2. tech-talk
  3. 1291351405

Can temperature fluctuations affect audio gear?

Don't know about this...some owner's manuals say that you should allow equipment and tubes to warm to room temperature before using them, but this is different. My audio room is upstairs, isolated from the thermostat. Have to keep the door closed so the dogs don't venture in there and create havoc. Hence, in summer, the temperature in the room regularly goes to 85 degrees or so. In winter (like now), it will easily drop below 60 degrees. No need to worry about equilibration, since the gear is always in there, but should I worry about the temp fluctuations? Could get a baby gate to keep the dogs out, then it would stay 70-72, but otherwise, in winter a space heater is the only option.
afc

Showing 7 responses by hifihvn

hifihvn
943 posts
 
If you plan on using the system,I would open the door,and blow a fan on it(system),while it warms up.Maybe a hour,or so first.The warm humid air from downstairs,plus your humidity might cause condensation in them,if it gets fairly cool.
hifihvn
943 posts
 
I think the OP of this thread can get away with running his gear in a 85 degree room,as long as the gear has good ventilation.At 85 degrees,he'll probably have a fan making a nice breeze up there.His owners manual would be the best guide.I don't think it will go into a thermal runaway,type of condition.Humidity can cause slower heat transfer too.The worst conditions I've seen for gear is,component stacking,or enclosed case gear.Gear done this way in a 70 degree room,is worse off than the OP of this threads condition,IMO.This can cause bad heat build up.I don't have the thermodynamics education,just some common sense,I hope.
hifihvn
943 posts
 
Having no formal education on the subject,let me give my two cents anyway.Use F with these examples.

Semiconductor@90f mounted to heatsink @ 30f.High transfer

Semiconductor@90f mounted to heatsink @ 50f Good transfer

Semiconductor@90f mounted to haetsink @ 90f Any transfer?

Semiconductor@90f mounted to heatsink @ 91f Any transfer?
Or the reverse, absorption?
hifihvn
943 posts
 

12-06-10: Bigbucks5
12-05-10: Magfan
It would seem that as the ambient temperature and temperature of the electronics got closer and closer, the amount of HEAT transferred would get less and less. It maybe that BigBucks is right, but I don't see it. The constant delta above ambient may work but I just see stuff getting hotter faster than the room it's in....especially if the room is externally heated...sunlight, hot day...etc. At some point, the junction temp of an output device would be nearing limits and be unable to dump enough heat.....thru all forms of shedding...radiation, conduction, convection....(others?) But would that be at a constant delta from ambient?
-----------------------
From above:
"It would seem that as the ambient temperature and temperature of the electronics got closer and closer"
I forgot to put my two cents in response to this statement.
hifihvn
943 posts
 
If the internal temp rises faster than the case could dissipate it,I would think it would keep rising,until failure.Don't forget,semiconductors operate at Celsius ratings.Look at the temperatures Almarg gave earlier.
hifihvn
943 posts
 
Everything in engineering is most likely C.
Another example would be heat and A/C.

If room temp is 70F and blows through a/c coil @ 40F great transfer.

If room temp is 70F and blows through a/c coil @ 60F little
transfer.

If room temp is 70F and blows through a/c coil @ 70F no transfer.

If room temp is 70F and blows through heat coil @ 120F high transfer.

If room temp is 70F and blows through heat coil @ 70F no transfer.

When transferring from more extremes,the transfer rate increase.This must be true,or our Heat A/C systems wouldn't work right,or at all.
hifihvn
943 posts
 
Sitting by a window with outdoor temp of 50F,little transfer
Sitting By a window with outdoor temp of 0 F,great transfer,
and it takes place both ways.At 0 F high rate of heat out,at same time,high rate of cold transferring in at 0 F.The more extreme, the faster the transfer rate.
More to discover