27 Jan
2014
27 Jan
'14
7:36 a.m.
On Mon, Jan 27, 2014 at 9:17 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?
I used to run a PDP-11 in the basement of my mother's typing shop.
The back stairs let out to an enclosed add-on room that was poorly
insulated. The cold air would sneak in and pour down the basement
steps. As such, it was routinely 50F or colder in the winter when it
was comfortable on the first floor.
The only thing I had that didn't like it cold (besides me!) was the
LA180. If it was below about 45F, it would blow fuses for the
carriage motor. I presume the lubricant got too viscous and it
increased the drive current past spec.
As for magnetic media, consult the old floppy sleeves - they used to
tell you not to let the discs get below freezing (32F/0C), IIRC.
-ethan