Preventing a dead battery when keeping a car parked due to Covid-19

Oct 15th, 2020 11:09 am

#1

kasm [OP]: Deal Addict; Nov 4, 2007; 1512 posts; 601 upvotes; Toronto

Oct 15th, 2020 11:09 am

Preventing a dead battery when keeping a car parked due to Covid-19

Hello,

Due to Covid, we have "parked" one of our cars to save on insurance. Because of this, I am unable to drive that car. It sits in our garage. I have been starting the engine and pulling it out to the driveway every few weeks, but 2 weeks ago the car would not start due to not enough juice. I jump started it with my other car and let it run for 5 minutes. Unfortunately, 2 weeks later the battery is again not able to provide enough current to start the car.

What can I do to prevent this? I read that starting the car regularly will actually drain the battery more and that the alternator will not actually charge the car unless it's doing at least 1000 rpm. Since we can not drive the car due to lack of insurance what are your recommendations?

Thanks

EDIT: Ended up getting the Gooloo 6A Charger and Maintainer. See: preventing-dead-battery-when-keeping-ca ... #p33314324

Last edited by kasm on Oct 21st, 2020 8:32 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Oct 15th, 2020 11:12 am

#2

FilaGuy: Jr. Member; Dec 1, 2014; 173 posts; 154 upvotes; Burlington, ON

Oct 15th, 2020 11:12 am

I had the same issue so bought a battery tender at canadian tire on sale. I hooked-up the included pigtails so it's a simple quick connect & release without needing to put the clamps on the battery terminals.

Here's the one I bought: https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/moto ... 1964p.html

+3

Oct 15th, 2020 11:14 am

#3

Anikiri: Deal Fanatic; May 1, 2012; 9584 posts; 8874 upvotes; Markham

Oct 15th, 2020 11:14 am

Battery tender, it's cheap.

+3

Oct 15th, 2020 11:15 am

#4

jackrabbit000: Deal Fanatic; Dec 28, 2007; 7957 posts; 4565 upvotes; Alberta

Oct 15th, 2020 11:15 am

Any battery maintainer will work. Some are better than others. This one is onsale for $27.99 right now.

https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/moto ... 1963p.html

+3

Oct 15th, 2020 11:24 am

#5

jaybeeg: Member; Sep 16, 2015; 283 posts; 546 upvotes; Calgary, AB

Oct 15th, 2020 11:24 am

Buy a proper battery charger and use it on the 2A setting to periodically charge your vehicle over the winter. It will cost twice what a trickle charger sells for but has the ability to quickly charge a dead battery if you leave the car door open or find some other way to completely drain a battery accidentally.

+2

Oct 15th, 2020 11:27 am

#6

EP32k2: Deal Expert; Jan 15, 2006; 15560 posts; 13162 upvotes; Richmond Hill

Oct 15th, 2020 11:27 am

Starting up the car and just letting it idle is one of the worst things you can do. Either drive the car around till it's at operating temp. or don't touch it at all and of course the alternator does not put out enough voltage to charge the battery either at idle speeds.

+5

Oct 15th, 2020 11:50 am

#7

kasm [OP]: Deal Addict; Nov 4, 2007; 1512 posts; 601 upvotes; Toronto

Oct 15th, 2020 11:50 am

Thanks for the replies. What is the recommended Amperage?

Would this work? https://www.amazon.ca/Universal-Maintai ... 07B4V3HC4/
It's 1.5A.

Oct 15th, 2020 12:20 pm

#8

Cheapo-Findo: Deal Guru; Mar 9, 2007; 13681 posts; 8690 upvotes; Think of the Childre…

Oct 15th, 2020 12:20 pm

Meh, got mines from Costco last year...still under warranty, if kaputz...I get it switched for a new one....free!

WOULD SOMEBODY THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!!

Oct 15th, 2020 12:43 pm

#9

Gutty96: Deal Fanatic; Jun 24, 2006; 8934 posts; 3252 upvotes

Oct 15th, 2020 12:43 pm

Just disconnect the negative terminal.

My parents go to Arizona for 6 months every year, and I go out to their house they day after they leave, disconnect the batteries. Then, the day before they come, I reconnect the batteries, start them, and take each one for a drive down the corner store and back.

Never once had to boost, or charge before starting, and been doing this for years. Heck, Dad's 2008 Colorado is still on the OEM battery.

+2

Oct 15th, 2020 12:52 pm

#10

leeoku: Sr. Member; Feb 5, 2007; 625 posts; 247 upvotes; Mississauga

Oct 15th, 2020 12:52 pm

I bought the genius 1 and top it off every like 2 weeks. Here's a link from y'day prime day. Also make sure to unplug anything that's not needed (dashcam, GPS, etc)

Oct 15th, 2020 1:05 pm

#11

FilaGuy: Jr. Member; Dec 1, 2014; 173 posts; 154 upvotes; Burlington, ON

Oct 15th, 2020 1:05 pm

kasm wrote: ↑ Thanks for the replies. What is the recommended Amperage?

Would this work? https://www.amazon.ca/Universal-Maintai ... 07B4V3HC4/
It's 1.5A.

More amps, faster recharge. I like the 3A version I got since it only means a few hours hooked-up but 1.5A should be fine.

Oct 15th, 2020 1:07 pm

#12

kasm [OP]: Deal Addict; Nov 4, 2007; 1512 posts; 601 upvotes; Toronto

Oct 15th, 2020 1:07 pm

FilaGuy wrote: ↑ More amps, faster recharge. I like the 3A version I got since it only means a few hours hooked-up but 1.5A should be fine.

Thanks, I'm not interested in speed. I just want to hook it up and forget it until we need to drive again.

I'd rather not have to disconnect the battery in case I need to pull the car out onto the driveway, without having to grab my socket wrench to reconnect.

Oct 15th, 2020 1:13 pm

#13

jdmfishingonly: Deal Addict; Oct 13, 2008; 4343 posts; 1439 upvotes

Oct 15th, 2020 1:13 pm

Change the insurance back to CASUAL driving ... what's the difference in money?

16'x11' Living Room 11' Cathedral Ceiling. Hisense 65Q8G. Denon AVR-S740H. Jamo Classic 10 280W Towers - FR+FL. Polk Audio S35 - Center. Klipsch R51M - RR+RL & R14M - Dolby FHR+FHL. Polk Audio HTS10 Subwoofer x2. Unlocked Android Boxes from Taiwan x2.

Oct 15th, 2020 1:19 pm

#14

mystery: Deal Fanatic; Dec 29, 2005; 5389 posts; 1156 upvotes

Oct 15th, 2020 1:19 pm

Gutty96 wrote: ↑ Just disconnect the negative terminal.

My parents go to Arizona for 6 months every year, and I go out to their house they day after they leave, disconnect the batteries. Then, the day before they come, I reconnect the batteries, start them, and take each one for a drive down the corner store and back.

Never once had to boost, or charge before starting, and been doing this for years. Heck, Dad's 2008 Colorado is still on the OEM battery.

May require resetting options and unlocking radio if you disconnect battery, depending on car.

Oct 15th, 2020 1:26 pm

#15

kasm [OP]: Deal Addict; Nov 4, 2007; 1512 posts; 601 upvotes; Toronto

Oct 15th, 2020 1:26 pm

jdmfishingonly wrote: ↑ Change the insurance back to CASUAL driving ... what's the difference in money?

difference is $800 for the year.

Oct 15th, 2020 1:37 pm

#16

craftsman: Deal Expert; Jan 27, 2006; 15317 posts; 8191 upvotes; Vancouver, BC

Oct 15th, 2020 1:37 pm

jaybeeg wrote: ↑ Buy a proper battery charger and use it on the 2A setting to periodically charge your vehicle over the winter. It will cost twice what a trickle charger sells for but has the ability to quickly charge a dead battery if you leave the car door open or find some other way to completely drain a battery accidentally.

Realistically, 2A isn't much better in terms of charging times than a 0.8A if you are talking about a dead battery. After all, even the small batteries hold 50 to 60 AHrs so instead of 3 days to charge a battery, you might be looking at a day and a half.

Oct 15th, 2020 1:38 pm

#17

craftsman: Deal Expert; Jan 27, 2006; 15317 posts; 8191 upvotes; Vancouver, BC

Oct 15th, 2020 1:38 pm

kasm wrote: ↑ Thanks for the replies. What is the recommended Amperage?

Would this work? https://www.amazon.ca/Universal-Maintai ... 07B4V3HC4/
It's 1.5A.

No. Not because of the current but of the brand. If you are going to plug that thing in for weeks or months, then go for a good name brand unit or at least some thing sold by a big bricks and mortar company.

Oct 15th, 2020 1:40 pm

#18

mr_raider: Deal Expert; Feb 29, 2008; 25636 posts; 3181 upvotes; Montreal

Oct 15th, 2020 1:40 pm

kasm wrote: ↑ difference is $800 for the year.

Sell it.

Oct 15th, 2020 1:41 pm

#19

craftsman: Deal Expert; Jan 27, 2006; 15317 posts; 8191 upvotes; Vancouver, BC

Oct 15th, 2020 1:41 pm

Gutty96 wrote: ↑ Just disconnect the negative terminal.

My parents go to Arizona for 6 months every year, and I go out to their house they day after they leave, disconnect the batteries. Then, the day before they come, I reconnect the batteries, start them, and take each one for a drive down the corner store and back.

Never once had to boost, or charge before starting, and been doing this for years. Heck, Dad's 2008 Colorado is still on the OEM battery.

Don't confuse a battery that starts a car in warmer climates (I'm assuming your parents Winter in Az) as one that is in good shape. Get the battery tested. Better yet, fully charge the battery and then get the battery tested . Car batteries have a self-discharge rate of about 5% a month if left by itself and they like to be fully charged or else they start to sulfate.

Oct 15th, 2020 2:04 pm

#20

kasm [OP]: Deal Addict; Nov 4, 2007; 1512 posts; 601 upvotes; Toronto

Oct 15th, 2020 2:04 pm

craftsman wrote: ↑ No. Not because of the current but of the brand. If you are going to plug that thing in for weeks or months, then go for a good name brand unit or at least some thing sold by a big bricks and mortar company.

Thanks. Looks like NOCO, CTEK and GOOLOO are recommended brands. The first 2 brands are much more expensive.

Of the GOOLOO, the 2A model is $40 ($37 after coupon) and the 6A is $50 ($40 after coupon). I'm thinking the 6A is the better deal for $3 more as it also has an LED display. Apparently the 6A also can be used in 2A mode, though I can't find details on this. Thoughts?

GOOLOO 2A: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B08DKTYV9Z
GOOLOO 6A: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07WF7J5LV

Last edited by kasm on Oct 15th, 2020 2:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.