Richardtr3a Posted March 15, 2021 Report Share Posted March 15, 2021 (edited) I was painting the battery tray on my 3A ,at the week end. My son-in-law came over , for mother's day, and asked why I had to have a plastic liner and a mat under the battery. I noticed on the forum that, in a picture of an engine bay, another owner had some kitchen paper tucked in to the side of the battery. I tried this myself and it became wet overnight. While the battery is out of the car I left it on Ctek charge on cardboard overnight and there is no sign of any dampness. The battery now shows full charge. Why do I need to cope with dampness while it is in the car ? Maybe it is time to go modern and buy an up to date battery ? Any explanation Richard & B Edited March 15, 2021 by Richardtr3a punctuation Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Harbottle Posted March 15, 2021 Report Share Posted March 15, 2021 21 minutes ago, Richardtr3a said: I was painting the battery tray on my 3A ,at the week end. My son-in-law,came, over for mother's day, and asked why I had to have a plastic liner and a mat under the battery. I noticed on the forum that, in a picture of an engine bay, another owner had some kitchen paper tucked in to the side of the battery. I tried this myself and it became wet overnight. While the battery is out of the car I left it on Ctek charge on cardboard overnight and there is no sign of any dampness. The battery now shows full charge. Why do I need to cope with dampness while it is in the car ? Maybe it is time to go modern and buy an up to date battery ? Any explanation Richard & B Metal does get very cold overnight and condensation forms. The merits of putting a car cover on or not have been discussed on here before, as condensation can form underneath the cover. Might have something to do with that. The battery mats are to protect the paint/bodywork from battery spills as far as I am aware. Paul Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Richardtr3a Posted March 15, 2021 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2021 Thanks for the reply. It must be the type of battery because it does not seem to be a problem with TR6/7. Where is the battery specialist on this forum?? Thanks Richard & B Quote Link to post Share on other sites
R.M. Posted March 15, 2021 Report Share Posted March 15, 2021 beware condensation. I have the very same problem, my restoration is under a tarp in the workshop due to the condensation that forms on the underside/inside of the roof in winter, it is a shallow tin roof so condensation does not run off just collects and worse of all when there is a frost outside the condensation inside is much worse, and what's more when the day warms it effectively rains inside hence the use of tarps to try and keep the wet out, though this winter as been the worst i have known with condensation actually forming under the tarp on the car and surface rusting the parts i am working on, i think the answer is to tent the tarp over the car to allow air under, or a heated garage would solve all problems. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
keith1948 Posted March 15, 2021 Report Share Posted March 15, 2021 Hi Richard When the battery is on charge it will warm up a bit and so condensation won't occur. When it isn't on charge it will be cold. Recent weather patterns have been cold spells with warm humid weather between. This will cause condensation as you probably know. The plastic tray stops any battery acid getting onto the bodywork and causing rust. Had a similar problem with condensation on the engine recently producing some 'liquid' in the drip tray underneath the car. Ventilation of the garage doesn't help much if the car gets very cold and then we have warm humid conditions. Car might dry out a bit faster but condensation will still occur. Only sure way of preventing condensation is a heated and humidity controlled garage which few of us have I bet. Keith Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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