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3 Minute Read

What Happens If You Don’t Trickle Charge Your Battery?

Posted by - Tim Earnshaw on 14 January 2021
Categories: Advice, Classic car storage, Super car storage, Tips & Tricks, Winter car storage
What Happens If You Don’t Trickle Charge Your Battery?

Neglect your battery and your pride and joy won’t be going anywhere. From the fine art of trickle charging to the battery conditioners we use at Windrush Car Storage, here are some pitfalls and pro tips.

When you’re putting regular miles on the clock, your car battery takes care of itself. The trouble starts when you shut the garage door at the end of the season. Placed in long term car storage without proper maintenance, your battery will rapidly drain and die. Worse, if you attempt to resuscitate it with the time-honoured jump start, you risk damage to the expensive parts, like the onboard computer. Here’s the advice of our experts at Windrush Car Storage, from battery conditioners to the art of trickle charging.

Why does my battery suffer during long term car storage?

Batteries do more than you might realise. Even when you turn off the engine, this vital component keeps on feeding everything from the radio memory to engine management systems. As such, when the wheels stop turning during long term car storage, the batteries of both modern and classic vehicles start fading fast. Sooner than you’d think, the charge will drop below the 12-volt threshold where the lead plates could harden and stop the battery from charging properly again (a process known as sulphation). At the same time, your car’s onboard computer will register error codes and you’ll need to visit the dealer for a costly reset. Fortunately, prevention is less painful than cure.

Why trickle charge your car battery?

Can’t I just jump start after long term car storage?

Attaching crocodile clips to your battery might make you feel nostalgic for the golden age of motoring – but it’s actually bad news for your vehicle. By jump starting your car, you risk an over-voltage spike that does real damage to charge-sensitive electronics. As for powering up your car using a regular battery charger, this comes with its own dangers: most chargers don’t switch off automatically when full charge is reached, risking a boiled dry battery or even a fire. If you’re putting your vehicle into long term car storage, it’s better to learn about trickle charging and battery conditioners.

What are the pros & cons of trickle charging for long term car storage?

Unlike the one-off shock of a jump start, trickle charging slowly feeds your battery with a constant low-level charge, replacing the power at roughly the same level that it’s dispersed. If you’re wondering how long to trickle charge a car battery for, be aware this is not a quick fix: most charger models use a maximum of two amps (and take up to 48 hours), while others can be left charging for weeks, or even indefinitely.

Trickle charging your car battery

Will trickle charging hurt a battery?

As long as you use a suitable model and follow the instructions, the low-level pulse of a trickle charger should be safe for your car battery. But another key question we’re often asked is – can a trickle charger charge a dead car battery? Unfortunately, no: you’ll need to be proactive, starting the trickle charging process before your battery life drops too low. Trickle chargers are designed to maintain your battery, not bring it back from the dead.

How do battery conditioners help during long term car storage?

At Windrush Car Storage, we’re big advocates of battery conditioners. In fact, every vehicle that arrives at our specialist car storage facilities in Central London and the Cotswolds is supplied with an industry leading CTEK battery conditioner at no extra cost, for the simple reason that we believe these are the best all-round charging solution. Because they’re fully automatic, battery conditioners intelligently monitor the power that remains in your battery, then optimise the charging levels accordingly – so you’ll never risk overheating, or fall below the 12-volt cut-off point, even during long term car storage.

At Windrush, safeguarding your vehicle with a battery conditioner and weekly inspection is just the start of our renowned long term car storage solution. Following a twelve-step induction process, we’ll bring your car to its own dehumidified, climate-controlled indoor storage bay, backed by 24/7 security, twice-daily checks, weekly drip tray checks and a full maintenance checkover every 60 days. There’s simply nowhere better for your vehicle.

To find out more about our long-term car storage solution, get in touch today.

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2 Minute Read

Why We Use Ctek Battery Conditioners

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Why do Windrush Car Storage use CTEK battery conditioners and how do they work?  One of the most important services provided by Windrush Car Storage when caring for clients’ vehicles is ensuring that their batteries remain charged, healthy and ready for use whenever required. In order to do this, Windrush supply every vehicle with a CTEK battery conditioner as part of their all-inclusive car storage service. Unlike many of our competitors, we do this at no extra cost to the client. Based in Sweden CTEK are the market leader in high quality battery conditioners.  They have designed and developed a unique range of advanced, durable and compact ‘smart’ units that provide a simple ‘plug and play’ solution for all battery maintenance requirements.  At both of our storage locations, Windrush use CTEK’s MXS 3.8 charger for our clients’ vehicles and we also have an advanced PRO 25S workshop charger if required.  Once connected The CTEK battery conditioner will assess the residual power stored in the vehicle’s battery and then charge at variable rates to bring it back to optimum levels. Once the battery is charged, the CTEK units automatically switch to conditioning mode to maintain the battery at optimum levels, offering the perfect solution for both short and long term battery maintenance requirements. Ideal for charging and maintaining all types of batteries Including lead-acid batteries (including GEL & AGM) and the new Lithium LiFePO4 batteries, CTEK battery conditioners are supplied as original equipment (OE) by many prestige manufacturers including Porsche, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Lamborghini and Bentley.  If a client’s vehicle is sent to us for storage with its OE conditioner we will use this, or if the client prefers we will supply our own – again, at no extra cost to the client.  We ensure that all conditioners attached to vehicles in storage with us are checked regularly to maintain the health of the vehicles’ batteries. Standing the test of time Having used CTEK chargers for over 16 years, we continue to find them the best offering on the market despite continuous assessment of other options available. Get in touch Should you have any further questions about Windrush Car Storage, our ethos or our secure car storage facilities in Central London and the Cotswolds, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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Long term car storage keeps your classic in good working order and helps maintain its value. Here are some of the biggest dangers of storing your classic incorrectly – and how we avoid them at Windrush. As a classic car owner, you will likely be aware of the obvious dangers to your much-loved vehicle, things like every day prangs and even urban vandalism. But you might not give the same attention to the gradual, but just as serious, issues that you set in motion by simply leaving your vehicle static for longer periods. Storing a car properly is about so much more than throwing over a cover and remembering to lock the garage door. Here are five of the most common risks of storing a car incorrectly, and the expert solutions we use at Windrush’s specialist car storage facilities in Central London and the Cotswolds. #1. Corroded Paintwork You’re rightly proud of your original paint finish – which is all the more reason to protect it from dangers such as sun-fade and corrosion which can be caused by contaminants left on the car’s surface before storage. A proper wash – followed by taking the time to dry properly – are critical steps before storage, as is keeping your vehicle in a covered, dark and dry facility. However, if that all sound like too much hard work, turn to Windrush Car Storage. We’ll treat your classic to our washing, drying and valeting/detailing services, then welcome it into a climate-controlled indoor storage bay where the elements stay at the door. #2. Tyre Flat Spots Your tyres were designed to turn on tarmac, and they don’t take kindly to sitting in one place for too long. Take the wrong approach to long term car storage and you risk getting flat spots: a badly worn section of the tread which causes a nasty vibration through the steering wheel when the vehicle is in motion. But it doesn’t have to be this way. An easy and cost-effective tactic is to increase your tyre pressure by 50% and make a point of rolling it a little at least once every couple of weeks. At Windrush Car Storage, we’ll take care of everything, keeping an eye on your PSI levels, and we even sympathetically and methodically stretch your classic’s legs on our internal rolling road without it having to be exposed to the elements. #3. Mildew, mould and rust First, you smell it. Then you see it: the dreaded dusting over your carpets and leather seats, giving a visual indication that your car storage wasn’t quite as dry as you thought. Worse still, moisture spells rust. So, if you’re keeping your classic in a private garage, at the very least, you should investigate the dehumidifiers on the market, and choose a modern unit that offers adjustable airflow to prevent mildew, condensation, mould and general damp. Alternatively, when you come to Windrush long term car storage, you can rely on a dehumidified private bay, with conditions optimised to suit your individual vehicle. #4. Damaged Fuel Lines Petrol might seem like an afterthought when it comes to long term car storage – but there’s a price to pay if you don’t take preventative action. Left to sit, fuel degrades in your vehicle’s tank, eventually causing a gunking-up of the fuel lines, pump and tank. Luckily, there’s a few tricks to stop this. You could leave a low volume of fuel sitting in the tank and add a fresh splash now and then. Alternatively, fill the tank with high-octane or non-ethanol fuel, which will take far longer to degrade (if you choose this option, also add a fuel stabiliser). At Windrush Car Storage, we’ll do the legwork, checking your fluid levels when your car arrives with us, and every 60 days after that. #5. Mechanical failures Cars were not designed to remain static for long periods, and a hands-off approach to car storage will take a heavy toll on the mechanics  from failed batteries to brake seizures. Don’t just walk away from your car, instead, you should be starting the engine and moving it at semi-regular intervals, to get all the parts turning over and limbered up. Of course, this might not be possible in circumstances, and that’s where Windrush Car Storage can help. Our experts give your vehicle a full maintenance checkup every 60 days – and drive it to operating temperatures on our internal rolling road. To discover the benefits of Windrush classic car storage, get in touch today.
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    Read Article
    Why do Windrush Car Storage use CTEK battery conditioners and how do they work?  One of the most important services provided by Windrush Car Storage when caring for clients’ vehicles is ensuring that their batteries remain charged, healthy and ready for use whenever required. In order to do this, Windrush supply every vehicle with a CTEK battery conditioner as part of their all-inclusive car storage service. Unlike many of our competitors, we do this at no extra cost to the client. Based in Sweden CTEK are the market leader in high quality battery conditioners.  They have designed and developed a unique range of advanced, durable and compact ‘smart’ units that provide a simple ‘plug and play’ solution for all battery maintenance requirements.  At both of our storage locations, Windrush use CTEK’s MXS 3.8 charger for our clients’ vehicles and we also have an advanced PRO 25S workshop charger if required.  Once connected The CTEK battery conditioner will assess the residual power stored in the vehicle’s battery and then charge at variable rates to bring it back to optimum levels. Once the battery is charged, the CTEK units automatically switch to conditioning mode to maintain the battery at optimum levels, offering the perfect solution for both short and long term battery maintenance requirements. Ideal for charging and maintaining all types of batteries Including lead-acid batteries (including GEL & AGM) and the new Lithium LiFePO4 batteries, CTEK battery conditioners are supplied as original equipment (OE) by many prestige manufacturers including Porsche, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Lamborghini and Bentley.  If a client’s vehicle is sent to us for storage with its OE conditioner we will use this, or if the client prefers we will supply our own – again, at no extra cost to the client.  We ensure that all conditioners attached to vehicles in storage with us are checked regularly to maintain the health of the vehicles’ batteries. Standing the test of time Having used CTEK chargers for over 16 years, we continue to find them the best offering on the market despite continuous assessment of other options available. Get in touch Should you have any further questions about Windrush Car Storage, our ethos or our secure car storage facilities in Central London and the Cotswolds, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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