Roearn Posted October 6, 2023 Share Posted October 6, 2023 I'm close to completing my 270S build, and starting to think about it being laid up during Winter. It's in a brick and concrete garage. Can any members give me advice on best way to keep damp at lowest costs out of the building. I'm thinking along lines of some sort of trickle heater placed beneath the car.Thanks, Roger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted October 6, 2023 Member Share Posted October 6, 2023 Lots of options discussed in the archives. I suggest starting here.Would you consider some sort of cocoon?Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisC Posted October 6, 2023 Share Posted October 6, 2023 I think if there is a damp issue within a garage you have two choices. I reduce the possibility of the damp I.e. insulate and heat, or cocoon with a inflatable (various options exist). The choice will be dependent on the possibilities associated with the garage. For example my garage it was better to replace the garage doors, to remove the drafts, it was already installed because it's linked to the house, and moving the boiler into the garage gave a small level of heat that keeps the damp away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigCol Posted October 6, 2023 Share Posted October 6, 2023 I know the OP's query was about the car's environment but this info is worth reading too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Golf Juliet Tango Posted October 7, 2023 Area Representative Share Posted October 7, 2023 As ChrisC has posted - Air Chamber/Carcoon arrangement. There are several options available. In my view nothing else comes close. I wish I had purchased one ages ago. I run mine off 110VA leisure batteries as there is no power in the remote council lock up garage.Recommended reading https://autoclassicastorage.co.uk/what-is-a-car-bubble/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GulfSeven Posted October 7, 2023 Share Posted October 7, 2023 I'm sticking with the tubular heater and indoor cover. There's never any condensation on the car and it's a simple and cheap solution. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W33SVN Posted October 7, 2023 Share Posted October 7, 2023 My garage is away from the house with no power, so heating it is out. I used to get terrible condensation. However, I put a new roof on it just over a year ago and kept the soffits completely open keeping a good flow of air at all times. I've only had a very short lived condensation issue once since. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GulfSeven Posted October 7, 2023 Share Posted October 7, 2023 When I say condensation, I mean on the large metal parts of the car like the engine and wheels. You'll get that in any detached well ventilated (unheated) garage if the outside air warms up a bit after a cold spell. Those parts of the car stay cold and the increased water content in the warmer air entering the garage condenses on them. A small tubular heater under the car will raise the temperature just enough for that not to happen.As I said, it's a cheap and simple solution. If you want to spend more the next level up is a Carcoon to control the humidity, and beyond that is a heated, insulated garage. Personally I think Carcoons are ugly and take up a lot of space in the garage. A heated, insulated garage would be lovely, but would cost £££. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W33SVN Posted October 7, 2023 Share Posted October 7, 2023 I was wondering if I could get a low draw 12v tube heater or similar and run it off a large car / van battery. Just unsure of how long I'd get before recharge and potential damage to battery being constantly depleted. Albeit lead acid not great in cold conditions, so perhaps lithium? Don't know??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GulfSeven Posted October 7, 2023 Share Posted October 7, 2023 The tubular heater I use is 55W if that helps? It raises the temperature under the cover by about 3 degrees and lowers the humidity by about 20 percentage points, which seems enough to stop any condensation on the car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W33SVN Posted October 7, 2023 Share Posted October 7, 2023 Thanks Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roearn Posted October 7, 2023 Author Share Posted October 7, 2023 Well, there's more for me to contemplate than I expected. Thanks too all for advice and comments. And yes, Big Col, an interesting overview of all that's going on out of sight..Roger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerobod - near CYYC Posted October 7, 2023 Share Posted October 7, 2023 Re #9, if you use about 60W to keep a reasonable amount of heat under the car, a larger 12V battery at 120Ah capacity would give you about 720Wh of use for 50% of the charge (best to keep between 30% and 80% charge with a lead acid battery for long life), so 12 hours of heating between recharges. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W33SVN Posted October 8, 2023 Share Posted October 8, 2023 Thank you so much James, my maths ain't that good. That's doable though on the few days we get really cold snaps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted October 8, 2023 Member Share Posted October 8, 2023 Battery storage calculation as above.Which leaves the source of the energy... solar panels, fossil fuel generator (exhausting to outside), carrying the batteries to a mains supply (with or without a trolley)...Or run a mains supply to the garage.There's lots of useful discussion of these in the archives.Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenF Posted October 8, 2023 Share Posted October 8, 2023 Any recommendations for an indoor car cover?The Caterham indoor cover is an astonishing 278 quid. I've seen some DustPRO covers (not as nice looking) for around 80 quid.Is one 55W tube heater enough? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted October 8, 2023 Member Share Posted October 8, 2023 "Any recommendations for an indoor car cover?"From 2022: https://www.caterhamlotus7.club/forum/techtalk/indoor-garage-soft-cover Full search: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=site:caterhamlotus7.club+indoor+coverNB Club discounts.Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Golf Juliet Tango Posted October 8, 2023 Area Representative Share Posted October 8, 2023 A carcoon draws less power than a heater (2 x 12V fans each drawing 0.23A). A 110Ah battery will last for 9 or 10 days, so I swop batteries twice a week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevehS3 Posted October 8, 2023 Share Posted October 8, 2023 #18 I don't have a damp problem in my garage but that does look like the best way to care for a car over winter. Surprisingly low power too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Golf Juliet Tango Posted October 8, 2023 Area Representative Share Posted October 8, 2023 Ben - have you looked at the suppliers offering Club discounts?https://www.caterhamlotus7.club/membership/special-offers-members/quality-car-covershttps://www.caterhamlotus7.club/membership/special-offers-members/hamilton-classic-car-coversI used to have a Hamilton one for the 21 but sold it on once I bought the Carcoon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenF Posted October 8, 2023 Share Posted October 8, 2023 Hi Stephen,Those covers do look nice, but I'm wondering whether I can really justify buying one. My garage is not the driest, but it's not overly damp - I'm not sure that I really need such a nice cover. I like the idea of this if it's a cheap and easy solution. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GulfSeven Posted October 8, 2023 Share Posted October 8, 2023 #16 I have the Caterham cover so can't really comment on others. It is very nice.And yes, I've found one 55W heater under the car enough. I guess it might depend where you are though. I'm in Somerset... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenF Posted October 9, 2023 Share Posted October 9, 2023 I'm near Buckingham, so I'd expect similar weather to Somerset.I think the garage is more of a factor. Yours looks much nicer than mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Golf Juliet Tango Posted October 9, 2023 Area Representative Share Posted October 9, 2023 Ben, how about a drip tray full of cat litter which is hygroscopic? I keep one under the 21 in its air bubble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenF Posted October 9, 2023 Share Posted October 9, 2023 Stephen - I think the solution of 55W heater and an indoor cover is fine - I just am not sure if I really need to. With a lot of things, it's just about peace of mind, but I'm trying nowadays to avoid buying unnecessary bits, which then just gather dust for most of the time. Will give it some thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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