Got a lock up garage, any tips?

[Throttled]

On 06/12/2021 at 11:48, Fozzie said:

It depends how far you want to go.

 

Secrecy is the best policy, I have a garage defender on mine, which sits centrally in front of the garage door, preventing it from opening. Others in the row (about 25 garages total) have a mixture of defenses, including another that has a garage defender, some have multiple bolt locks on them. So I'd suggest going with something like the defender, as they are good and you see them often, so it doesn't stand out as someone taking too many extra precautions. 

 

It lacking power is something that can be remedied, either relatively cheaply or with great expense. 

 

I want to do a video on my setup, as I have a 130Ah leisure battery that powers a 300W inverter to run lights and one small thing. All my power tools are battery powered. I used to use a small 33Ah battery that I carried with me when I had to do work, and charged it back in the flat.

 

But now I have a 2.2kW Honda generator, with an exhaust pipe extender routed through the wall into a custom made baffle box that blends into the back wall. Looks almost like a bird box. The generator has a built in fan, so I'm in the process of building a sound proof box that has sections that fold for access, and other sections with axial mounted fans that run when it does. It will then power a control board when live, where it automatically begins charging the battery, and disconnects the inverter. When off, the board losing power puts it back into battery mode. 

 

It's quiet as is, especially if you just put headphones in. And I have a carbon monoxide alarm rigged up to start flashing if the exhaust develops a leak. I'm currently doing temperature tests, by loading the generator for long periods of time beyond what I'll ever use and seeing what temperature it reaches. When I put the insulated sound box on it, I will continue to monitor the temperature and hopefully if my calcs are right it will actually run slightly cooler. 

 

So if you need any technical help that from the outside looks unsuspecting, and can all be removed with no signs it was ever there. Just give me a shout as I've been through the pain of it already

 

The housing association are replacing the garage door, since they thought it was locked, but I was able to open it easily. I am going to go for anonymity as best security and just leave it as one of the garages in the row that has a new door. None of the other new doors has extra security. Sadly, that delays me getting access, as it will be in the new year before the work is done.

 

I am not planning on doing any more work that oiling the chain or replacing a bulb, so don't need much light. Only the local residents who use the communal parking in front of the lockups will walk past, so it is pretty quiet.

[Fozzie]

15 hours ago, Throttled said:

 

The housing association are replacing the garage door, since they thought it was locked, but I was able to open it easily. I am going to go for anonymity as best security and just leave it as one of the garages in the row that has a new door. None of the other new doors has extra security. Sadly, that delays me getting access, as it will be in the new year before the work is done.

 

I am not planning on doing any more work that oiling the chain or replacing a bulb, so don't need much light. Only the local residents who use the communal parking in front of the lockups will walk past, so it is pretty quiet.

My garage is in a long line of 25. It’s in a partially gated car park (gate only on one end). I think in 2 years I’ve only seen off people trying car doors and garage doors twice. A concealed lock might be your best bet, one where it’s mounted inside the garage door, with a small hole that can be covered in the bottom corner of the door. 
 

Sounds like you only need light, so you could have a small system with a little 15-22ah battery you carry in a rucksack to/from. Avoid 12v only systems if you do, as the volt drops even over small cable distances tend to be big, to the point the losses of a small 300w inverter become inconsequential unless you use thick gauge cable. 
 

Also, don’t use fluorescent bulbs on an inverter. Most will start fine, but the ballasts can destroy the inverters internal circuitry. Keep to LED

[Throttled]

I have a large battery powered remote controlled lantern. It means all I need to do is carry the remote with me.

 

I am thinking about a dolly;

 

https://www.sealey.co.uk/product/5637755314/motorcycle-centre-stand-moving-dolly

 

as it would be good to turn the bike inside the garage, so I can ride staright in and out.

Edited December 12, 2021 by Throttled

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

45 minutes ago, Throttled said:

I have a large battery powered remote controlled lantern. It means all I need to do is carry the remote with me.

 

I am thinking about a dolly;

 

https://www.sealey.co.uk/product/5637755314/motorcycle-centre-stand-moving-dolly

 

as it would be good to turn the bike inside the garage, so I can ride staright in and out.

I'd be interested to know why you're thinking about this. My garage is accessed via a sloping driveway which means I have to give some thought about getting in and out.

 

The Bobber reverses in so I can ride it out forwards. This is because it is a low bike that is quite heavy so manoeuvring by hand up the slope does my back in.

 

The Honda goes in forwards because it is lighter and higher so I can push it out backwards relatively easily.

 

I'd only worry about getting in and out in one direction if there was a slope to negotiate. Otherwise it's simpler to go in one way and out the other way. 

[Throttled]

The garage access is on level ground. A car parks outside, partially blocking access, which I don't mind, as it suggests the garage is not in use. It would be easier to ride out through the gap, rather than have to walk the bike backwards.

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

11 hours ago, Throttled said:

The garage access is on level ground. A car parks outside, partially blocking access, which I don't mind, as it suggests the garage is not in use. It would be easier to ride out through the gap, rather than have to walk the bike backwards.

In which case ask the owner of the car to contribute to the cost of the dolly. 

[Throttled]

Finally got the keys, after the Housing Association fitted a new door, which has extra security to make it harder to force open. The car that was blocking it has taken the hint and moved. I am getting £49 back off the insurance, but they have stipulated that if I park my bike outside the house overnight and not in the garage, they will double my excess. I have sourced a second hand metal cabinet from an office supply company and should be in by the end of the week.

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

51 minutes ago, Throttled said:

Finally got the keys, after the Housing Association fitted a new door, which has extra security to make it harder to force open. The car that was blocking it has taken the hint and moved. I am getting £49 back off the insurance, but they have stipulated that if I park my bike outside the house overnight and not in the garage, they will double my excess. I have sourced a second hand metal cabinet from an office supply company and should be in by the end of the week.

When is the garage warming party?

[Throttled]

You should see the list of things I am not allowed to do, including anything with an "immoral purpose", which includes no "betting" or "gambling". Are they not the same thing? Anyway, the TMBF Sex Dungeon (Scotland branch) Ltd is now out of the question.

[Ian Frog]

I don`t see why it is out of the question I am sure @Six30 was saying he fancied some touring this year and I am sure he would help get you started !

Cheers

Ian 

[Six30]

On 15/02/2022 at 17:48, Ian Frog said:

I don`t see why it is out of the question I am sure @Six30 was saying he fancied some touring this year and I am sure he would help get you started !

Cheers

Ian 

 no chance , not in Scotland , you seen the women up there , i have some standards.

[Bender]

7 minutes ago, Six30 said:

 no chance , not in Scotland , you seen the women up there , i have some standards.

You saying the lovely sturgeon is safe now. 

[Six30]

5 minutes ago, Bender said:

You saying the lovely sturgeon is safe now. 

[Stu]

1 hour ago, Six30 said:

 no chance , not in Scotland , you seen the women up there , i have some standards.

 

Standards and @Six30 in the same sentence

 

Should this be in worst joke thread?

 

[Six30]

7 minutes ago, Stu said:

 

Standards and @Six30 in the same sentence

 

Should this be in worst joke thread?

 

 

bit rude

[Bender]

14 minutes ago, Stu said:

 

Standards and @Six30 in the same sentence

 

Should this be in worst joke thread?

 

@Six30has standards, they are just different to yours  

[Stu]

14 minutes ago, Six30 said:

 

bit rude

 

Sorry! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That was a lie!

[Six30]

Just now, Stu said:

 

Sorry! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That was a lie!

 

drinking on a school night stu 

[Stu]

1 minute ago, Six30 said:

 

drinking on a school night stu 

 

Not drinking 

 

And its not a school night for me

[Joe85]

Just make one of the kids sleep in the garage next to the bike. 

[onesea]

34 minutes ago, Joe85 said:

Just make one of the kids sleep in the garage next to the bike. 

If I suggested that in my family they would put me in the garage for security.  Apparently my snoring would keep the devil awake and Harley Owners Jealous..

Edited February 22, 2022 by onesea

[Throttled]

First visit to the lock-up after a 12 day gap, due to Covid. Everything was dry, except the tyres. When I spun them around, they were damp, like condensation had formed on them. Why would that be?

[S-Westerly]

33 minutes ago, Throttled said:

First visit to the lock-up after a 12 day gap, due to Covid. Everything was dry, except the tyres. When I spun them around, they were damp, like condensation had formed on them. Why would that be?

Were the roads salty when you were last out? 

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

21 minutes ago, S-Westerly said:

Were the roads salty when you were last out? 

Yes, salt. My Honda is out is all weathers and after riding in the salt the whole bike can be wet in the garage. Salt attracts moisture from the air which forms a small droplets on any surface that has salt on it. 

 

Try leaving a few grains of salt on the kitchen worktop overnight and see what is there next morning.

[Throttled]

Yes there was some salt residue on the roads the last time I was out.