winter storage

[trackhack]

I want to store my vts over the winter but don't want to wreck the battery which is the best way?

[Ross]

Trickle charger is ideal. Do you have electric where you store the car? If not remove the battery and bring it to your trickle charger.

Alternatively you can get the solar power top up charger things that are supposed to work quite well.

[DAMSK11]

Surely the battery will be fine if its just stored over winter?

[Ross]

Surely the battery will be fine if its just stored over winter?

Not if it's left connected and ideally it wants to be on a smart charger. I have a ctek 36 smart charger. Keeps the battery in good health over long periods of inactivity (likely with a French car :p)

[DAMSK11]

Batteries on my cars have always stayed fine when they haven't been used for long periods of time. Would most likely be fine

[MartinObviously]

My batteries have been fine, as long as you charge them before you store them. they're usually okay for a few months.

Or, as Ross suggested, a mains powered trickle charger.

Solar trickle chargers are great, but not in winter when you only have 5 hours of useful sunlight. then there's snow and ice etc when it won't work :P

[trackhack]

Trickle charger £15, new battery £75 easy choice. Just ordered a trickle charger off Maplins

[KamRacing]

I store a few cars long term. I disconnect the battery, then every 3-4 weeks get the cars started, moved and warmed up. Seems to work fine.

[MartinObviously]

Trickle charger £15, new battery £75 easy choice. Just ordered a trickle charger off Maplins

that the one for £10 or so?

It's shite. mine lasted a week.

[holdawayt]

The mx5 was in storage from October 2012 til March 2013. For 3 months it was stood without an operational engine.

Still started first turn of the key once it was built back up. For a tiny battery it aint half good. It's been in storage a month now. I tend to start it every weekend and take it round the car park to warm up.