Charging while my car is covered?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 27
Likes: 2
From: Idaho Falls Idaho
Charging while my car is covered?
I have a 2002 Coupe with 14K miles. I don't drive it as much as I'd like. I keep it in my garage all winter because we get a fair amount of snow. Up until this year, I've always kept a trickle charger on my battery over the winter months. It must be ok since I've got the original battery in the car and it seems to start my car just fine, even when the weather gets cold. This year, I bought a cloth cover from Mid America and plan to keep my car covered during the winter. I typically pop the seals on the doors, hatch, top and hood during my winter storage. My question is this:
Can I charge the battery while my car is covered? I'm concerned about gases being release during the charging process and damaging the paint due to the cover being on the car and affecting circulation under the hood.
Your thoughts are much appreciated!
Jeff.
Can I charge the battery while my car is covered? I'm concerned about gases being release during the charging process and damaging the paint due to the cover being on the car and affecting circulation under the hood.
Your thoughts are much appreciated!
Jeff.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,158
Likes: 23
From: Clifton Park New York
i am in the same boat. i put my 02 away for 3-4 months BUT i just hook up a small charger every 3 or 4 weeks for maybe 2 days at a time. i just roll back the cover when charging. Not sure about a constant charge and being covered.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,628
Likes: 397
From: Madison Wi
I've used a small battery tender on mine for years under the cover without issue.
The battery tender is small, like a wall transformer/power supply. It comes with a hardwire harness that connects easily to your +bat lug on your fuse box and a ground.
What I do is lower the battery tender through the engine bay onto the floor under the car. Then reach under the car and grab it and plug it in to an extension cord. This way no wires are resting against any painted surfaces.
Close the hood, cover the car and wait for spring.
The battery tender is small, like a wall transformer/power supply. It comes with a hardwire harness that connects easily to your +bat lug on your fuse box and a ground.
What I do is lower the battery tender through the engine bay onto the floor under the car. Then reach under the car and grab it and plug it in to an extension cord. This way no wires are resting against any painted surfaces.
Close the hood, cover the car and wait for spring.
Lifetime Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 10,702
Likes: 76
From: New Jersey
St. Jude Donor '05, '12-'13, '15-'16, '21
I've kept mine covered and first hooked up to a Battery Tender and now a CTEK with no (known) issues. I think your okay as long as you're keeping the charger outside the cover and you do a periodic check. Heat isn't being generated and as long as you're following proper instructions for the charger I wouldn't suspect there would be a problem.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
From: Garden City MI
I've used a small battery tender on mine for years under the cover without issue.
The battery tender is small, like a wall transformer/power supply. It comes with a hardwire harness that connects easily to your +bat lug on your fuse box and a ground.
What I do is lower the battery tender through the engine bay onto the floor under the car. Then reach under the car and grab it and plug it in to an extension cord. This way no wires are resting against any painted surfaces.
Close the hood, cover the car and wait for spring.
The battery tender is small, like a wall transformer/power supply. It comes with a hardwire harness that connects easily to your +bat lug on your fuse box and a ground.
What I do is lower the battery tender through the engine bay onto the floor under the car. Then reach under the car and grab it and plug it in to an extension cord. This way no wires are resting against any painted surfaces.
Close the hood, cover the car and wait for spring.
I also run the plug for the Battery Tender through the engine bay onto the garage floor and plug it into a short extension cord. I keep my car cover on all winter and have never experienced a problem.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 351
Likes: 1
From: Laurel Maryland
St. Jude Donor '11
I used to keep my 75 coupe on charge all winter (battery behind drivers seat) cover on and the windows down, never a problem. Will have to put the 02 coupe in the garage soon. The battery is sealed so I don't think any gases are emitting. Just be certain all the connections are tight and the electrical source is good. I'd be more concerned about fire that gases.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
From: Waldorf MD
I've used a small battery tender on mine for years under the cover without issue.
The battery tender is small, like a wall transformer/power supply. It comes with a hardwire harness that connects easily to your +bat lug on your fuse box and a ground.
What I do is lower the battery tender through the engine bay onto the floor under the car. Then reach under the car and grab it and plug it in to an extension cord. This way no wires are resting against any painted surfaces.
Close the hood, cover the car and wait for spring.
The battery tender is small, like a wall transformer/power supply. It comes with a hardwire harness that connects easily to your +bat lug on your fuse box and a ground.
What I do is lower the battery tender through the engine bay onto the floor under the car. Then reach under the car and grab it and plug it in to an extension cord. This way no wires are resting against any painted surfaces.
Close the hood, cover the car and wait for spring.
Same is true for me
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,161
Likes: 280
From: Springfield MA
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12, '19, '21
I also used a CTEK on my covered 82 last year and had no problems. I intend on doing the same on the 01 this winter. Just check it every once and a while.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,113
Likes: 669
From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
Batteries
I've used a small battery tender on mine for years under the cover without issue.
The battery tender is small, like a wall transformer/power supply. It comes with a hardwire harness that connects easily to your +bat lug on your fuse box and a ground.
What I do is lower the battery tender through the engine bay onto the floor under the car. Then reach under the car and grab it and plug it in to an extension cord. This way no wires are resting against any painted surfaces.
Close the hood, cover the car and wait for spring.
The battery tender is small, like a wall transformer/power supply. It comes with a hardwire harness that connects easily to your +bat lug on your fuse box and a ground.
What I do is lower the battery tender through the engine bay onto the floor under the car. Then reach under the car and grab it and plug it in to an extension cord. This way no wires are resting against any painted surfaces.
Close the hood, cover the car and wait for spring.
I have a Optima Red top in my Corvette, and it has always been perfect when I put it away for the winter. I have a 'float charger' called 'BatteryMinder' which is a special made 1.2 amp float charger for any spirl wound battery like a Optima or an Odyssey battery. But I have done this for many year and while the car is stored indoor a sealed garage, I never had any kind of gases buildup ever. I'm pretty sure most all automotive batteries are sealed units.
Last edited by killain; Nov 21, 2010 at 12:57 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 812
Likes: 2
From: Metairie Louisiana
If your battery is marginal the tender may chose a bit higher charging rate than with a battery thats' fresh, possibly producing more gases than what would be expected. Tenders are suppose to provide only enough current to prevent the battery from becoming discharged. I'm thinking a maintenance charge rate of .75amps would be safe, but you have raised a pretty good question I hadn't really thought about before.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,694
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
I put marine terminals on the top posts of my Yellow Top Optima, attached the "Battery Tender" short plug end to the wing nuts and have the short wire and plug tucked away near the wipers, not visible while driving, yet I just pull it out a few inches when parked in the garage. I also have the 20' Battery Tender extension so I just plug in and walk away. I never have to pop the hood. I never have to worry about the clips on the battery. Works great and isn't offensive to look at.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,137
Likes: 4
From: Indianapolis Indiana
St. Jude Donor '13, '15, ‘18, '21
I have a ctek and will be buying a second this season as well and plan to keep the cars covered to keep dust and dirt off, and anything that might leak off the top one onto the bottom one. Hopefully this is not an issue, would sure make it hard to charge the batteries over the winter and keep them covered.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: The line waiting to see Santa Claus stretched all the way back to Terre Haute, and I was at the end, Indiana
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18
Most modern batteries are sealed, so there shouldn't be any issues with fumes trapped under the cover (I assume this is what you are worried about?) from the charging process.
I have used a Battery Tender on both of my C5s for years with covers, with no issues. I do, however pull the cover back on my '64 because it has a lead-acid, and I worry about the fumes.
I have used a Battery Tender on both of my C5s for years with covers, with no issues. I do, however pull the cover back on my '64 because it has a lead-acid, and I worry about the fumes.
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I've kept my Vette covered for the last 7 years during the winter and have always had a Battery Tender Plus attached to the battery. No probems what so ever doing it that way.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
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From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
I have a 2002 Coupe with 14K miles. I don't drive it as much as I'd like. I keep it in my garage all winter because we get a fair amount of snow. Up until this year, I've always kept a trickle charger on my battery over the winter months. It must be ok since I've got the original battery in the car and it seems to start my car just fine, even when the weather gets cold. This year, I bought a cloth cover from Mid America and plan to keep my car covered during the winter. I typically pop the seals on the doors, hatch, top and hood during my winter storage. My question is this:
Can I charge the battery while my car is covered? I'm concerned about gases being release during the charging process and damaging the paint due to the cover being on the car and affecting circulation under the hood.
Your thoughts are much appreciated!
Jeff.
Can I charge the battery while my car is covered? I'm concerned about gases being release during the charging process and damaging the paint due to the cover being on the car and affecting circulation under the hood.
Your thoughts are much appreciated!
Jeff.
Not to worry. A trickle charger usually has a OFF switch built in so it does NOT overcharger the battery and cook it.
You will and should be safe keeping it covered, plus you are not encapsulating the Vette in a sealed case so there is plenty of oxygen and breathable air for the gases to escape should there be any. The cotton cover will allow it to breathe.
Sorry you have to put it down for the winter, but spring will be here soon enough
Thanks,Matt