What temperature for shop or garage in the Winter?

Steverd

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Since all of my games are now in my backyard shop, what temperature should I keep it this Winter? My shop is 24'x30' insulated and heated.
Should I just keep it above freezing? Or more like 40 or 45 degrees?
Thoughts please!

shop2.jpg

Thanks,
Steve
 
If try to keep it warm enough that you don't end up with condensation when turning them on.

Also...Don't want to crack a tube from warming it up too quick if it's extremely cold.

Heat and cold leads to expansion and contraction, hell on cold solder joints.
 
If try to keep it warm enough that you don't end up with condensation when turning them on.

Also...Don't want to crack a tube from warming it up too quick if it's extremely cold.

Heat and cold leads to expansion and contraction, hell on cold solder joints.

I don't turn them on too much in the Winter, But I think I might set it for '45' for now and see how that goes, or how much that will be on my electric bill.
The shop has it's own meter do it's easy to track power usage in there.

Steve
 
I've run my games in the garage during winter for the last 6 years with nary an issue... It's insulated... and I do run a heater from time to time... but it's oftentimes in the upper 40's in there... no issues.
 
Current garage temp is 64 i've yet to see it go below 59/60 during the winter.
 
Florida

Usually 65-70 at night all winter long with door open :)

Wow, that was unnecessary, especially while I prep for Antarctica. But to be honest........ I like cold weather and my shop will protect all of my games just fine.
 
I've run my games in the garage during winter for the last 6 years with nary an issue... It's insulated... and I do run a heater from time to time... but it's oftentimes in the upper 40's in there... no issues.

My games 'will' power up in the 50 and higher temps, but I've noticed alot of variances in their behavior. Immediate things that come to mind are:

1. Asteroids- takes longer for the monitor to come up, more hum in the speakers, and the plexi marquee sounds like it's bumping around more than in warmer temps

2. Robotron: the coin lights take longer to come on, sometimes don't at all- I also get a line running vertically on the right side of the screen that will go away after the game warms up

3. Ms Pac sometimes won't come on at all

Those are just the top 3 I've noticed. Yeah, they will play, like Friz's- but those little things distract me and get on my nerves when playing.
 
I wouldn't worry about the electronics as much as the art... the hot/cold expansion/contraction will take its toll on glass bezels and marquees. You don't have to worry about condensation, because that requires a warmer, moister (is that a word?) air touching a cold surface (like breathing on a cold window)... the warmth of chips in cold, dry air will actually prevent condensation.

DogP
 
conserve

would leave at 45, but if planning on playing i would set it to go to 65 degrees 3 hours before turning anything on- an hour for the temp to get 65 and 2 hours to take the chill out of the games.
 
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