Winter storage issue
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 882
Likes: 153
From: Massachusetts, North Shore
Winter storage issue
I know it's a little early to be discussing winter storage but I like to be
prepared. (yes, I was a Boy Scout). A brand new storage facility has opened
not too far from my house and they have very reasonable rates for a
10 X 20 storage area suitable for storing a car except there are no
electrical outlets in these units and the ones that have them are really
more suited to contractors (20 X40 etc.). I was considering buying a
portable power source to run the battery tender (2024 C8) and
recharging the source once a week or so, as needed.
Like to hear pros & cons, alternatives and other ideas. Thanks!
prepared. (yes, I was a Boy Scout). A brand new storage facility has opened
not too far from my house and they have very reasonable rates for a
10 X 20 storage area suitable for storing a car except there are no
electrical outlets in these units and the ones that have them are really
more suited to contractors (20 X40 etc.). I was considering buying a
portable power source to run the battery tender (2024 C8) and
recharging the source once a week or so, as needed.
Like to hear pros & cons, alternatives and other ideas. Thanks!
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 11,825
Likes: 2,480
From: Ft Lauderdale
Tech Contributor
you don’t even need to yank the battery, just charge the battery to full capacity by taking it out and driving it for an hour or two, bring it back put it in the parking storage shed space and disconnect the negative battery cable from the battery. I am assuming you can lock the space so no need to lock the car. The battery will keep fine even if it’s a freezing temperature, if its fully charged and not connected to any power drain.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 2,784
Likes: 3,567
Most of those facilities don't have electrical in the units for a reason. They aren't likely to be keen on you keeping a bigger battery hooked to your car battery either. Look into it. But, I think the need to go out to a storage area every week to 10 days kind of makes the whole thing inconvenient. I say you pull the battery and hook it to a maintainer at home.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,501
Likes: 8,678
So...based on the description in the Service Manual, the charging system is designd to charge the battery to 80%. - so driving it around will not fully charge the battery - but rather to 80%. To fully charge if, if that is what someone wants to do, that will required either using a battery maintainer or a charger to bring it up to 100%.
There is a theory that for general regular use, frequent connection to a charger bringing it up to 100%, then driving the car which wlll take it back down to 80% actually "increases' the "battery cycles" and may actually be harmful. I'm neither saying this is accurate or inaccurate, just acknowledging the theory. But for this scenario of long term storage, putting a full charge on the battery might be preferred if it is not possible to put it on a maintainer during the storage period.
There are solar powered maintainers. I don't suppose you could run a wire outside of the storage garage and put the solar outside?
There is a theory that for general regular use, frequent connection to a charger bringing it up to 100%, then driving the car which wlll take it back down to 80% actually "increases' the "battery cycles" and may actually be harmful. I'm neither saying this is accurate or inaccurate, just acknowledging the theory. But for this scenario of long term storage, putting a full charge on the battery might be preferred if it is not possible to put it on a maintainer during the storage period.
There are solar powered maintainers. I don't suppose you could run a wire outside of the storage garage and put the solar outside?
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From: Fort Worth TX
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Years ago I rented space in what you describe. I took out the light bulb in ceiling and screwed in a plug adapter, extension cord and plugged in my battery tender. Leave light switch on. Worked for about two years until I vacated.
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What Floridasky mentions is a good option; otherwise, go ahead and take the battery out of the car and put it in a battery maintainer at home.
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Nuff said
Drifting
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Racer
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 437
Likes: 253
From: Barnegat NJ
I live up here in the Northeast along the shore. Winters although not like out west are sometimes brutal. Plus I have no garage. I was also renting a storage unit at$225 a month.
I was at Carlisle a few years ago and bought a Carcapsule
It was the answer. Unwrap it, drive the car onto it plug in the battery tender a whla! What a great alternative
I was at Carlisle a few years ago and bought a Carcapsule
It was the answer. Unwrap it, drive the car onto it plug in the battery tender a whla! What a great alternative
