Im wondering because when you tour in canada in the winter and all you gear is in a trailer it gets pretty damn cold in there. Will letting your gear get to lets say -30 degrees Celsius (that -22 Fahrenheit for all you Americans out there) damage it? Or should you just let it warm up properly?
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How cold should you let your gear get?
- Thread starter JeremyJJackson
- Start date
Let it warm up properly and let it stop condensing water. I have heard many a horror story on here where someone ruined an amp because it was too cold.
Depends on the gear.
Cabs, pedals, cords, ok.
Amps, maybe, if they have lots of time to warm up.
Basses, I would be worried. Keep them in the heated vehicle and bring them inside the motel (which you should be doing anyway)
Cabs, pedals, cords, ok.
Amps, maybe, if they have lots of time to warm up.
Basses, I would be worried. Keep them in the heated vehicle and bring them inside the motel (which you should be doing anyway)
I read on here somewhere that temperature change decreases the life of capacitors. At the least, let the amps warm to room temp before turning them on, and then leave them on so as to cut down the potential for rapid expansion/contraction
I lost an amp that sat in the car overnight in sub freezing weather, then in the car during the day while at work. Went to practice, plugged it in, turned it on about 10 minutes after plugging it in, played for about 2 minutes, and "POP!". Smoke came out of the fan. It should have sat for hours at room temperature. I asume it drew moisture when it started warming up. I toasted a bunch of output ICs on that board. Never again. I just buy more amps and leave them at my various locations. I'll leave a $300 bass outside, but not a $1700 bass...good weather or not.
We usually end up touring North and South Dakota in the middle of February and I know last year when we were there, it was about -25f. Cold as HE##.. Anyway, I got my gear into the next club early enough, let it sit (without taking the covers off) for a while, then took the covers off and let it sit some more. Then I plugged it in and left it on warming up with nothing running through it. She worked well and performed like a champ. Every winter is the same.
Being a U.S.midwesterner, and having traveled and gigged in all kinds of weather, I've never lost an amp due to the freezing cold. Just let them warm up for a good while before you turn them on. Of course I realize that most of my good fortune is having used, and still using amps of a more old fashioned robust build quality. If I ever buy into a modern fly weight super head and leave it in a trailer in sub zero weather, I'll keep folks posted as to how it holds up under extreme conditions. Once again it's about letting your amps warm up before you turn them on that is key thing to remember.
As far as capacitors going bad, or suffering a shortened life from being exposed to sub zero temps in a resting state, I'd like to see some electronic science data on that claim. It's something I haven't heard of before, nor have experienced as a problem first hand.
As far as capacitors going bad, or suffering a shortened life from being exposed to sub zero temps in a resting state, I'd like to see some electronic science data on that claim. It's something I haven't heard of before, nor have experienced as a problem first hand.
I imagine the capacitor issue is for electrolytics (power supply type), not the smaller ones like in a bass tone control. I don't know one way or the other if it's actually an issue.
I think you've gotten good advice, let things stabilize and dry out between extreme cold and performance temperatures. This applies to speakers as well. Be especially careful w/power tubes if you have any. ...and basses / guitars, especially if any nitrocellulose finish is involved. You should be good.
One more thing I love about the new micro-heads: they're easy to sling over the shoulder, along with the bass in the gig bag, and bring inside.
Mine was the combo "engine" in a GK 1001RB I combo. . The 540 watt version. Since sometimes leaving things in the cold is impossible to avoid, and giving it an hour to warm up before turning on isn't always possible, the portable digital amps make some sense if you find one you like. Many people end up racking those small amps in a case anyhow, so it becomes bulky again. Just do what you can and understand the consequences. Good luck.
Wes
Wes
Proper warm-up time is key. Let things come to roomtemp for a few hours at least and always keep some spare tubes on hand. I turned on my V4 once after it was in the car over night (March in Boston) and ended up with a cracked tube.
I've jammed for years in places with no heat and never had a problem with any head- tube or ss. But i agree it is best to let things warm up first given the opportunity.
Speakers must be allowed to warm up to room temperature before use. The surrounds and spiders can crack if too cold.
That's one from experience!
Paul
Yeah, I get you on your point, in fact it would seem to make sense, but I've had no power supply capacitor issues that could be blamed on cold weather exposure with the amp in a resting state when subjected to such conditions. I also haven't heard of such a thing other than the normal wear a tear issues that all amps face in their service life. I do like to learn new things and if anybody has some actual data on this, I'd really like to be pointed towards it, or hear from electronic service techs who have seen it as an issue that we musicians should be made aware of.
Cabs: yes (mine stay year round in the trunk of my car. one of them is going on 16 years!)
Amps: Seldom
Bass: NEVER!!
Amps: Seldom
Bass: NEVER!!
Anything with a transistor in it needs to be kept room temperature!
heads, pedals
cabs, cables, misc other should be fine.
heads, pedals
cabs, cables, misc other should be fine.
No it doesn't.
The prime danger is when cold equipment is exposed to room humidity, when the exposed gear's temperature is below the dewpoint of the room's air. Moisture then condenses on the surface; think of a cold beer on a hot summer's day. This is why gear likes to be left in the case until it all warms up. If the moisture remains in circuit paths when power is applied we've got a high chance of short circuits all throughout the gear.
There's a secondary danger of uneven thermal expansion rates causing flexing, which can cause breaks.
