Cold wheather & console's, not the best of friends?

[gerard]

I still have my Tascam M3500 (see packing 101) in my garage and it's getting quite "nippy" outside, low 10/20's and will be like that for a few days. I have it wraped in 3 heavy moving blankets. I use to perform enviromental hot/cold temp tests on military gear and most of the time, the system/unit would pass, but that's mil gear. Kinda concerned about solder joints/parts/ etc. "stressing" plus the board is no spring chicken (17 years old). Am I worrying over nothing? Still couldn't find anyone to help move it, it was always "maybe next week".

Thanks in advance,

Jerry

[sweetbeats]

My humble opinion (get out a grain of salt please), I wouldn't worry about it. As long as it is dry and disconnected from mains it should be fine. The components inside that beast can stand temps colder than that. The big concern and what would cause physical stress on the board would be moving it from such frigid temps directly into a warm "room temperature" environment. Rapid warming could cause stress and excessive condensation. When the time comes to move it from the unheated space to the heated space I'd find a way to allow it to warm to the new temperature slowly (like if there is a transitory space that is in-between the two temparature-wise, or put it in that awesome shipping crate and close it up to slow the acclimation process), and I'd wait to connect it to the mains until I was sure that it had warmed to room temp and that any condensate that may have occured had dried completely...

Whaddaya think fellas?

[Richard King]

I wouldn't think that it would be a problem. Just don't haul it in and immediately flip the switch. Let it sit in its new environment for at least 24 hours or so. I used to haul stuff around in Minnesota winters all the time and use them immediately, but, if I had the option I would let it adjust.

[technoplayer]

Plus 2 on what the other two said.

Cold temperature in itself is not likely to be an issue. Just dont move the board cold, as plastic, especially aged plastic, gets brittle and may crack under stress at low temp. Also 100% agree with a day or two of indoor temp stability prior to power up.

Moisture problems associated with low temp are more a concern, but I would imagine its kinda dry there right now. Also beware of rodents looking for a warm place to nest (right Sweetbeats????)

>>>.Side note....all bets are off for those who equipment bake in 100 degree plus garages, storage untis, attics etc. Heat and humidity kill equipment.

[sweetbeats]

Also beware of rodents looking for a warm place to nest (right Sweetbeats????)

heheheh

I'm still finding the occasional stray turd as I go through things...ew

[Herm]

When I giged on a regular basis we left all of our gear in the bus or trailor through the winter in temps 10 to 20 below for years.
We would pull up to a job and unload set up and play within 1 hour.
We never had one piece of gear fail.

[gerard]

Thanks for reply gents! Looks like the board will be in there for a few more weeks but I feel better about leaving it there now. Too cold to do any woodwork but I need to build a stand for it ( and a rack). I'll keep looking for some "moist warm bodies" to bring it upstairs when it's done. Will also keep a eye out for any "fur ball" action! Thanks again!

Jerry