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high temperatures damaging gear?
Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2014 2:53 pm
by John Matrix
Currently in the middle of a wave of 100+ degree days out here in Sacramento. I keep all my gear in the garage, and I was wondering how much damage temperatures within this range could cause. It gets to be around 110 here sometimes. One of my amp heads has had issues running hot before so I keep that one, along with my guitar indoors. I am interested in how this might affect my pedals and other amps though. Any opinions?
Re: high temperatures damaging gear?
Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2014 3:40 pm
by Mike
Heat, to a certain point, should not damage pedals-- at least the individual components.
If you look at the datasheet for a common transistor-- 2n2222, for example-- you would see that it is rated for
functionality and storage between -55C and 150C. That's -67F to 302F. Quite the range. Pretty much every component is going to be similarly rated to some extreme temperature.
Paint should be fine, solder is fine of course, and pretty much any part I can think of should be able to survive a couple hundred degrees in storage without issue. There is some grease inside the switches, but I doubt that would melt. Cliff brand 3pdt switches are rated for use between -20C and 65C, and Tayda's test report says theirs are fine up to 100C.
The only real threat, to me, would be moisture, bugs, and theft.
Mike
Re: high temperatures damaging gear?
Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2014 9:49 pm
by Jero
^What Mike said^
Of course your GE circuits (if you have any) probably won't sound the same but should still be fine. Definitely keep the guitars inside. If you are jamming out there, the amps will likely warm up much quicker, which could potentially lead to overheating, but that's with actual use. Storage wise, you should be a-ok.
Re: high temperatures damaging gear?
Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2014 10:10 pm
by Chankgeez
If you have any amps with wax capacitors, I might be concerned.
Rapid fluctuations of temperature would probably be more of a concern though.
Re: high temperatures damaging gear?
Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2014 11:03 pm
by John Matrix
Thanks for the feedback. I can rest a bit easier. Although, I am more worried about a black widow nest erupting out of my amp now.
Re: high temperatures damaging gear?
Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2014 11:23 pm
by odontophobia
John Matrix wrote:Thanks for the feedback. I can rest a bit easier. Although, I am more worried about a black widow nest erupting out of my amp now.
kill it with fire.
i think insurance will cover that.
godspeed.