How to Store and Maintain Your Camper Van Batteries.

Whether you're parking your van for the off-season or troubleshooting an electrical hiccup, taking care of your battery system is key to keeping your adventures rolling.

David Rogers from our Service Department walks us through proper battery storage and how to safely recover batteries when they’re too cold to charge. Let’s break it down.

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Proper Battery Storage: The Basics

Storing your rig for a while? Here’s how to keep your batteries happy:

  • Charge your battery to 80–100% before storing it.

Expect a little natural loss—charging to 100% might show 98% when you check back. That’s normal and nothing to worry about. A battery charged to 80% can hold that level for 2 weeks to 5 months, depending on conditions. Why 80%? Because charging and discharging your battery repeatedly shortens its life cycle. This method keeps your battery healthier for longer.

How to Turn Off Your Battery System

Every rig is a little different, but here’s a common setup we see often:

  1. Open your battery cabinet (doors might swing open or drop down, depending on your build).

  2. Look for the big red battery switch—you can’t miss it.

  3. Flip it from the ON position (usually horizontal) to the OFF position (typically pointing straight up, or 12 o’clock).

  4. When it’s time to hit the road again, just flip it back to ON.

Pro Tip:
If you’re plugged into shore power with the battery switch OFF, your system will still have power—it just won’t be drawing from your batteries. Which is totally fine and safe.

What Happens When It Gets Too Cold?

Batteries don’t like the cold—especially lithium ones. Here’s what you need to know. TOURIG battery heating pads operate between 22°F and 45°F. If the interior of your van drops below 22°F, your system may prevent charging to protect your batteries.

How to Check Battery Temperature

There are two ways to check if your batteries are too cold to charge:

  1. Via the Victron Connect App - Download it from your app store. Select a battery in the app to see if there's an error message like “under temperature.”

  2. Using the BMV (Battery Monitor) - Also in the Victron app. Look for the temperature readout—if it’s below 41°F, your batteries are likely too cold to charge.

Don’t worry—your system protects itself. When it's too cold, it simply won’t allow charging until it's safe.

How to Warm Your Batteries

If your batteries are too cold, here’s how to safely bring them back up to temp:

  • Run your van for a while to generate cabin heat.

  • Move to a warmer climate, if you're mobile.

  • Use a space heater:

    • Plug it into shore power or a garage outlet.

    • Point it toward the battery cabinet, but keep it at a safe distance from bags or flammable items.

    • Monitor it carefully.

Once your batteries reach a safe temperature (above 41°F), they’ll start charging on their own—no need to manually activate anything.

Need more help with your battery system?
Stop by the shop or contact us.