Fairlight-CMI

Thanks Stefano, Your response to my question answers all of my concerns regarding storage. My equipment is either covered or in flight cases. The heat doesn't fluctuate much
and there is little humidity here in Arizona. Usually two types of weather here very hot 
and not as hot. In a year or so I'll transport it to a studio environment near the Ocean in California. It will eventually get to test out everything when I get a chance to take care of some business. I will be content when I leave the desert weather here.
 


--- On Mon, 8/30/10, stefano_fonzarelli <einstein@onetelnet.nl> wrote:


From: stefano_fonzarelli <einstein@onetelnet.nl>
Subject: [Fairlight-CMI] Re: Storage concerns for a Fairlight IIx & III
To: Fairlight-CMI@yahoogroups.com
Date: Monday, August 30, 2010, 9:53 AM


  





If you store electronic equipment, it is not just the temperature that matters. There are several factors involved:

1. temperature level
2. temparature fluctiations
3. speed of temperature fluctuations
4. humidity level
5. humidity changes
6. speed of humidity changes

While 75 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit ( 23 - 37 degrees Celcius ) at daytime are well within the safe range for your equipment, daily rise and fall of this temperature depends on the isolation of the room/building in which they are kept. And if your equipment is stored in boxes or flightcases. Or maybe even standing freely in the room.

It is the combination with moist that is of greater concern. If the temperature rises, the air will absorb more moist. When the temperature drops, the moist is kept in the boxes' cardboard and released slowly over time. If equipment is stored in flightcases, the moist will be contained in the air much longer. Leading to a quicker way of corrosion.

What you need to do is make sure that packing in is done in a normal climate ( 64 - 75 Fahrenheit / 50 - 70% humidity ) and your equipment is not just put in boxes or flightcases, but also wrapped in isolation and almost waterproof. You can do that by using foam and wrapperfoil around each single piece of equipment.
Alternatively, complete boxes/flightcases can be wrapped in foil. Be sure to use more than a single layer, since the foil may very well be not 100% waterproof.

If you store your equipment this way, humidity is kept at a more or less constant safe level, while temperature changes are kept low. To further reduce temparature changes, you should stack your boxes/cases very tight together and cover everything up with blankets.

I admit that this procedure requires more of an effort than simply paying for airconditioning. But it is actually even more reliable, since in case of a power-down/system failure your stuff is still safe.

When you finally get your gear back to your studio/gig, be sure to allow for more than one hour of climate adapting/venting before powering anything up.

Good luck,

Steve