Kyle Whitaker Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 Has anyone stored their controllers in the attic? I've never stored them up there with the rest of my display items because,of the heat. Anyone know if high heat will harm the boards? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WilliamS Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 Store? mine are on the back patio hooked up to a laptop so I can play with them!Also high heat shouldnt hurt them unless you have poor soldering on the boards. Even if thats the case the issue will show up regardless. Put them away or send them to me Ill keep them busy for the off seasons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 The heat that destroys electronic components is almost always generated internally, by the current that passes through the devices. The big heat sinks on the triacs are to draw this heat to the outside. When operating, the temperatures inside the triacs are in the hundreds of degrees.It is impossible to reach these temperatures inside an attic, as the wood would burst into flames first.On the other hand, if you actually operate the controllers while they're stored inside the attic, this can reduce the ability of the heat sinks to draw the internally generated heat out of the devices.It is also possible to raise the temperature of a component to damaging levels with a soldering iron, but this usually requires leaving the solder melted for minutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyle Whitaker Posted January 21, 2012 Author Share Posted January 21, 2012 Thanks! I'll post next season when I pull them out of the attic and they are not working Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrownOut Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 I have tried storing my lights in the crawl space- Mice and chipmunks love to chew my wires. Yummy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WilliamS Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 BrownOut wrote: I have tried storing my lights in the crawl space- Mice and chipmunks love to chew my wires. Yummyleave them plugged in no more rodents Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJ Hvasta Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 nope, that wont work, all the channels would have to be turned on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve synek Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 I wouldn't think it would not hurt the controllers in the least. Here in Ohio, I have had plastic/ PVC type materials come out of the attic a little twisted or colored from the heat. So if the controllers are not in metal enclosures, make sure they are properly closed so there is no warping of hinges, doors, lids and the like.Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Young Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 GoofyGuy wrote:BrownOut wrote: I have tried storing my lights in the crawl space- Mice and chipmunks love to chew my wires. Yummyleave them plugged in no more rodentsAnd if they are incandescents, chances are good there may be no more house either! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixeldigger Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 I don't know about your attic, but mine gets hot enough to possibly warp some things. That far north, you are probably ok though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CKSedg Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 I have stored most of my controllers in the garage attic for two off-seasons now. No problems at all when I hook them up again. I say go for it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
columbus27 Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 I built a 2x4 shelf around the inside of my garage. It is not as hot as the attic. And not as damp as the basement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Leonhardt Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 I have stored mine in the attic for about 4 years in a row, with no problems. I live down here in Texas, aand it does get hot up there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max-Paul Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 Has anyone bothered to look up the storage temperature of electrolytic caps.? I could see this attic storage drying them out earlier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 Max-Paul wrote: Has anyone bothered to look up the storage temperature of electrolytic caps.? I could see this attic storage drying them out earlier.Read this:http://www.westfloridacomponents.com/CapUsage.htmlAnd yes, HIGH HEAT can destroy electrolytic capacitors if left in that environment for too long. Heat from an attic environment IS NOT conducive to electronics, especially in high heat areas like Florida. I left some computer boards I stored in the attic by accident, picked up and stored the wrong tote up there. When I finally found the tote after being in the attic for a almost a year, not one of those boards worked correctly, they did work, but were erratic or would stop working after they got heated up a little.I wouldn't recommend storing them in the attic. I don't even store my lights (both LED and incandescent up there), that excess heat is actually hard on the filament of an incandescent, not sure about the LEDs, but wouldn't think they'd hold up too well in that type of environment either. ANd I've seen blowmolds actually get deformed from being in an attic, but again, that's here in Florida. I can't say about colder regions, just know what happens in my neck o' the wood to things left in a hot attic for too long.Personally I don't store my controllers either, they are kept in a cool, dry place if I'm not using them, most often they are in use daily. But since we're in the process of a move to a larger home, they are currently stored in the garage lying on a wooden slatted park bench. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Simmons Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 I've reached the point, after four seasons of collecting the accursed things, that I've got over 30 of 'em now. Looks like I'll be storing them anywhere and everywhere I can find 2 sq ft of space. I even noticed a half-filled cupboard underneath the kitchen counter that could hold two, and a shelf in my closet that would work for four or five if only I'd get rid of the sweaters that don't fit me any more... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Don Gillespie Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 High heat, attic, garage, come on people I have mine in a contolled enviroment, warm in the winter, cool in the summer, it used to be called the mother-in-law room but now its the Don's controller and assembly room ever one should have one of these Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CKSedg Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 Don Gillespie wrote: High heat, attic, garage, come on people I have mine in a contolled enviroment, warm in the winter, cool in the summer, it used to be called the mother-in-law room but now its the Don's controller and assembly room ever one should have one of these If I could just get the married kids to move out.......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Leonhardt Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 What happened to the Mother-In-Law ???????:shock:Don Gillespie wrote: High heat, attic, garage, come on people I have mine in a contolled enviroment, warm in the winter, cool in the summer, it used to be called the mother-in-law room but now its the Don's controller and assembly room ever one should have one of these Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Rise Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 Like any other electronic component, it's best to keep them in a cool, dry environment.I don't really have room to keep them in the house, so mine are kept in the garage. Not exactly cool, but it's dry and not in the 100 degree heat that the attic gets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts