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Electronics and cold weather

post #1 of 10
12/8/10 at 4:48pm
Thread Starter 

So I haven't gotten any heavy uses out of the PCM-D50... yet. And now it's winter already.

I'll probably go do some snowshoeing and slide-down-an-icy-slope-on-an-inner-tube-ing activities. I'd very much like to bring the PCM-D50 along, especially now I have the wind bonnet and two carrying cases for it.

Now. The problem, obviously, is the cold. I went through the D50's manual last night and it really didn't say anything about operating temperatures. Energizer Lithiums can go cold, but what about the machine itself? This is pretty much the single most high-tech piece of electronics that I have purchased in my life, and I cannot afford another one if this one breaks.

Mind you, around Quebec things can go from -10C to -30C. That's, uh... anywhere between 32F and -40F for you guys.

Thank you very much.

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post #2 of 10
12/11/10 at 6:30pm
Thread Starter 

Bump, surely someone has some experience with these situations. I see people going around with Pods and all sorts of phones at -20C and whatnot.

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post #3 of 10
12/11/10 at 8:30pm
What you really need is a good set of vacuum tubes to keep you warm. Might I suggest an Atma-Sphere? biggrin.gif

Have you checked the manufacturer's info? Usually they publish a temperature operating range for gear.
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post #4 of 10
12/11/10 at 10:17pm

electronics actually perform better at colder temp. The conductivity of materials increase as temperature decreases. I remember there was an old website which use to suggest leaving those cheap chinese mp4 players in the refrigerator before using. but I still would suggest sending sony an email about operating temp

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post #5 of 10
12/11/10 at 10:29pm

Keep it close to your body and it'll be fine :)

 

I shoot my cameras (Canon 5D slrs) in just about any conditions, including the cold. The only parts affected are the LCDs and the batteries hold way less juice when they get cold. I keep the batteries warm by putting them in the inside pockets of my jacket, and the camera I'm not shooting with stays inside the jacket as well. 

 

Just put your walkman as close to your body as possible and I bet it won't get below 20 degrees celsius, assuming you have a jacket suited for living in Quebec ;)

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post #6 of 10
12/12/10 at 6:05am
Thread Starter 

Yeah uh... There's absolutely nothing in the manuals.

The whole conductivity thing sounds about right, a piece of mercury being superconductive at 0K. But who knows whether the LCD can get permanently FUBAR, also the two awesome condenser mics.

I should go through the papers again, but I guess I'll just contact Sony if I can't find anything.

Oh, and Erik: That's messed up, man.

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post #7 of 10
12/12/10 at 11:34am

I think you should check with Sony. Most electronic devices such as daps will have a safe operating range and storage range of temperatures. The storage range is equal or wider than the operating range. What affects the operating range are things like condensation and humidity. I would not leave this to chance. Some devices perform better in low temperature such as silicon chips, but that's because heat, which is a problem with chips is being absorbed by the cold weather. Some plastics brittle at low temperatures. Some other parts may also fail.

 

 

If Sony does not have any info, I would assume that the device is rated for commercial use and the temperature range of operation is between 0 degrees C to 85 degrees C. In other words, the lowest that you can safely operate it is a 32 degrees F.

 


Edited by DJGeorgeT - 12/12/10 at 11:37am
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post #8 of 10
12/13/10 at 2:01pm
Thread Starter 

All right then. That just shot down my hopes for winter recording.

So the same thing applies to digital cameras, huh. Weird how people take pictures going downhill (ski) with the little Cyber-Shots*.

 

*This is not an advertisement.

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post #9 of 10
12/13/10 at 4:08pm

Either my IEMS or my MP3 player (iriver clix2) got lowered in volume by 70 % today when it was -18 degrees. the cable to IEMs felt quite stiff. They are normal now when Im inside and the sound is just fine.

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post #10 of 10
12/17/10 at 2:22pm
Thread Starter 

Finally! Sony Style guys told me that "it would work, but you'll need [Energizer] Lithiums if you want any autonomy in those temperatures. Oh, and your LCD screen may become real slow and unresponsive. We use those Handycams in -30C and they work fine".

Looks like I can do winder recording after all.

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