Before Tailgating at Your Next Football Event, Don’t Forget to Check in on Your Battery

Fall is the season for football. Professional and college games attract thousands of spectators. This year, the National Football League (NFL) season runs from September 9 to Super Bowl Sunday on February 13, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) season runs from August 28 to the College Football Playoff (CFP) Championship Game on January 10. For many attendees, the pre-game tailgating party has become part of the fan experience. Among the types of vehicles found at a typical football tailgating party are Recreational Vehicles (RVs), which offer the advantage of having luxurious onboard amenities, like kitchens, bathrooms and even entertainment space, that can make the experience more enjoyable and convenient.

The RV kitchen, for example, can offer a refrigerator for storage of food and refreshments, while the stove, oven and microwave can cook or reheat hot dishes. Other amenities may include a propane powered heater as well as a host of electrical appliances such as radios and televisions for pre-game broadcasts, indoor and outdoor lighting fixtures, and charging stations for your personal devices.

These onboard accessories often rely on one important thing for their source of power and overall performance – the RV’s battery. To keep the RV itself and its electrical and electronic accessories running, it’s important to ensure that the battery is properly maintained and charged. If cleaning is needed, disconnect the battery and use a battery terminal brush with ammonia or a solution of one part baking soda to three parts water to clean the terminals. You can clean the rest of the battery with water. Also check to make sure the connections are secure and replace any broken cables and clamps. If the terminals or case show damage, it may be time to replace the entire battery.

If your RV uses a flooded battery, make sure the water levels are topped to a half-inch above the plates. Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) batteries, like ODYSSEY^® batteries, are sealed and require no watering, which makes them virtually maintenance-free. The sealed construction also prevents spillage and resists high-impact shock and mechanical vibration.

The RV battery should also be fully charged to prevent sulfation, which occurs when the battery is discharged resulting in low voltage. When charging, the current must be high enough to provide a full charge. Consult the battery manufacturer’s specifications for the proper level and rate of charge. Use a voltmeter to determine the battery’s State of Charge (SOC) by measuring the Open Circuit Voltage (OCV). Wait at least six to eight hours after the engine and accessories have been turned off and the battery has been inactive (ideally disconnected) to ensure that the surface charge is gone before measuring OCV.

Always be sure to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for battery care and handling and direct any questions to your battery professional.

When purchasing a new RV battery, consider a premium, dual-purpose battery. For example, ODYSSEY^® batteries, which feature proprietary Thin Plate Pure Lead (TPPL) technology, provide twice the power and three times the longevity of equally sized conventional lead acid batteries. Their high-quality, fast-charge capabilities allow them to handle 400 charge/discharge cycles to 80 percent Depth of Discharge (DOD). The TPPL technology in ODYSSEY^® batteries also enables slower self-discharge rates than alternative battery chemistries.

Pre-game tailgating parties make a day at the game more fun and memorable, especially if you take the RV. With any vehicle, a dependable, dual-purpose battery that can handle starting, lighting and ignition, as well as the range of accessories that are available for comfort, safety and entertainment, helps reduce the chance of mishaps that can put a damper on the outing. Using an ODYSSEY^® battery with TPPL technology will help deliver the reliability and power you need for a worry-free day at the stadium.

This year, EnerSys^® marks 25 years of ODYSSEY^® battery production. To follow the ODYSSEY^® battery 25^th Anniversary journey, visit our website at www.odysseybattery.com or connect with us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook by using the hashtag #MYODYSSEY. 

ABOUT ENERSYS^®

EnerSys, the global leader in stored energy solutions for industrial applications, manufactures and distributes energy systems solutions and motive power batteries, specialty batteries, battery chargers, power equipment, battery accessories and outdoor equipment enclosure solutions to customers worldwide. Energy Systems, which combine enclosures, power conversion, power distribution and energy storage, are used in the telecommunication, broadband and utility industries, uninterruptible power supplies and numerous applications. Motive power batteries and chargers are utilized in electric forklift trucks and other industrial electric powered vehicles requiring stored energy solutions. Specialty batteries are used in aerospace and defense applications, large over-the-road trucks, premium automotive, medical and security systems applications. EnerSys also provides aftermarket and customer support services to its customers in over 100 countries through its sales and manufacturing locations around the world. With the NorthStar acquisition, EnerSys has solidified its position as the market leader for premium Thin Plate Pure Lead batteries, which are sold across all three lines of business. More information regarding EnerSys can be found at www.enersys.com.