Any tips for winter garage storage?

GhostyDevil

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Well, even though it doesn't seem like it right now in the suburbs of Chicago winter is coming. My cabs are currently sitting in the garage, and I'm kind of worried if they will come out unscathed from the crazy winters we get in these neck of the woods. Any tips for storing in the cold other than "say your prayers" lol.
 
Do you plan to play them over the winter? If you do you will need a space heater to warm up the space at least into the 40s before even considering powering anything on.
 
I used to rub a thin coating of lightweight oil on all the exposed metal to deter rust.
 
Do you plan to play them over the winter? If you do you will need a space heater to warm up the space at least into the 40s before even considering powering anything on.

Bah... before I insulated my garage I played my games in 34+ degree weather without fail. That said, it's a very dry area here.
 
Cold Weather

I have the same issue with a 3 season porch.

I have noticed that the cold weather has affected:
Capacitors
Artwork - especially control panel overlays
Monitors
BB RAM / or other PCB batteries

In general, I take off the control panels and perhaps the back glass so the art work doesn't have to deal with the cold. Separation is the usual symptom.
 
Do you plan to play them over the winter? If you do you will need a space heater to warm up the space at least into the 40s before even considering powering anything on.

Yes I do have gas heat out there, but I don't like to leave it on all the time. I'll make sure to crank it on when going out to game. Thanks for the tips guys.
 
Yes I do have gas heat out there, but I don't like to leave it on all the time. I'll make sure to crank it on when going out to game. Thanks for the tips guys.

Be careful. Quick temperature changes = WORSE than just the cold alone.
 
It's no fun playing games in the cold.

SC gets REALLY hot in the Summer, but not too bad in the Winter. We may have a few days of single digit (Farenheit) temperatures, but that's it.

I've never seen anything suffer from the cold in my garage. No delamination of glass artwork, no condensation, no cracked rubber, nothing.
 
I have lost many many monitors when turn on games that was cold first and then hoping that I have warmed up the room enough to play them. I think that if there is any moisture in the garage then do not start the machine. There may be condensation inside the tube. The next thing to do is take out any glass bezel that has the backside painted. Example I have had a few pinball machine that at the end of season the paint was flaking off badly. I have had other pinballs at a campground near Lake Michigan. The fog comes in many morning and the temp changes bubbled all of the back glasses. Hope this saves you some future grief.
 
Definitely be weary of games w/ glass marquees and bezels.... found that out the hard way!:(
 
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It's been referenced above, but specifically screened glass. Anything that has paint sticking to glass should be moved to a temperature controlled environment.
 
You might want to keep a small space heater in there with the thermostat on the lowest setting. Even a tiny bit of heat will help keep moisture out and help out on any below zero nights.
 
If you power on a game while it's really cold out there, the monitor may act weird, shut off during operation, or not power on at all. Give it time to warm up if you have a gas heater or any other type of heater.
 
any game with silk screened art on glass,. remove this. (Nows the time to triple-tiick it if any if it is flaking) wrap it in bublewrap and store inside your house somewhere safe.

For the games themselves, the cnstant warm/cold cycles of weather will make everything "sweat" like a pop can. THIS IS BAD...

WHen i was living around chicago(des plaines) i bought a bunch of plastic sheeting. I stapled that all over the walls and celing of the garage. I taped up all the edges and seams. I then used two space heaters. They were enough to take the chill out of the air(it was like constant 45-50 degrees) and also stopped the sweating issue. I should note that i also plasticed around the big door and used the side door for access. The big door is a big source for air leak/moisture/snow to get in.

If you do this i would strongly reccomend you hookup the space heaters **directly to the wall***, ****not on the same circuit is possible*****

. Id hate to hear of a garage fire man. Best of luck sir.
 
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On the subject of moisture. I have access to industrial desicant used to keep moisture out of export shipments, i.e. huge bags of the "do not eat" stuff sometimes found in boxes. Do you think that it would help if I threw some of these in the bottom of the cabinets? Thanks
 
The only thing I know that was caused by cold temperature was when I cracked the HV transformer on my Star Wars Amplifone due to some moisture forming on it overnight. Best not to power up if your nights are in the 40s. Moisture should evaporate before night falls again, but you can never be sure when. Mainly because the inside of a cab is its own environment. Just like your garage has its own internal temp in a closed space, the cabs are also closed spaces with small pockets of insulated air. The short of it is if your game room was below freezing the night before, the temp might rise to an acceptable level so you can play a game by noon. But the inside of the cabinet may be insulated enough that it is still cold and could have condensed water on the circuits. Of course, that's just what I think is happening. I could be completely wrong. Fire'em up at your own peril. I know I will be thinking twice about it this winter.
 
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