Removed The Insurance :(

[bimmergixxer]

With the social distancing happening and the fact the wife has been working from home since mid March and me only going into work once a week, it seemed a waste to have six vehicles insured and most all sitting. The Audi (sorry for the foul language) has to stay since it just came out of winter storage and the X6 is nice to have for picking up yard materials since I have the extra time. And the bikes are also hitting their prime and taken out of storage.
Question for you, is how can I keep the battery charged while it sits on the driveway? Anything else I should be looking at or be concerned about if it ends up sitting for a couple months?

Thanks

[bvrider1]

https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1709955

[bimmergixxer]

Thanks for the link. My issue is that the car sits outside in the driveway and I do not feel comfortable leaving the trickle charger outside in the rain. If it was inside than this would be a perfect solution.

[Bpark1977]

Originally Posted by bimmergixxer

Thanks for the link. My issue is that the car sits outside in the driveway and I do not feel comfortable leaving the trickle charger outside in the rain. If it was inside than this would be a perfect solution.

Just place the ballast inside the car and close the power cord in the jam. Maybe move it a little every now and then to not make a crease in the seal.

[bvrider1]

Originally Posted by bimmergixxer

Thanks for the link. My issue is that the car sits outside in the driveway and I do not feel comfortable leaving the trickle charger outside in the rain. If it was inside than this would be a perfect solution.

In that link I sent you I mentioned my boat has a trickle charger that is outside but in cover of the boat. It is exposed to heat but stays dry.

I have outdoor outlets and I could see parking close enough to those and keeping the trickle charger in the connected. Or pull the battery and charge them in the garage.

[bimmergixxer]

"Just place the ballast inside the car and close the power cord in the jam. Maybe move it a little every now and then to not make a crease in the seal"

You mean inside the operating area or the trunk? Is it best to hook the cables to the connectors in the engine bay or in the trunk?

I could pull the battery and bring it inside and on the trickle. Good idea.

[nekbreaker]

or place the whole thing under the hood like I did year ago the storage place was underground with open spot so I just place the charger under the hood ran the cable on the corner of the hood closed and done

[SYT_Shadow]

I suggest you do what I used to do. Let the car sit and once every few months, plug the trickle charger in.

In CT the only way for me to remove insurance is to return the plates

[bvrider1]

Hey OP,

I have a dual bank one. With all the toys you have...
https://www.adventurerv.net/battery-...tsfeed_organic

[Bpark1977]

Originally Posted by bimmergixxer

"Just place the ballast inside the car and close the power cord in the jam. Maybe move it a little every now and then to not make a crease in the seal"

You mean inside the operating area or the trunk? Is it best to hook the cables to the connectors in the engine bay or in the trunk?

I could pull the battery and bring it inside and on the trickle. Good idea.

I'm not 100% of under the hood or direct to the battery is better. I would assume direct to the battery and have the ballast in the trunk. If you wanted to go hood, you could get tricky and run the cable out the airbox inlet below your driver side headlight and rest the ballast in the bumper opening? You'd have to leave your airbox lid ajar but if you're not driving so what.

[GRUESOM3]

When I had to keep one of my other cars in driveway for while I ran a permanent plug in terminal like this directly from battery to wheel well. When not in use or in rain it's still under the car and you don't have to open the car to access it just plug in and go. Depending on your length you may have to extend it but it's still a pain in the neck to be opening hood or trunk every time if it's going to be parked for a while. Once a week just to top it off, that was my method worked well. Shouldn't have to keep it on all the time, a battery should hold for week without charging.

https://www.zoro.com/battery-tender-...-6/i/G3740913/

[MaximusB]

I've tried the followings when I used to live in an apartment:

1.) Hook up the trickle charge under the hood using the + and - terminal. Leave the whole thing inside the engine bay, there is room around the oil cap area. Fish the extension cord into the engine bay from under the car so the plugs are off the ground in case the ground gets wet.

2.) Take the battery out and charge it inside. Make sure you fold down the back seat so you can unlatch the trunk when you need to put the battery back in. There are other ways to unlock the trunk, but I find the easiest is just to go in the car and through the back seat to pull the release cable.

[R-35]

Get a CTEK trickle battery charger from amazon....looks like you're in Canada so I recommend getting the orange version which is made for cold climate.

To avoid flat spots on the tires you should put extra air into the tires & move the car maybe every 2 weeks. Or you can look into other methods that prevents flat spots such as ramps.

[6ixSpd]

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B017K6PH1S/..._.h3NEbB8S0Z2Z

I've heard good things about these. I ordered one for one of our cars as well because it sits outside and isn't being driven. Will post back with my experience once I receive and use it.

[PYE46M3]

from what I have read, you aren't supposed to hook up the charger directly to the battery on this car. It must be charged through the terminals in the engine bay.

I have a CTEK and I charge through the terminals in the engine, you can leave the unit under the hood and run an extension cord out to a wall socket.

[roastbeef]

Originally Posted by bimmergixxer

Thanks for the link. My issue is that the car sits outside in the driveway and I do not feel comfortable leaving the trickle charger outside in the rain. If it was inside than this would be a perfect solution.

run an extension cord and put everything inside the engine bay and shut it. a small one will fit. then all you have out in the rain is a rubber cord leading into the garage.

[Scrippy]

Originally Posted by bimmergixxer

"Just place the ballast inside the car and close the power cord in the jam. Maybe move it a little every now and then to not make a crease in the seal"

You mean inside the operating area or the trunk? Is it best to hook the cables to the connectors in the engine bay or in the trunk?

I could pull the battery and bring it inside and on the trickle. Good idea.

There is no need for a trickle charger on a battery NOT in the car. There is no draw on the battery if it's out of the car so there is no need to charge. Trickle charger charges the battery in the car slowly because some ECU's constantly draw power even with the car off.

[bvrider1]

I don't know if I agree with this. I have three boat batteries and they all are brought inside during the winter. Every couple of weeks I will put that on the trickle charger and they do accept a charge. The led to indicate fully charge takes a few hrs to show up.

Originally Posted by Scrippy

There is no need for a trickle charger on a battery NOT in the car. There is no draw on the battery if it's out of the car so there is no need to charge. Trickle charger charges the battery in the car slowly because some ECU's constantly draw power even with the car off.

[IB M]

Did u take off just collision or all insurance? Theft and comprehensive still smart to have unless you've got it in the garage under lock and key.

[Scrippy]

Originally Posted by bvrider1

I don't know if I agree with this. I have three boat batteries and they all are brought inside during the winter. Every couple of weeks I will put that on the trickle charger and they do accept a charge. The led to indicate fully charge takes a few hrs to show up.

No problem but a healthy battery will hold a charge all winter and get dropped in for startup during the summer. If it doesn't betcha we are talking about a battery well older than 4 years of age.

[bimmergixxer]

Originally Posted by IB M

Did u take off just collision or all insurance? Theft and comprehensive still smart to have unless you've got it in the garage under lock and key.

Yes , theft and comprehension is still on the car since it only about 20 dollars a month. thanks for asking and making a valid point.

[bvrider1]

You are correct. These batteries are not new and are about that age.

Originally Posted by Scrippy

No problem but a healthy battery will hold a charge all winter and get dropped in for startup during the summer. If it doesn't betcha we are talking about a battery well older than 4 years of age.