Leaving country for 10 days, charging / setting ideas?

[bg002h]

I’m taking the Mrs. on an over seas
Anniversary trip and my CB will be parked at the airport for 12 days.

There is a well known battery draining bug if Tesla notifies your car about a software update and you don’t install it (can’t enter sleep mode until you comply with the command to install update), but I checked this morning and there were no updates…I set software update to standard instead of advanced. Hopefully I’ll avoid that bug this trip.

I already have the vehicle in low power mode and sentry and overheat are off. I even plan to charge the vehicle immediately before parking (my battery will be at 50-60% after the drive to the airport)…I was thinking boosting to 80% via supercharger should suffice…

Oh, and I’ll be sure to sign out of the Tesla app, as that I know first hand makes a big difference when you haven’t complied with software update command yet…

Any other accumulated wisdom for leaving your Tesla in airport garage for a week or two?

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[CyberGus]

I've left my truck for 2-3 weeks at a time, at a low SoC, with no problems. Lost maybe 3% per week.

 

[CyberGus]

I even got a software update during an extended absence, which I applied. This alone took 2-3% in a couple of hours. (Edit: it was in my driveway, with WiFi access.)

But, I was annoyed that it wanted to perform the update, even though I was below 20% SoC. And apparently, updates are processed in Low-Power mode, too. Hmmph.

 

[ABILISK]

Should be fine in low power mode, but we are expecting 14.2.2.3 soon, so that might be a problem. Is there WiFi in the garage so you can download and install and update if needed then let it go back to sleep?

 

[bg002h]

Should be fine in low power mode, but we are expecting 14.2.2.3 soon, so that might be a problem. Is there WiFi in the garage so you can download and install and update if needed then let it go back to sleep?

No WiFi…I’m on the latest software as of this morning, so hopefully the standard setting will keep Tesla from bricking my truck while I’m gone …I wish there was a way to disable all communication with Tesla while parked and not connected to WiFi.

I also learned that my gateway charger combo thing that’s partially installed…well, that will only charge a Tesla if it has internet access. I tripped over a router power cord and couldn’t understand why my car wouldn’t charge. The travel adapter works without internet, thank goodness!

 

[bg002h]

I've left my truck for 2-3 weeks at a time, at a low SoC, with no problems. Lost maybe 3% per week.

That seems very normal. That’s roughly what I see at home when I don’t plug it…but I’ve had 6% per DAY loss at airport due to inability to comply with software update demand.

 

[bg002h]

I wonder if I could/should enter service mode and disable the modem, if possible

 

[pricedm]

Any other accumulated wisdom for leaving your Tesla in airport garage for a week or two?

Park it at my brother's house in Flagstaff. Secure and can be plugged into 120v like a horse and its warm barn blanket.

 

[HaulingAss]

I wonder if I could/should enter service mode and disable the modem, if possible

That shouldn't be necessary. You should be able to just put it into low-power mode. Even if it doesn't completely turn off updates, it's not going to lose 6% per day unless there is a bug I don't know about. You might want to move the icon for low power mode into the four quick access icons on the main screen of the phone app.

Remember, you can configure low power mode to conserve more or less depending upon which features you want to disable or keep active.

 

[Gigahorse]

It is a Sophie's choice.

A. No sentry mode and assuming no extreme weather your battery makes it, but NO SENTRY MODE
B. Sentry mode and those benefits, but battery likely won't make it


Look at the cost of airport parking for that length of time, an Uber is probobly cheaper and you don't have to take the risks above.

 

[bg002h]

That shouldn't be necessary. You should be able to just put it into low-power mode. Even if it doesn't completely turn off updates, it's not going to lose 6% per day unless there is a bug I don't know about. You might want to move the icon for low power mode into the four quick access icons on the main screen of the phone app.

Remember, you can configure low power mode to conserve more or less depending upon which features you want to disable or keep active.

I believe I have done everything an end user can do to minimize battery loss. I’m as up to date as possible on updates, set updates to standard, signed out of app, overheat and sentry off, low power mode on…oh, and I charged to 80% 3 miles from airport. I parked at 79%, so that should be plenty for 12 days away, even if update bug strikes again…

 

[bg002h]

It is a Sophie's choice.

A. No sentry mode and assuming no extreme weather your battery makes it, but NO SENTRY MODE
B. Sentry mode and those benefits, but battery likely won't make it


Look at the cost of airport parking for that length of time, an Uber is probobly cheaper and you don't have to take the risks above.

It’s 90 mile drive to airport

 

[Gigahorse]

It’s 90 mile drive to airport

That is tough, but with 12 days of airport parking ($150?) you could likely get an uber there and partway back.
Risk/reward of having a dead battery when you get back.
Also consider the cost the phantom drain will be $50 if you get back with a low battery and need to supercharge on the way home.

So parking the truck at the airport is already costing you $250 between phantom drain, kwh used driving round trip, and airport parking.
Couple that with the stress of watching your battery while out of town and the potential nightmare if your truck battery goes to 0%

I would pay the $200-$300 to uber both ways.

Tesla really needs to get the efficiency of these systems dialed in. 100kwh is enough to run some small houses for two weeks with people living in them, should be able to PARK a truck for that time period.

 

[Merc_s55]

I agree with Gigahorse. Uber if you can.
I store my CT through the summer and use it in the winter. I shut off the Tesla app and leave it alone. Half a percent per day. I checked it monthly and it only lost 15% a month. Almost lasted the summer without charging. So - Shut it down.
I have also noticed that people don't care about it any more. I turn my sentry off if I think I'm going to need the juice. No problems so far.

 

[propjet]

I am an airline pilot and I park my CT at the airport for 7-15 days at a time. I use a cheep car cover and keep sentry mode off. I usually park with 65% soc and have never seen more than 2 or 3 % loss over as long as 2 weeks. I have received software updates while parked at the airport, but have not experienced and excessive drain on the battery.

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