storage temperatures for mixing board / tape machine???

1964 · Post by **1964** » Thu Jan 30, 2014 2:21 pm

How cold is too cold for overnight storage of tape machine and mixing console.

I have a rehearsal space with no heat, that I have my gear in.

At night it gets down to probably 35 degrees at the coldest inside the space.

Is this too cold for a mixing board and tape machine???

I'm a little scared to leave a space heater on there while I'm gone overnight... although I may have to...

Snarl 12/8 · Post by **Snarl 12/8** » Thu Jan 30, 2014 3:24 pm

I'd be really worried about condensation when the air warms up before the gear. What's the humidity like in the AM?

Edit: Also, fluctuations in temperature is really a great way to destroy almost anything. (Rocks, locks, glass, etc.) Do you let things warm up really, really slowly before turning them on?

Edit 2: At least use something like this that warms the objects in the room more than the air... http://www.sears.com/kenmore-oil-filled ... 272085000P Rather than the hot air blowy kind of space heater. They're silent and less dangerous (IMO) too.

1964 · Post by **1964** » Thu Jan 30, 2014 4:27 pm

thank you

Do you let things warm up really, really slowly before turning them on?

not really... i usually throw the space heater on when I get there and then turn the mixing board (soundcraft spirit studio) on after that... and then the tape machine...

thanks for the heater link too... i'll look into one of those

Snarl 12/8 · Post by **Snarl 12/8** » Thu Jan 30, 2014 5:23 pm

1964 wrote:thanks for the heater link too... i'll look into one of those

Just to be clear, I'm recommending that type of heater, not that particular brand/model. That was just the first thing Google found.

Nick Sevilla · Post by **Nick Sevilla** » Thu Jan 30, 2014 8:13 pm

The trick is to bring up the temperature slowly, say over 15-30 minutes...

If you just rush in and turn the things on, yeah, they might not like that in a few months' time.

This has to do with expanding components too quickly, then having them shrink back overnight. After a while, older capacitors and even some resistors will crap out.

Cheers

Snarl 12/8 · Post by **Snarl 12/8** » Thu Jan 30, 2014 10:53 pm

You could get one of those AC (electrical) timers and program it to turn on the radiator about an hour before rehearsal usually starts and stay on about an hour after it ends. The other thing you could do is leave your gear on 24/7. Some people swear by that. Do you have to pay the electrical and/or like polar bears?

1964 · Post by **1964** » Fri Jan 31, 2014 2:57 am

I don't pay the electrical bill, so I'm happy to leave the gear on all the time if that is better for the gear.
I have heard that before but never understood the logic in it.
I always turn my stuff on and off every session.
Thanks for both of your input.

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storage temperatures for mixing board / tape machine???

storage temperatures for mixing board / tape machine???

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