ctyoe9 Bill Elliott join:2002-09-04 Little Falls, NY |
ctyoe
Member
2003-Dec-31 4:57 pm
Can computers be stored at cold temperatures?I'm putting a computer in a small building that has the heat shut off every night - and it's pretty cold here in upstate New York. Will this hurt the computer at all? |
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RogueMonk Premium Member join:2003-02-11 Stoney Creek, ON |
No, unless you mean subzero temperatures. |
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ctyoe9 Bill Elliott join:2002-09-04 Little Falls, NY |
ctyoe
Member
2003-Dec-31 5:02 pm
Yes that's how cold it gets out there. |
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dbmavenThere's no shortage Mod join:1999-10-26 Sty in Sky |
to ctyoe
To satisfy my own curiousity, I looked at the specs for some Power Supplies. They spec out as 0 - 50 degrees C, with 10-90% Relative Humidity - better than I expected.
If the temp drops below freezing in the building, you may have a problem.... |
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RogueMonk Premium Member join:2003-02-11 Stoney Creek, ON |
to ctyoe
Unless your machine is subject to extreme cold for long periods, there is no problem. |
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hman1 join:2002-01-17 Canada |
to ctyoe
Unless yif you mean like in a regular apartment or something then its fine.
If you mean like putting it in a freezer then its not fine. |
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Screen name1Hard To Get, Harder To Hold Onto Premium Member join:2003-02-05 Area 52 2 edits |
to ctyoe
Hi, Hold On!!! Time Out!!! There can be a problem. You lower the temperature of the computer. Then you raise the temperature of the computer. But because of the "thermal lag" the computer does not warm as fast as the air around it. So your precious metal coated hard disk platters and heads have moisture condense on them. Here is a pretty good explanation of this happening and what the consequences can be. » www.fujitsu.com/support/ ··· 3.html#BGood Luck, Screen name |
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yockTFTC Premium Member join:2000-11-21 Miamisburg, OH |
yock
Premium Member
2003-Dec-31 6:18 pm
That's a good point. Silicon is resilient, hard disk platters however are not. |
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Vamp5c077 Premium Member join:2003-01-28 MD |
Vamp to ctyoe
Premium Member
2003-Dec-31 7:26 pm
to ctyoe
I know thats lots of network equipment gets exposed to below 0 temperatures, but I dont think hard drive would stand that kind of low temperature, and the cpu, would the heat from the cpu cause moisture inside the case? |
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GPorterIt Always Works Better When It's On join:2001-03-21 San Antonio, TX |
to ctyoe
Let's get down to specifics here. Just where do you plan to store your computer-outside or in a garage? Covered in plastic or just left there? Will the temperatures be fairly constant, or will they vary dramatically throughout the day? Just how long are we talking about?
A garage-stored, plastic covered PC should be fine in Buffalo or even farther north. As long as you don't plan to bring the thing inside at a moment's notice, it shouldn't have any problems. The environmental specs quoted above are most likely operating specs, not storage specs, which have to be much broader. They're not going to heat the semi-trailer that brings PSUs from the port to your local computer store...
You also have to be careful in un-storing any electronic device. Give it plenty of time (at least 12 hours) to come to room temperature before even unwrapping any coverings, and then let it sit for a while (a long while, like a day or two) unwrapped.
Inside temperatures in a garage that doesn't have the wind howling through it are often 20 or more degrees higher than outside temps. Wrapping the PC in plastic not only insulates it a bit, it also protects the insides from what's outside-moisture, dust and insects. You'll want to really wrap it up good, and tape it closed all over-this really IS a job for duct tape! Further, any storage place that's better protected from the elements, like a cabinet on an inside garage wall, is better than just sitting it out on the floor.
So where do you plan to store your computer, in what conditions, and for how long? |
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to ctyoe
There are a couple of things to note: a) when water vapor solidifies on "bad" places (i.e. HD's platters) that can ruin components when restarted. But as long as you're cautious (keep it in room temperature for a day or so before turning it on) it should not cause any problem. This happens below 0C, so it's a possibility. b) when the electrolyte in the capacitors freeze -- this may cause some irreversible damage, but I think you have to be under -40C for this to happen, so it's highly unlikely in the 48 states.
As long as the computer is not turned off, it should generate enough heat to keep itself warm enough. |
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Vamp5c077 Premium Member join:2003-01-28 MD |
Vamp to ctyoe
Premium Member
2003-Dec-31 9:24 pm
to ctyoe
You said the heat gets turned off every night... what is the lowest tempature it gets to before it is turned back on the next day? |
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to dbmaven
said by dbmaven: To satisfy my own curiousity, I looked at the specs for some Power Supplies. They spec out as 0 - 50 degrees C, with 10-90% Relative Humidity - better than I expected.
If the temp drops below freezing in the building, you may have a problem....
Not really. sjohnson and I run folding systems in detached unheated rooms in the winter... SJ lives in SD... I live in PA. Coldest case temp Ive read is -19C. My systems were an Epox 8KHA+,8K3AE,8K5A2 and 2 Abit KR7A. These systems were run 24/7 but have been shut off for up to a day and all of them started right up. I still own all the boards and AGP's, eth cards and 300w Enhance PSU's.... everything runs just fine now after 2 years of that. I havent run them this winter... not that it would do any good with 50-60F days . They were run cold for overclocking reasons. |
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Sweet WitchBe the flame, not the moth. MVM join:2003-07-15 Gallifrey |
said by Maranello: Not really. sjohnson and I run folding systems in detached unheated rooms in the winter... SJ lives in SD... I live in PA.
I believe he's thinking about running them during the day and leaving them in a below-freezing room overnight. If that is the case, it will be very bad for the components. |
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Outsourced1 Premium Member join:2002-03-17 Holly Springs, NC |
to ctyoe
I run my computers in an unheated area. Of course in NC it rarely gets below freezing for any period of time. It is often in the low 40's in my workshop in the morning though.
To avoid any issues with temperature changes or condensation, I just leave them running 24/7. Plus they help to keep the shop from getting too cold that way. |
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Margolis Premium Member join:2003-11-24 Saint Louis, MO |
to ctyoe
condensation. need I say more? |
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to ctyoe
Just watch the mayonaise is not set out for too long.:p |
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61999674 (banned)Gotta Do What Ya Gotta Do join:2000-09-02 Here |
to ctyoe
The computer aside >> the management of the building should know or be told, turning OFF the heat at night is NOT an economically sound thing to do, down maybe, but off NO. |
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