Carcoons - are they any good?

[drmark]

CTEK better I think - not sure how the Carcoon one works as I only used it to top my car up every few months. Are you sure your CTEK is connected to your battery properly? Or that it is not flashing because it is desulphating the battery? Worth disconnecting and trying again.

Edited by drmark on Tuesday 24th December 16:23

[benny 61]

drmark said:

CTEK better I think - not sure how the Carcoon one works as I only used it to top my car up very few months. Are you sure your CTEK is connected to your battery properly? Or that it is not flashing because it is desulphating the battery? Worth disconnecting and trying again.

You were spot on pal, turned it off, reconnected the terminals and hey presto, charging as it should. Thanks, think I'm bloody losing the plot.
(They did seem well connected, obviously not)

[lowdrag]

I'll see what is available when I get there and email you both if there are any left. I know there were quite a few two years back and they haven't been used since.

[drmark]

benny 61 said:

You were spot on pal, turned it off, reconnected the terminals and hey presto, charging as it should. Thanks, think I'm bloody losing the plot.
(They did seem well connected, obviously not)

CTEK very sensitive to poor connection.
Merry Christmas

[Robert Elise]

just parked my wet car in the carcoon. Unavoidable and i'm off for a month from sunday. It remains cold and wet where i am.
I've unzipped the front flap which i believe will allow the car to dry, but i'm still a little nervous.
I'm thinking of unzipping next couple of days and letting a fan heater warm things up for couple of hours.
Also thinking of leaving one of those 50w greenhouse heaters inside - any thoughts or experience of these?

[drmark]

Robert Elise said:

just parked my wet car in the carcoon. Unavoidable and i'm off for a month from sunday. It remains cold and wet where i am.
I've unzipped the front flap which i believe will allow the car to dry, but i'm still a little nervous.
I'm thinking of unzipping next couple of days and letting a fan heater warm things up for couple of hours.
Also thinking of leaving one of those 50w greenhouse heaters inside - any thoughts or experience of these?

Chamois the car if clean and leave flap open for 48 hours. Should be fine.

[Bezzer7]

Hello Just new here, reading about carcoons and experiences very interesting, the last 2 years I have (as someone above has) used a home made tent with a dehumidifier inside, which works well to a point, the problem I have is the garage can see minus temperatures which is no good for the dehumidifier, the garage is too large to heat, I have seen dehumidifiers that will work to minus temperatures but cost more than a carcoon and require piping systems, has anyone experience with a carcoon at low temperatures (below freezing) for a considerable time, the temp in the garage changes very slowly compared to the atmoshere outside due to reasonable insulation so I do not get overwhelmed with condensation and there are small vents in the walls so get some air flow. If I was to get a carcoon what type would anyone reccomend and would a small heater be an idea or are carcoons not insulated well enough to hold heat.
Regards
Paul

[nta16]

Paul,
in England it's not unknown for outside and inside garage temperatures to go below freezing so yes of course Carcoons work at these temperatures, the power unit and fans will have a very small amount of heat from being plugged in to the electric and working for themselves

I'm not sure what you mean by a considerable time, are you talking about in another country other than in UK

the outdoor Carcoon must withstanding lower temperatures as it doesn't have the protection of the garage

anything that contains just water has the potential to freeze up, expand and break, such as a dehumidifier without drainage or one with drainage that isn't well placed and protected

if you've got concerns and to find which model would be best for you why not contact Carcoon direct

Edited by nta16 on Saturday 20th September 06:29

[lowdrag]

Yes, it's that time of year. Put the crocodile clips on the battery, zipped it up, and that's it until the spring.

Going up:-



Ah, that's better!

[cayman-black]

Yes they are good . Have kept a few cars in them in all weathers , if there is a power cut the car battery takes over if not it just keeps battery charged fantastic, oh and as another poster said you just have to brush the snow off !

[andrwboul]

Outdoor use, I will add my experience. They are good but will 'collapse' under the weight of snow leaving the roof resting on the vehicle. Also the roof section will only last around 4 years due to UV exposure, these then have to be returned to Carcoon for replacement.....

[Jorrocks]

Sorry to resurrect this thread, but I’ve just bought an outdoor Carcoon for my Jensen. Now, I haven’t even unpacked it yet other than getting the charge unit out.
I have set up an outdoor 4-gang extension lead with its sockets in an IP65 rated weatherproof box that I’m going to mount next to the Carcoon. Not sure if the charger should be left inside the Carcoon with just the power lead going to the box, or should the whole unit be stored in the box with just fan and charger leads going into the Carcoon? Those thin wires don’t look suitable for exposure to the elements!
This may all be blindingly obvious once the whole thing’s unpacked, but I thought it worth asking anyway.
Many thanks in advance.

[lowdrag]

There's another thread running concurrently here:-

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

There is a Youtube video on the outside Carcoon here:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpdJnSi8s8E

The electronic box seem to be the same as on my indoor one and I wouldn't risk that in the outdoors all winter and would put it inside the Carcoon, running a decent cable indoors or to the outdoor plug.

[Jorrocks]

Thanks Lowdrag, it was pretty self-explanatory once I’d assembled everything. Got all the electrics in the boot (Hatch propped open), so just the fan cable and one power lead outside the carcoon.

[majordad]

At present I store my classic in my Carcoon in a garage but I’m moving from the garage to storage on my drive, problem is my drive is gravel. I assume just putting the carcoon on the gravel would puncture it, any suggestions, 8x4 wood etc?

[lowdrag]

I think I'd suggest old pallets and a tarp covering them to avoid splinters, but I am sure others will come up with a better solution. I've seen the outdoor ones being buffeted and I am sure it would puncture on gravel.

[MartinFC]

majordad said:

At present I store my classic in my Carcoon in a garage but I’m moving from the garage to storage on my drive, problem is my drive is gravel. I assume just putting the carcoon on the gravel would puncture it, any suggestions, 8x4 wood etc?

Mines been sitting on a gravel base for four + years and it's been fine, the Carcoon base section is super thick and durable...

[majordad]

Thanks I’ll try it out.

[Floyd_kreamer]

I thought I would give one of these a go but had to give up in the end. Initially I was assured a 3 week delivery... then it turned into 6 weeks. Then suddenly it was going to be 3 months. Maybe they are just super popular, but as patient as I am I can’t wait that long. Looking at an air chamber now instead as they actually keep them in stock and will be here in time for the winter. Initially disappointed... but nice to know there is an alternative... and the reviews seem good.

[God7ather3]

[quote=Andy 308GTB]I have a standalone double garage. It is not the driest garage in the world and my winters are a constant battle against the damp. The garage is reasonably ventilated but the corners/walls tend to be damp (i.e. not in a direct line between the up and over doors and the garage door)

I've tried all sorts of different ideas incorporating combinations of fans/heaters/dehumidifiers.

I have dithered about investing in a carcoon for many years as I am very sceptical about their properties.
I doubt that the filter can extract moisture such that only dry is circulated.
If the garage is damp surely you will simply be passing damp air over the car?

The main advantage I can see is that the bubble insulates the car and will slow the rate of change of temperature - which is one of the main causes of condensation. My thinking is to get one and stick the dehumidifier in the carcoon with the car.

What's the opinion here?

Please see my blog and video on Carcoon here www.modena360.life