12.89V, which is similar to the voltage in the tables.

Make sure you’re using the correct table when determining voltage and charge state. Failure to do so can lead to unnecessary electrical faults in your devices.

Standard RV Batteries

Now that we know a little bit more about voltage and state of charge, we can move on to what types of batteries are typically fitted in recreational vehicles.

Generally, you always want to aim for a battery that can maintain your electrical system for most parts of the day and a 12V electrical system is well suited for most recreational vehicles.

12-volt systems are standard for RVs, as they allow you to run most of the electronic devices in your vehicle. A 12-volt system is powerful enough to power your toaster, television, and microwave for most parts of the day with a full charge.

Best Battery For RV

When it comes to RV batteries, your best bet is going with a deep cycle battery that can handle repeated discharges. Deep cycle batteries have an incredibly long-life cycle and are reliable. If you want to live completely out of your RV, then a deep-cycle battery is the way forward. Make sure you follow the correct deep cycle battery voltage chart to determine the correct metrics for your battery.

If you want to go a step further, then you use a portable power station such as the EcoFlow DELTA MAX and connect it to solar panels. They will ensure that your power stations are being continuously charged when not in use and will further reduce the recharge time.

You can find a wide range of solar panel kits suited for RVs at Shop Solar Kits. We will be able to point you in the right direction regarding what type of system will work best for your RV and installation.

If you prefer researching on your own, then you can always take our one-minute solar quiz to help you decide on a solar panel system.

Conclusion

Battery voltage charts can be difficult to comprehend, especially if you’re not familiar with the methods and all the electrical jargon.

Thankfully, it isn’t as difficult as you might think. Voltage battery charts are easy to understand and incredibly useful when trying to find out the state of charge of your batteries. By now you should be an expert in these in navigating these charts and determining the SOC of your very own batteries.

To better your knowledge you can always consult other voltage charts such as the marine battery voltage chart and the lithium-ion battery voltage chart for Lithium-ion solar batteries. These are also suitable batteries for RVs.

Remember to always do your research if you are going to purchase batteries for your RV. Each battery type has different functions as you noticed above, and you need to find one that is well-suited to your electrical requirements.

If you need further assistance, then don’t be shy to reach out to Shop Solar Kits. We can help you with all your electrical queries and point you in the right direction for suitable batteries and solar panel kits for your RV. Make sure you consult the solar panel voltage chart before deciding on your solar system.

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Article by

Cody Oehm

Cody is the Head of Marketing at Shop Solar, and joined the company in spring of 2022.

He has an entrepreneurial background and has been in the ecommerce industry since 2015. With 4 businesses under his belt and a drive to make a bigger impact, he decided to team up with Shop Solar on their mission to make solar simple and affordable. You can browse best seller's here.