Games and cold

ncfiala

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Anybody here live in a cold climate like Minnesota and keep their games in an unheated garage? Have you had any problems with the electronics or the paint and artwork as a result? I moved all of my games from the house into the garage this past Summer. My garage is insulated and heated, but I don't want to run the heater all the time, just on an as needed basis.
 
I live in Indiana and it gets pretty cold here. I had my games in the garage last year and didn't have any problems with them working. I did have some paint peel off of my pac-man bezel. I think it was from the cold.
 
Anybody here live in a cold climate like Minnesota and keep their games in an unheated garage? Have you had any problems with the electronics or the paint and artwork as a result? I moved all of my games from the house into the garage this past Summer. My garage is insulated and heated, but I don't want to run the heater all the time, just on an as needed basis.

Form an electronics perspective.. cold won't hurt anything. Moisture will though.
 
Why do you say that? It would be damn expensive to run the heater all Winter out there.

Because we just had this same thread last week, where It was sited we've had this same thread pop up several times a year. My friend Jow just assumed you were more observant.
 
Because we just had this same thread last week, where It was sited we've had this same thread pop up several times a year. My friend Jow just assumed you were more observant.

Why would he assume that? I'm definitely not.

I wonder if anyone has picked up a Primal Rage lately.
 
I live in Indiana and it gets pretty cold here. I had my games in the garage last year and didn't have any problems with them working. I did have some paint peel off of my pac-man bezel. I think it was from the cold.

Yeah Pac bezels are glass and I've heard cold can cause flaking because of different expansion and contraction rates with temperature changes.
 
Why would he assume that? I'm definitely not.

I wonder if anyone has picked up a Primal Rage lately.

Well funny you should mention that. I did a few weeks back. Killer game my man. I heard you picked up the $300 BT that had been a $110 BT on CL a few weeks prior. I tried for the machine when it was still $110 but was second in line. Congratz!
 
Well funny you should mention that. I did a few weeks back. Killer game my man. I heard you picked up the $300 BT that had been a $110 BT on CL a few weeks prior. I tried for the machine when it was still $110 but was second in line. Congratz!

So you didn't even offer $110 on a working Burgertime? Damn you is cheap.

Wait a minute. You tried for the machine and were second in line but didn't get it. That means the person who was first in line got it. But that can't be true cause I have it. Something doesn't add up.

I had no idea it was on CL for $110 prior. I never even check CL anymore. Haven't been on there but a handful of times in probably a year. Only reason I knew about the Burgertime was that I happened to see the post here.
 
as far as yr post, nick, i haven't had issues with art or paint on cabs. i had my tempest and mario bros. in my garage for a couple months winter of '07 and no issues with either. my garage isn't insulated but usually stays above 20-30 in the winter.
 
I've always heard that the cold can cause monitor problems...

The main one that sticks out in my head is the potential of necks cracking because of the changes in temp... I've heard about it, but I've never really seen it happen before. But... rumors usually exist for a reason... usually.

As far as art... I'd assume glass marquees would be the biggest issue as far as condensation goes (because of the temp change from the lights). I know that just high humidity will destroy a Pole Position marquee... ... mine looks like crap now. I'm not sure how much heat would be made behind a bezel... but I'll assume they'd be at the same risk as the marquees.

Again... just imagining... never seen anything caused from cold like that IRL.
 
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CRT manufacturers for PC's and TV manufacturers a like generally have instructions in the manual that specifically mention something to the effect of, "Do NOT operate unit until it reaches room temperature." What the magic number is ... I dunno. I would certainly agree with the above comment about the neck cracking.

As far as artwork is concerned - look at a game that was built in 198X and the side art is a complete and utter bitch to remove. Those games had sat in the cold and elements for how long? I would doubt you have anything to worry about there ;)
 
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yeah, i believe humidity and condensation are an issue as far as monitors are concerned, but living in a really dry climate in colorado, i've never had that issue.
 
i had no problem with my games last winter in my non-insulated garage but at the same time, when i did have them on, it wasnt for long. If your not dressed in a full snow suit, then it gets cold rather quick.

I think you will be fine. Biggest issue is moving them from a cold environment to warm. That will produce condensation. I have heard if you take a piece of glass that is really cold and take it inside where its warm, it can actually shatter due to the sudden change in temperature.
 
Yep watch the tempered glass on cocktails. If brought into a warm enviroment from a very cold one, it can shatter.
 
With winter on the way, my wife has suggested we put blankets on our games out in the garage to keep them warm during the frigid South Carolina winter.

Maybe I should bring them some hot chocolate too?
 
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