Best charging method during Covid Quarantine?

[BlueKam_M3LR]

Due to the covid pandemic, I have been working from home for the past few weeks and have not needed to drive my Model 3 that much at all. I have 280 miles on the odometer (took deliver on 3/13) and currently at 60% battery charge. I leave sentry mode on at all times so the battery does drain slowly over time. I have a Tesla wall connector installed at my house so I can charge anytime if needed.

What is the best practice to maintain my battery health if not driving the car for many days/ weeks? Should I keep the charger plugged in and set to 65% charge rate even though I am not driving for many days (I assume the battery would drain from idling/ sentry mode and then the charger would maintain 65% charge?)? Or should I charge to 65% then unplug the charger and let it drain from sitting idle with sentry mode on until it reaches 30% then charge again to 65% and repeat?

I am sad I don't get to drive my Model 3 and I want to make sure I am not damaging the battery health by letting the car sit for many days without use. Thanks.

 

[KenC]

Due to the covid pandemic, I have been working from home for the past few weeks and have not needed to drive my Model 3 that much at all. I have 280 miles on the odometer (took deliver on 3/13) and currently at 60% battery charge. I leave sentry mode on at all times so the battery does drain slowly over time. I have a Tesla wall connector installed at my house so I can charge anytime if needed.

What is the best practice to maintain my battery health if not driving the car for many days/ weeks? Should I keep the charger plugged in and set to 65% charge rate even though I am not driving for many days (I assume the battery would drain from idling/ sentry mode and then the charger would maintain 65% charge?)? Or should I charge to 65% then unplug the charger and let it drain from sitting idle with sentry mode on until it reaches 30% then charge again to 65% and repeat?

I am sad I don't get to drive my Model 3 and I want to make sure I am not damaging the battery health by letting the car sit for many days without use. Thanks.

Choice 1 is best.

 

[TW14 9LF]

Ditto. And unless you're worried about somebody messing with your car at home, turn off Sentry mode.

 

[jjrandorin]

Due to the covid pandemic, I have been working from home for the past few weeks and have not needed to drive my Model 3 that much at all. I have 280 miles on the odometer (took deliver on 3/13) and currently at 60% battery charge. I leave sentry mode on at all times so the battery does drain slowly over time. I have a Tesla wall connector installed at my house so I can charge anytime if needed.

What is the best practice to maintain my battery health if not driving the car for many days/ weeks? Should I keep the charger plugged in and set to 65% charge rate even though I am not driving for many days (I assume the battery would drain from idling/ sentry mode and then the charger would maintain 65% charge?)? Or should I charge to 65% then unplug the charger and let it drain from sitting idle with sentry mode on until it reaches 30% then charge again to 65% and repeat?

I am sad I don't get to drive my Model 3 and I want to make sure I am not damaging the battery health by letting the car sit for many days without use. Thanks.

Tesla specifically advises choice 1 and says that there is no benefit (their words) to "running it down to charge it back up" Also their words

 

[nicholb]

No need to keep it at 65% either. Just keep it plugged in and set to 80 or 90%. Having a "full tank" is a good idea in case of emergency and won't harm the car.

 

[mbp11]

I am a physician in the SF bay area and we are anticipating a surge of virus cases in the next 2-3 weeks. Drive-by testings of the population in this area have actually showed 25% of people who got tested have the virus, so the prevalence of the virus is higher than reported in the population. Since I am covering several hospitals, I am suffering from range anxiety, so I am trying to keep the charge about 90% when I can, so I can get to and from comfortably and charge at night.

 

[jonquiljo]

I am a physician in the SF bay area and we are anticipating a surge of virus cases in the next 2-3 weeks. Drive-by testings of the population in this area have actually showed 25% of people who got tested have the virus, so the prevalence of the virus is higher than reported in the population. Since I am covering several hospitals, I am suffering from range anxiety, so I am trying to keep the charge about 90% when I can, so I can get to and from comfortably and charge at night.

It depends on whether you can get home at night. Are you doing long shifts and getting some sleep at a hospital, or do you work in more regular shifts?

The reason I say this is even at 110V (regular wall outlet) you will charge 5MPH. So in 8 hours, you can boost up 40 miles. If you have a way to plug in at a hospital, you have it even better. If you get home sometimes and have a 240V charge outlet, you can get a lot more mileage. So it depends on your hours, availability, and type of charging available. Good luck and thanks for being there for us!

 

[mrau]

As stated, it is best to leave the car plugged in when you can. Set charge level between 80-90%. If you are parked inside a garage, no need for Sentry mode to be on. You can change settings to automatically exclude your home and/or work from Sentry. Your car alarm system will still work even if Sentry is off.

 

[mbp11]

Thanks, Jonquiljo. I am a hospital based surgeon, working every day and some overnights, and can charge at home, and at the hospitals I work (level 2 at the hospitals and 240 v 15 amp circuit at home). I charge overnight easily at home and I am just leaving it at 90 for now. If things get busy I will have more than enough to get around, I am very lucky.

 

[sdmack]

I am a hospital based surgeon, working every day and some overnights

Thank you for doing what you are doing. You are a modern day hero.

 

[Electric700]

Thank you for doing what you are doing. You are a modern day hero.

Yes, thank you Mbp11.

 

[BlueKam_M3LR]

Thank you all for the replies and information, I will keep the car plugged in everyday.

And Thank you Mbp11 for saving lives on a daily basis and especially during these scary times..you are a true hero.

 

[toolman335]

Thank you doctors!!!! I hope we all learn a lot from this pandemic.

There's nothing wrong with taking a drive and not getting out of the car. I can't imagine getting this car and not driving it!

 

[Janus]

Personally, I'm leaving Sentry Mode on all the time during the pandemic. In the Bay Area, there's been a noticeable jump in car break-ins. With everyone inside, and few people on the roads, all these cars parked in driveways and apartment lots are easy targets.

 

[Rottenapplr]

Doctors and nurses will never be viewed in the same way again. Thank you Doc.

 

[Rocky_H]

Here ya go. Four pages answering this question:

Sheltering in Place - Charge or not

 

[XLR82XS]

As stated, it is best to leave the car plugged in when you can. Set charge level between 80-90%. If you are parked inside a garage, no need for Sentry mode to be on. You can change settings to automatically exclude your home and/or work from Sentry. Your car alarm system will still work even if Sentry is off.

Exactly. Too many threads here about charging/plugging in - follow the owners manual regarding charging.

 

[ElectricIAC]

Due to the covid pandemic, I have been working from home for the past few weeks and have not needed to drive my Model 3 that much at all. I have 280 miles on the odometer (took deliver on 3/13) and currently at 60% battery charge. I leave sentry mode on at all times so the battery does drain slowly over time. I have a Tesla wall connector installed at my house so I can charge anytime if needed.

What is the best practice to maintain my battery health if not driving the car for many days/ weeks? Should I keep the charger plugged in and set to 65% charge rate even though I am not driving for many days (I assume the battery would drain from idling/ sentry mode and then the charger would maintain 65% charge?)? Or should I charge to 65% then unplug the charger and let it drain from sitting idle with sentry mode on until it reaches 30% then charge again to 65% and repeat?

I am sad I don't get to drive my Model 3 and I want to make sure I am not damaging the battery health by letting the car sit for many days without use. Thanks.

Keep it plugged in, move slider to 90% and forget it.

2018 w/24K doing this and haven’t lost a rated mile of charge since I acquired it.