Re: Temperature

[Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-xxxxxxxxxx>]

Most modern materials are fairly immune to typical temperatures.  Water
condensation and frost especially when mixed with collected dust and other
contaminants is a concern.  This is what corrodes the copper primary and
other metal surfaces and can cause high voltage shorting along contaminated
areas.

So I would try and keep the stuff dry and clean.  A cloth over the coil's
parts will go a long way.  Avoid plastic or other covers that don't breath
since they can collect water inside and it can get steamy under them.
Keeping the parts clean is also very important.  A cloth sheet run through
the wash without detergents or fabric softeners is great.

If you use wood, it will expand and contract with the seasonal humidity and
dry out over time.  But wood parts are usually not critical and easily
repaired.  If the primary is on a cardboard form (Sonotube).  It will need
a good coat of poly to hold the windings in place as the cardboard expands
and contracts.  Otherwise the windings will loosen and slide down to the
bottom in a pile (been there, done that! :-)).

If you have high value parts like oil filled commercial caps that can be
stored inside, I would bring them in the house over winter if they are not
going to be used.

Of course, be sure the roof does not leak and the floor does not flood...
If you have a lot of electrical stuff, best to turn the power off in cold
winter conditions since even AC wiring done perfectly to code can go bad in
extreme weather.  In my shop I have switches that not only turn off the
lights but also to remove power to all the outlets.  Thus, it that old
dirty power drill I left plugged in decides to nuke in the cold rainy
weather, the place won't burn down.

Cheers,

	Terry



At 01:26 PM 11/6/2000 +0000, you wrote:
>
>Hello Coilers,
>
>I do my coiling activities in my workshop which is detached from my
>house and is unheated.  I'm wondering if there are any adverse
>effects on any of the coil components from large temperature swings
>and from freezing?
> 
>
>73, Weazle, VE3EAR/VE3WZL
>
>Listening: 147.030+ and 442.075+
>E-mail:    weazle-at-hurontel.on.ca
>           or ve3ear-at-rac.ca
>Web site:  www.hurontel.on.ca/~weazle
>