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FACT and
FICTION
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Especially in the world of motoring,
which for many enthusiasts is a DIY world, rumours spread easily and myths
abound about what is good for your car or bike, and what you should or should
absolutely not do to keep it in shape. Some stories are true, many are
doubtful and some are plain nonsense, often arising out of insufficient
technical knowledge, hearsay, or the eagerness of some suppliers to sell
their products.
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In this chapter we help you to separate
the facts from the fictions.
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Charging
and discharging of batteries
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There is a persistent rumour that every
battery should be discharged regularly. However, this applies ONLY to
nickel-cadmium batteries like the ones used in mobile phones. Where
batteries for vehicles are concerned, it is ABSOLUTE RUBBISH.
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Gel and
lead batteries, as used in vehicles, should NEVER be discharged!
On the
contrary:
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To keep gel and lead batteries in good
condition, the voltage should never fall below 9.6 Volts. As soon as the
voltage is lower than 9.6 Volts a chemical process will start which can cause
irreversible damage to the battery.
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Moreover, the loading cycle must be such
that the battery is always loaded to its maximum and not to only 80% (as
occurs with automatic chargers).
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If these two conditions are met the
battery will have a maximum (although not unlimited) life and – which may be
even more important – it is always ready to go! You can fulfil these
conditions by using a suitable
charger.
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Car covers and condensation
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Some suppliers of car covers state that
their covers will prevent condensation forming on the car. This is in fact
impossible, and they either don't know what they are talking about or they’re
just trying to talk you into buying one of their products.
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Condensation
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Condensation takes place when humid air
comes into contact with a colder surface. The moisture in the air will
condense on the colder surface. This can happen both indoors and out. Putting
even a breathable car cover over your car (or bike) will not stop this
natural process. It would truly be a miracle if a car cover could defy the
laws of nature.
A quality car cover has excellent
breathable properties which will allow for condensation that has formed to
escape through the cover. Remember, however, that this condensation first
needs to evaporate before it can escape.
If you have a very damp garage it is
highly recommended that you use a specially designed storage system instead of a car
cover, as only a storage system can prevent the formation of condensation!
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Car covers and cotton
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Cotton used to be a popular material for car covers and
you can still find partly or even 100% cotton covers. Cotton is a nice soft
material with excellent breathability, however...
although at first glance cotton has the perfect
properties for a cover, it has one property that ruins it all: cotton is
highly HYGROSCOPIC, in other words, it attracts and absorbs moisture from its
environment. If you use a cotton car cover in an unheated room, you will find
that the cover quite often feels damp. This won’t help to keep your vehicle
in good shape. Cotton or partly cotton covers can only be used in perfectly
dry, heated garages. In any other circumstances cotton should be avoided.
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