PA Stuff - OK In Garage Storage?

[agreatheight]

So I have recently started a new band, and I'm putting together a rather robust PA system. I really don't want to truck this stuff in and out of the house. Is it OK to store this PA in the garage, which gets very cold (-10) in the winter and kinda hot (95) and humid in the summer? My common sense instinct say yes - cars have speakers and amps in them and are fine in the temps and conditions we are talking about - but was looking for advice from those with practical experience.

Thanks!!

 

[modulusman]

We leave our PA outside in a band trailer. As long as you let it warm up some when you bring it in from the cold you should be fine.

 

[tjh]

-10 is a heat wave ..

... yup, as modulus says ... I just keep everything up on blocks and off the concrete away from the snow, salt and junk ... I also usually keep black plastic bags over everything so that when the garage door is open, the whole world doesn't see what all is there and to protect it a bit better ...

 

[P Town]

Concrete slabs are like sponges. Temperature fluctuations can cause moisture from the air to condense on the surface of the slab. I recommend that if you detect any damp conditions, you put a sheet of plastic down on the concrete, and place something like a piece of osb, or plywood over the plastic, to keep it from getting wrecked while moving, and storing things, and drape plastic sheet over the equipment to keep it clean, and dry. Better yet, is plastic sheeting under wood pallets.

 

[Gaolee]

You absolutely don't want it to get full of moisture. That includes condensation. It's unlikely to be a problem, but be aware of the potential and make sure you have a backup plan if what you are doing is causing condensation in your equipment.

 

[agreatheight]

Thanks guys. For now it's all going to go in the garage on palettes with tarps. Later on it will be left in the truck. I appreciate the input.

 

[morgansterne]

watch out for mice. I had a mouse make a nest in one of my studio monitor speakers (not an expensive one or I wouldn't have kept in my shed). But I imagine your PA speakers are all covered with a grill unlike a studio monitor.

 

[aprod]

I would not to it. The band leader keeps his stuff in a shed and it is full of spider webs , channels have failed and the old mouse crap on everything. PA is pretty much junk now, nice Mackie system too.

 

[TomB]

We leave our PA outside in a band trailer. As long as you let it warm up some when you bring it in from the cold you should be fine.

+1, Burlington, Vt.

 

[agreatheight]

I would not to it. The band leader keeps his stuff in a shed and it is full of spider webs , channels have failed and the old mouse crap on everything. PA is pretty much junk now, nice Mackie system too.

I would be bringing in everything except for racked power amps, speakers, and cables.

 

[seamonkey]

Garages generally do not get as cold as outside temperatures. It's "usually" not a problem to leave there. Cars have complicated electronics and are left out in the cold all the time with no problem. This PA gear is not really designed to for temperature extremes. Some capacitors can freeze and bulge, but it's got to be really cold. Sometimes, when troubleshooting thermal problems in electronics I put it in the freezer. Pull it out and it's easier to probe of scan for what's getting hot when turned on.

 

[tbirdsp]

I don't keep any of my gear in the garage - my wife parks her car in there and in winter it gets full of salty slop. In spring I have to actually sweep up the dried up salt :scowl: In summer it can get 100 deg f + here and then the hot car heats up the garage even more. Plus I had rodent problems in the past - haven't seen any for years (put out some poison) but you never know. Subs have ports plenty big for critters to get in.