Cold Weather & Arcade Machines

bungy

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Like many of you, I keep a few working arcade games in my unheated/uninsulated garage. Now that it is getting colder outside, I am concerned about the effects of lower temperatures on my machines.

I know that when moving them from a cold environment to a warm one, they shouldn't be turned on until they completely warm up and all condensation has evaporated.

But what if I just leave them out there all winter and occasionally turn them on in the cold to play them? Are there any harmful effects from storing these old electronics and CRT tubes in near-freezing to sub-zero temperatures?
 
I can tell you in the 3+ years I've been doing this, I've run my games in the garage in the dead of winter at "near freezing" temperatures without issue. That said, "sub-zero"? That's freakin' cold...and if it's sub-zero in your garage, you're in a world of hurt and I wouldn't consider firing up the games.
 
I've had a bunch in my garage for three winters now and I just pulled some into the arcade yesterday before our big snow and fired all of them up immediately without incident.

Of course, we have like 0% humidity in Colorado so there is no condensation issue

Chris
 

Thanks!
I initially searched "temperature" but must have missed those.
Here are a few more I found:
http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=74772
http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=75609

I meant sub zero as in below freezing (0° Celsius = 32° F). It rarely gets below the teens (°F) in my area.
 
Thanks!
I initially searched "temperature" but must have missed those.
Here are a few more I found:
http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=74772
http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=75609

I meant sub zero as in below freezing (0° Celsius = 32° F). It rarely gets below the teens (°F) in my area.


Check out my furnace thread. It gets subzero here many days a winter, yet my garage heater will keep it at 65-70 in the shop for as long as I need it.
 
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