27 Jan
2014
27 Jan
'14
8:43 a.m.
On 01/27/2014 10:25 AM, Zane Healy wrote:
On Jan 27, 2014, at 6:17 AM, Jules Richardson
<jules.richardson99 at gmail.com> wrote:
> We're all reasonably aware of the tendency for vintage hardware to get a little
flaky if it's too hot - but what about the other side? I expect that the electronics
aren't particularly troubled by the cold, but what about tape units, floppy drives,
hard drives, magnetic media? When is it too cold for them to work reliably?
>
> cheers
>
> Jules
>
>
>
Too cold affects mechanical parts due to contraction and lubricant
viscosity.
Older gear with MECL/ECL and transistors want to have every thing at the
same temp
and raw trasistor system may not work due to transistor Beta shifting
with low temps.
Obviously any logic that is marginal will quit or loose margin and be
come flaky.
The more SSI the more likely, the more integrated the better.
I've run gear below freezing and as long as there was no condensation
things
went well. Condensation is bad so if you bring gear in thats cold allow
it to warm
and not collect moisture. The spec for most DEC gear explicitly says no
condensation.
Allison