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Suggestion for a Battery Tender

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by jk823, Aug 17, 2011.

  1. jk823

    jk823 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 11, 2009
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    Location:
    Los Angeles CA
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I have to store my Prius for about 4 months. I've tried to find one definitive thread on what to do and I've boiled it down to these points. Does this seem OK? Also can anyone suggest a brand of battery tender or place to get one?

    Here's what I'll do:

    - Ensure that the HV battery is almost completely charged.
    - Disable SKS
    - Purchase 12v Battery Tender and attach to the car's battery terminals under the hood
    - Place moth balls around the car to prevent rodents

    ANY and ALL advice is appreciated. The car will be parked partially outside in the Los Angeles area until December or so.

    THANKS!
     
    #1 jk823, Aug 17, 2011
  2. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2005
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    Location:
    Trumbull, CT
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius
    Model:
    LE AWD-e
    I suggest a Battery MINDER AGM model.
    BatteryMINDer® Plus AGM/OPTIMA Maintenance Charger / Desulfator-Conditioner 12 Volt – 1.0 Amp | All | Battery Chargers by BatteryMINDers.com
    It is also available from Amazon.
    Looks like a plan
    Have a good trip.

    JeffD
     
    #2 jdenenberg, Aug 17, 2011
  3. M8s

    M8s Retired and Lovin' It

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2008
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    Location:
    Colorado and Arizona
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    Limited
    We only take one Prius to AZ each winter. The other Prius stays in our garage in Colorado. Here's what we do:

    - Turn off SKS
    - Pump up the tires to 41 all around.
    - Put it on an Optimate battery tender. We have an Optimate 3+ in CO and an Optimate 4 (for the Miata) in AZ. You can buy an Optimate 3+ or 4 on Amazon for around $50.
    - Put a sock over the exhaust pipe.
    - Do not leave the parking brake on.
    - Have a neighbor come over every two months or so, disconnect the Optimate, remove the sock and let the car run until it stops (typically 15 minutes). Then reconnect the Optimate and repace the sock.

    Have not had any issues so far.
     
    #3 M8s, Aug 17, 2011
  4. jk823

    jk823 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 11, 2009
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    Location:
    Los Angeles CA
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Thank you!

     
    #4 jk823, Aug 17, 2011
  5. 3prongpaul

    3prongpaul Hybrid Shop Owner, worked on 100's of Prius's

    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2010
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    Location:
    Boulder Hybids, Boulder, CO
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Do not use mothballs to deter rodents, that is an old wives tale.

    A friend of mine used mothballs while storing his VW camper, rodents still got in and pooped everywhere. Even worse, the van smelled like mothballs for 2 years after...and mothballs aren't exactly healthy for humans.

    Best to put rodent killer around the vehicle, or get a cat if you are concerned about critters in/around your stored vehicle.
     
    #5 3prongpaul, Aug 19, 2011
    1 person likes this.
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