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Minimum Humidity for long term storage of computer equipment?

M

Michael Kennedy

Jan 1, 1970
0
Where did you get that idea?

Outrageous that it is, it does at least explain why your approach is to
treat these as mysterious artifacts...
I was thinking the same thing.. I'm sure somebody will be around that can
fix this device in 10 years.. People still fix 25+ year old arcade machine
boards all the time and they are probably way more complicated than this
palm pilot.

- Mike
 
R

Roy L. Fuchs

Jan 1, 1970
0
Is there a minimum level of relative humidity

The word you are looking for is MAXIMUM.

You WANT a DRY environment .
 
H

Hal Murray

Jan 1, 1970
0
Humidity is the least of your worries. In 50 years every electrolytic
capacitor in those machines will
have turned to mush - the machines will not be usuable.

What's the shelf life of modern electrolytics? (Assume room
temperature)

What about high temperature or long life models?

What's the shelf life of tantalums?
 
F

Frithiof Andreas Jensen

Jan 1, 1970
0
Peter Olcott said:
Is there a minimum level of relative humidity, below which computer equipment is
damaged?

I bought some antique handheld computers. I want to keep them in pristine
condition for a very long time, fifty years or more. I want to know the ideal
environmental conditions to store these computers. I am probably going to store
these in a bank vault. I can greatly reduce the relative humidity using a
commercial desiccant such as drierite.

Thanks for your help.

Ask NASA - this sounds like the kind of problem that they would have
been dealing with.
 
F

Frithiof Andreas Jensen

Jan 1, 1970
0
I bought some antique handheld computers. I want to keep them in pristine
condition for a very long time, fifty years or more. I want to know the ideal
environmental conditions to store these computers. I am probably going to store
these in a bank vault. I can greatly reduce the relative humidity using a
commercial desiccant such as drierite.

Argh, wrong, Not NASA. The Army will know, Of Course!!

There *must* be a bunch of MIL-STD/Procedure(s) for storing electronic
equipment for many years (and still be sure that it will blow up when
switched on ;-) That's what the army *do*.
 
F

Frithiof Andreas Jensen

Jan 1, 1970
0
Be aware that this newgroup contains a mix of wise/experienced people
and morons who will lead you astray.

Maybe asking these people?

http://www.dscc.dla.mil/offices/packaging/specstdslist.html

[email protected]


.... a quick browse later ...


This smells of the right thing!

From
http://assist.daps.dla.mil/quicksearch/basic_profile.cfm?ident_number=1888 :

"""
6.1.5 Class F bags. Class F bags are intended for preserving
electrostatic discharge sensitive items. They also provide
electromagnetic interference and electrostatic shielding protection.
Additionally, these bags provide the watervaporproof protection as
specified in MIL-STD-2073-1, Method 41 and Method 51.
"""

MIL-STD-2073-1 is there too for download, your tax dollars at work:

http://assist.daps.dla.mil/quicksearch/basic_profile.cfm?ident_number=37232
 
J

Jasen Betts

Jan 1, 1970
0
Do *NOT* use CO2 instead on Nitrogen! Any residual moisture will react
with the CO2 and form carbolic acid.

No It won't. it'll form carbonic acid.
 
J

Jasen Betts

Jan 1, 1970
0
They are using flash RAM.

flash doesn't store data indefinately.

is there a way to reformat the drive if it becomes unreadable?


have you considered switching to a more modern handheld running Linux?
they may not ship with linux but a number of the current batch of handhelds
can run it. you get a modern 32 bit C++ compiler rather than whatver you have for
dos which is probably pre-2000, 16-bit, and lacks standard features like
namespaces...
 
J

Jasen Betts

Jan 1, 1970
0
["Followup-To:" header set to sci.electronics.misc.]
If I can do it this way, then yes. If I can only do it by buying a one time use
air tank for $185, then no. The one welder's supply company that I called
charged $130 for their smallest tank.

go to a place that hires welders by the hour (or day) they'll charge you for
only how much you use. (by weighing the tank) and possibly a per-day charge

Bye.
Jasen
 
W

William P.N. Smith

Jan 1, 1970
0
Peter Olcott said:
I bought some antique handheld computers. I want to keep them in pristine
condition for a very long time, fifty years or more.

I use Pelican Micro and Otter boxes to store electronics for short
periods of time with desiccants, and they seem really well built.
 
P

Peter Olcott

Jan 1, 1970
0
Roy L. Fuchs said:
The word you are looking for is MAXIMUM.

You WANT a DRY environment .

There was one person that said below 5% relative humidity could be damaging.
 
P

Peter Olcott

Jan 1, 1970
0
Frithiof Andreas Jensen said:
Argh, wrong, Not NASA. The Army will know, Of Course!!

There *must* be a bunch of MIL-STD/Procedure(s) for storing electronic
equipment for many years (and still be sure that it will blow up when
switched on ;-) That's what the army *do*.
I did consult a contractor for the Army. He said minimum humidity is best.
 
P

Peter Olcott

Jan 1, 1970
0
Jasen Betts said:
flash doesn't store data indefinately.

is there a way to reformat the drive if it becomes unreadable?


have you considered switching to a more modern handheld running Linux?
they may not ship with linux but a number of the current batch of handhelds
can run it. you get a modern 32 bit C++ compiler rather than whatver you have
for
dos which is probably pre-2000, 16-bit, and lacks standard features like
namespaces...

It must have a relatively large screen that can be seen very clearly in direct
sunlight. Only high contrast (black on white) monochrome LCD with no backlight
seems to work for this. All the screen with backlight have reduced contrast. It
must have a relatively large keyboard. It must easily fit in my pocket. The
current unit is the size of a checkbook, and one inch thick. It must run a C++
compiler. It should use conventional batteries, i.e. AA, AAA, et cetera. It
should have extremely long battery life, the current unit varies between 17 and
27 hours of continuous (not intermittent) use on a single charge, depending upon
whether or not the doublespeed upgrade has been installed. Most all of the
current units have adopted far too small of a screen and keyboard (if any) that
can not be seen in direct sunlight, will not run any C++ compiler, and take
proprietary batteries that will no longer be available whenever the manufacturer
ceases production.
 
P

Peter Olcott

Jan 1, 1970
0
Jasen Betts said:
cobalt (Co) is highly toxic.

Bye.
Jasen

I was not planning on eating it. I just want to know when the desiccant needs to
be replaced. This stuff turns from sky blue to pink.
 
P

Peter Olcott

Jan 1, 1970
0
William P.N. Smith said:
"Frithiof Andreas Jensen"


Note that there's a difference between "waterproof" and
"watervaporproof". Water vapor will diffuse thru most plastics at a
very slow rate, so you need an indicator and enough desiccant to last
the 'lifetime' of the product.

The kind that I bought has a built in indicator (blue to pink)
 
P

Peter Olcott

Jan 1, 1970
0
William P.N. Smith said:
I use Pelican Micro and Otter boxes to store electronics for short
periods of time with desiccants, and they seem really well built.

I already bought other means. Rubbermaid and hermetically sealed plastic bags.
 
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