My Condo winter storage solution to prevent battery drain

I am into year 3 of this solution that has worked for me for not wanting to store my car in a deep freeze as well as freeing up space for the wifey’s car to be stored inside (I leave home for work at 05:00 and she leaves at 08:00). My daughter lives in a much secured Condo (need Fob to open the outer and inner garage doors for entry/exit) with a heated parking garage and since I go visit her once/week to play with my granddaughter I decided to rent a spot permanently from a tenant without a car.

Solution: I invested in the purchase of 2 gel type batteries

Connection: Instead of hooking up my trickle charger to an AC source (not available in the condo parking area), I hook up in parallel to a fully charged aux battery to almost double the amps (aH). My charging connection is behind the driver’s seat. The cable is run out the door, under the car and to the back and is covered and out of sight with the car covers (see picture of car)

Every week, I take a fully charged battery (that’s why I bought 2) and do a swap. I always record the ‘As found’ and ‘As left’ voltages. As you can see, one battery is stronger than the other. Also this morning’s replacement battery didn’t look like it was fully charged. Anyhow, the car sleeps with a healthy dose of electrons for when it is time to fire her up in the spring.

Question: So why not just use the knob up front and disconnect the battery during storage?
Answer: Cause I don’t want to. I know of a few cases, including mine that did not wake up easily. Plus I need my emission certificate soon after I wake her up and this way the drive cycle stays at ‘ready’ status.

----> Posting this in case one of you live in a Condo and didn’t know what to do.
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A lot less work to just flip the battery disconnect switch ;-)

 

I'm guessing the plastic over the car cover is meant to prevent any dripping from the pipes above hitting the cover?

I'd think twice about that. Covers are designed to let the car breathe for a reason. That generic cover can't be too pricey or special. I'd sacrifice the cover getting a few stains instead of wrapping the car in plastic.

 

Not always true. As I stated, some cars do not 'wake up' right after doing that. Mine did it to me one year and threw a cell soon after.
Also I need an emission test soon afterwards so this way I don't have to worry about reseting the monitors.

 

No drippings. It prevents a lot of dust build up on the car cover. The parking area is very dry with the heaters keeping the parking area around 70 degrees.
This is the 3rd year and no issues.

 

Ahh, I see. I had a car covered outdoors in a RV parking lot (dirt) for about a month and when I removed the cover it was as if it had never been on. The car was dirty as HECK. That said, I had used an indoor car cover and they do make less permeable ones for situations like yours. Whatever you do, just don't make it "air tight" with the plastic but then you probably already know better.

 

do you happen to know what the cel's codes?

 

why would you not just use a trickle charger/battery tender? Plug it in and forget it for 6 months.

 

wow alot of work

 

+1

 

One advantage of being in a smaller condo, 3 family house is economy of scale. I am insulating the garage now but with an oil filled space heater (Carriage House ca. 1923) and a felt lined cover it's doing OK. Only keep it around 40-55 'F. No need for trickle charger as I drove it on Sunday. But yeah we got snow so it may have another wait. Be careful about exhaust fumes. That's the one thing I do see build up, even over a week. I have cars in both spots. My kind neighbor let me use her spot since her Subaru Forester was kind of tight. 00 Miata and 04 360 Spider. A great fit for a garage ca. 1923. First winter at home after storing the 348 for 3 winters.

 

I believe he said an outlet was not available

 

valid reason

 

It sure does throw a turd in the punchbowl when plugging something in

 

Yeah. Without a plug that maybe neccessary.

 

Condo dudes.
No AC outlet in parking garage.

 

First thing I did when I bought the car was to install a new Yellow Top Optima.
First winter I parked, closed the door, turned the battery off knob, closed the frunk, covered the car and walked away.

Spring time was a horror story.
Could not get the door open because the battery became partly sulfated and was weak.
The window did not move down to allow easy door opening. I did not want to break anything so I jacked the car up, took off enough of the bottom cover and got 12v to the starter from an emergency battery. The window dropped and I was able to get the car started.

Driving it home the ASR and ABS lights came on and the CEL light (I forgot which one it was but it might have been suspension). The dash board was lit like a Christmas tree even though the car drove ok. After much reading here on Fchat, I installed a new battery and performed the reset and the rest is history.

So yes, I prefer to keep the battery as fully charged as possible during hibernation.
I know others start and run their cars every 2 weeks but that is their preference.
This is mine.

Just sharing with others that there is an option when trickle charging via an AC is not available. Not a lot of work either. Takes < 5 mins to swap batteries.

 

You need emissions every time you drive the car? You don't have extension cords?

Hell, I would just consider moving instead

 

You are right, thanx for sharing your option Fred !

Never seen it before, but it makes sense if there is no plug available.

Don't be bothered by all other "good comments" .. it's your solution.

 

Appreciate the info. Alot of us live in highrises and this is a viable solution to keeping the cars topped off.

 

What a pain in the butt. I'm glad I live in Southern Cal and have a 3 car garage. Just plug in the trickle charger and all good. When I want to to drive just plug it out.

 

Did you even read what I wrote about before commenting?

Move?

 

What about getting a booster box, use it to charge your battery every couple weeks or so, and just recharge the booster box in your apartment?

Offtopic, did you plastidip or paint your wheels black? Thinking of doing something similar to cheaply update the look. The non permanence of plastidip is appealing.

 

Do you know how extension cords work? They can be extended to a persons desire above and beyond a parking garage and cords can be easily hidden/masked. It's an engineering marvel.

My post should be taken somewhat in jest.

 

Clearly some of us F-Chatters are unfamiliar with "serious" condo associations.....like the ones I dealt with in Pacific Palisades! Extension cord there? No Way!!!!