Cold Storage

[+davidcalgary29]

I’m probably going to go ahead with renovations and will lose some storage space, and I’d like to put some lower-value items in the shed (waterproof airtight containers). Temps will likely hit -40c a number of times, but will be steadily below freezing until March. What’s the risk of permanent damage?

[DragonGrafx-16]

Pretty high... unless the shed is insulated. A garage (if you have one) would probably be better. I had an old computer stored in one for over a decade and still worked. I got upset when my parents threw it out. They also threw out a perftly good CRT VGA monitor that I PAID for.

[x=usr(1536)]

The two things I'd be most concerned about if I were in your shoes:

1. Any humidity packed into the airtight containers.
2. How plastics, metals, rubber, LCDs, etc. will behave at those temperatures.

WRT 1. above, unless you can remove 100% of the humidity from the atmosphere inside the container, it's eventually going to ice over and freeze on something.  Whether that alone is enough to cause damage or if it would need to melt for that to happen is debateable, but it's worth taking into consideration.

 

Regarding 2.: Material behaviours change with temperature.  Even if the electronics survive, you may come back to broken or severely weakened plastics in the Spring.  Ditto metals, rubber, etc.

 

Obviously all of this overlooks outright weather damage, but as I don't know the condition of the structure you're planning on keeping them in that's not something that's easily accounted for.

 

If you care enough to keep this stuff, I'd suggest finding the cheapest climate-controlled storage unit you can and putting them in there over the Winter (assuming no loft / garage space).  If they're not that important, sure, the shed's an option and if they work in the Spring, bonus!

Edited October 21, 2019 by x=usr(1536)

[+atari2600land]

Off topic: -40c is -40f. I just thought that was interesting.

[fiddlepaddle]

I've previously kept a bunch of old video game stuff in plastic bags inside cardboard boxes for maybe about ten years. Not as cold as where you are, but it typically goes below zero (F) a couple of times per year for a few days. Average maybe about 25 deg F in the winter. Everything pretty much still works OK.

Extreme heat is probably more likely to cause damage than extreme cold, though temperature fluctuations can cause ICs to work their way out of sockets and stuff like that.

I do know that repeated fluctuations right around the freezing temperature with moisture present WILL cause damage to just about anything.

[carlsson]

What type of items? Electronics, magnetic media, documentation etc? I think books would last well, disks probably not so much unless the inside temperature in the airtight containers can be maintained a fair bit over those -40.

[Tanooki]

I'd think unless there was a part within a turned off electronic that can't handle deep cold, it shouldn't be a problem.  At least not a problem if you brought it in and let it hit room temperature first so both it doesn't sweat and short, but also just hits and instant cold to hot that might pop it.  If they're in a container where it truly is air tight, then humidity won't mess it up so that's a plus as with anything.

[+davidcalgary29]

Hmm...good points. I think I’ll just store the old books & magazines in the shed. I’ll also store disks and carts in the house and take boxes to the shed. I’ve stored some stuff in the shed in the past — mostly old 2600 commons, A8 disks, and a couple of old systems — with no notable damage, but this is food for thought. Haven’t seen any moisture damage — things freeze dry at those temps — but you never know.

[CatPix]

Well moisture will mostly happen when carrying those items in and out of the shed. cold surface condense moisture from the room, not from themselves.

One solution then would be to package your items in airtight bags to store them, and when you get them back home, leave them a few hours so get get back to room temperature and don't get moisture.

 

[+davidcalgary29]

Yes, I always do this (wrapping items in freezer bags). The shed is essentially inaccessible from November-April as the ground freezes around it and blocks the door, and so temperature transitions from arctic to room temperature aren’t a factor.