The title says it all, folks.
Is a hot garage bad for speakers & stereo equipment (besides shortening the life of electrolytic caps). I know temperatures below freezing can be very bad if you’re using it but I searched for heat damage on the google without success.
One of the hidden blessings I’ve found during the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad times we live in is that some projects that have been on my to do list for a loooong time are getting done now. Next up for me is a 3-4 way open baffle that I’m going to put in the garage (digital active).
I’ve had most of the drivers just taking up shelf space for several years. I am ecstatic about actually doing this project but I’m also concerned about the hot garage - also one of the drivers are EV SP12B’s that are in really good shape. Not sure if they would be more sensitive to heat than newer drivers.
I appreciate any wisdom you can send my way.
Thanks,
goody75
Is a hot garage bad for speakers & stereo equipment (besides shortening the life of electrolytic caps). I know temperatures below freezing can be very bad if you’re using it but I searched for heat damage on the google without success.
One of the hidden blessings I’ve found during the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad times we live in is that some projects that have been on my to do list for a loooong time are getting done now. Next up for me is a 3-4 way open baffle that I’m going to put in the garage (digital active).
I’ve had most of the drivers just taking up shelf space for several years. I am ecstatic about actually doing this project but I’m also concerned about the hot garage - also one of the drivers are EV SP12B’s that are in really good shape. Not sure if they would be more sensitive to heat than newer drivers.
I appreciate any wisdom you can send my way.
Thanks,
goody75
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A hot garage likely won't reach the temperature at which capacitors are affected. Their operating temps can be higher than your garage.
If you don't let it get too bad, I can't see damage happening. But yeah, air out your garage. It doesn't need to be 140 degrees in there!
If you don't let it get too bad, I can't see damage happening. But yeah, air out your garage. It doesn't need to be 140 degrees in there!
high temperature increases the degree of wear and aging. a bit like speakers in the car in summer.
I'm on the gulf coast USA and it gets really humid here (and hot). I've kept quite a few modern drivers (treated paper cone, rubber surround, etc...) in my garage for a few years and I never saw any issue. These sat in their original boxes, protected from light and dust.
Vintage stuff may not fair as well. The adhesives and materials used are not as stable, and being in a hot environment accelerates this ageing. This goes especially for paper and older natural/synthetic rubbers. modern stuff is stable on an order of magnitude longer, so while you are ageing faster in a hot garage than a climate controlled home, you are still left with plenty of lifespan (on the order of a human lifespan).
In a previous life I did accelerated ageing of various polymers using anything from sophisticated ovens with salt fog, to crock pots full of sea water. Heat ages.
Electronic components don't care. As long as UV light isn't present and humidity during operation is within tolerance, the garage is fine. Storage temp for electrical components is well above. Cold is another story -- there are some places on earth that get cold enough to cause problems, but they are also places that have problems with Diesel fuel turning into gel, so my guess is this doesn't apply here.
Vintage stuff may not fair as well. The adhesives and materials used are not as stable, and being in a hot environment accelerates this ageing. This goes especially for paper and older natural/synthetic rubbers. modern stuff is stable on an order of magnitude longer, so while you are ageing faster in a hot garage than a climate controlled home, you are still left with plenty of lifespan (on the order of a human lifespan).
In a previous life I did accelerated ageing of various polymers using anything from sophisticated ovens with salt fog, to crock pots full of sea water. Heat ages.
Electronic components don't care. As long as UV light isn't present and humidity during operation is within tolerance, the garage is fine. Storage temp for electrical components is well above. Cold is another story -- there are some places on earth that get cold enough to cause problems, but they are also places that have problems with Diesel fuel turning into gel, so my guess is this doesn't apply here.
Yes, extremes of temperature (cycling hot to cold) can be damaging - as in long term storage in a UK loft or attic.
As Luceroz has stated it's the UV that has a huge effect. Heat does to a point as well but if it is dark and doesn't go above 40º you should be good for years. Ideal is about 10º - 20º and lower humidity, 30 - 40%. Best to store drivers by hanging on the wall and rotate the bigger ones once a year or so.
For speakers would depend on the materials, I assume foams and paper cones would deteriorate faster with temperature cycling or sustained high/low temps and moisture around.
For electronics, if you are in the storage range of the equipment/components (assuming you are storing the equipment only) then there should be no real major problems. Assuming humidity (and therefore corrosion) is not a problem.
For electronics, if you are in the storage range of the equipment/components (assuming you are storing the equipment only) then there should be no real major problems. Assuming humidity (and therefore corrosion) is not a problem.
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I read that lifetime of parts halves each time the temperature increases by 11C, or something like that. Electrolytic caps being the main worry.
Humans also find hot garages undesirable, but a six pack of cold Mill Street Organic is an accepted solution 😀
Humans also find hot garages undesirable, but a six pack of cold Mill Street Organic is an accepted solution 😀
I do my hifi hobbying in a large garage. It is heated (to 62* in winter) and not AC'd, so it hits mid-80s or so by midsummer. I have seen/heard/measured no effect on my system. Many years ago I ran tube amps in houses just as hot and humid; had no issues there either.
Car audio-based amps &DSP should be able to handle your environment well and be well sealed against dust, etc.
There's a lot of crap and snake oil, but a lot of good stuff too.*
*see Sturgeon's Law and First Corollary
There's a lot of crap and snake oil, but a lot of good stuff too.*
*see Sturgeon's Law and First Corollary
Electronics generally operate just fine in temperatures where humans are comfortable, or can just survive, for the matter 😉
As temperatures rise, the most important component to keep cooled is the listener module. If external climate control isn't available, as is often the case in a home's garage, it is recommended that cold liquids such as beer, whiskey on the rocks, jug wine, and similar be used to keep the listening module at a comfortable temperature. 🙂
A bit more seriously, the only thing I disagree with is that OP said freezing temps are bad for electronics. Yes and no. No until you get down to superconducting temps, which is unlikely at home 🙂 But yes mainly if condensation is possible. Usually frost or water is an issue if you bring something indoors from sub-freezing outside.
The comments about the seasonal extremes of temperature found in the garage or attic are pertinent. Such is not a great way to store many things. Just the same, if it's modest cost gear, probably not worth the worry. Also unlikely but possible: bugs live in or damage your gear. I live in FL so bugs perhaps worse than elsewhere. I had a cheap (Walkman style) pair of headphones that something ate the fabric covers off of the phones, still in the original sales packaging 😀
As temperatures rise, the most important component to keep cooled is the listener module. If external climate control isn't available, as is often the case in a home's garage, it is recommended that cold liquids such as beer, whiskey on the rocks, jug wine, and similar be used to keep the listening module at a comfortable temperature. 🙂
A bit more seriously, the only thing I disagree with is that OP said freezing temps are bad for electronics. Yes and no. No until you get down to superconducting temps, which is unlikely at home 🙂 But yes mainly if condensation is possible. Usually frost or water is an issue if you bring something indoors from sub-freezing outside.
The comments about the seasonal extremes of temperature found in the garage or attic are pertinent. Such is not a great way to store many things. Just the same, if it's modest cost gear, probably not worth the worry. Also unlikely but possible: bugs live in or damage your gear. I live in FL so bugs perhaps worse than elsewhere. I had a cheap (Walkman style) pair of headphones that something ate the fabric covers off of the phones, still in the original sales packaging 😀
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Hey, I've been to S. Florida Pano! People have ACs in their tool sheds!
I was there in July. Humidity required a shovel! Even the Virgin Islands weren't like that.
I was there in July. Humidity required a shovel! Even the Virgin Islands weren't like that.
Humidity and mold can be problems in garages. the humidity won't bother the electronics but speakers and boxes can be damaged.
No AC in my garage Leoman. I can only work out there in the early mornings in the summer. I've tried to work later in the day, but end up stunned, dazed and confused. Yes, we have air you can sink your teeth into.
I have some speakers both new and vintage out there. I haven't seen any damage to them or any of the electronics.
I have some speakers both new and vintage out there. I haven't seen any damage to them or any of the electronics.
Thank you everyone for your responses.
I definitely intend on using the gear in the garage. I was looking for🙂 a green light 🙂
Soldermizer:
To clarify my original comment about cold weather. I am talking about great that will be used in cold weather. What I have read is that at temperatures near freezing, moisture from the air can condensate in places like the inside of an amplifier... bad things follow.
goody75
I definitely intend on using the gear in the garage. I was looking for🙂 a green light 🙂
Soldermizer:
To clarify my original comment about cold weather. I am talking about great that will be used in cold weather. What I have read is that at temperatures near freezing, moisture from the air can condensate in places like the inside of an amplifier... bad things follow.
goody75
Condensation occurs when you bring a cold object into a warm, moist environment, so you will be fine.
Just give it a chance to warm up a bit before you turn it up loud, material expansion rates not being equal.
After a few minutes it will sound normal and you can crank it right up.
Just give it a chance to warm up a bit before you turn it up loud, material expansion rates not being equal.
After a few minutes it will sound normal and you can crank it right up.
Up to 110 in the summer....30 in the winter. No problems for speakers or electronics. All prosound based gear if that makes a difference.
If my car speakers/electronics can handle 135 with the windows shut and 25 during winter, I think you're fine.
Salt seems more worrisome to me if you're on the coast.
If my car speakers/electronics can handle 135 with the windows shut and 25 during winter, I think you're fine.
Salt seems more worrisome to me if you're on the coast.