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I'm packing to drive south tomorrow and want to put everything in the car tonight. I don't want to have to carry my Roland FP-4 to my car in the early hours tomorrow morning.
If I put it in my car that is inside an unheated garage will it be ok.
I will carry my netbook and clarinet out in the morning, but thought someone might have an idea about electronics and temperatures that are safe.
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Journeyman
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Hi Joan,
While the cold may not be a serieous problem itsself, I'd be more concerned when you take it in at your destination.
Don't allow it to warm too quickly as condensation could form and cause havoc!
Cheers,
Dave.
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I put all my stuff in plastic bags. When it warms up the condensation is on the outside of the bag. Good for cameras, etc. Tape 2 plastic garbage bags with duct tape around the keyboard and let it warm up.
John Conley
Musica est vita
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Journeyman
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Hi Joan,
Experience has taught me that your gear will probably survive, but remember the key word there is probably.
I wouldn't recommend this at all if there is any possible way around it, regardless of how much trouble it causes you.
But if you HAVE to, then wrap your gear in some plastic (to keep moisture out), and a blanket or something to slow down the thermal shock.
Also allow time for it to warm back up slowly. Try to get it back to close to room temperature before powering up.
Hope this helps.
Jim
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I was the Electronics Dept. Head for many years of a high end Yacht yard in Maine. Millions of $ worth of electronics stayed on board all winter. Never had an issue.Computers, printers everything.
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Thanks everyone, it sounds like I can get by with putting it in my car early. It will have a very gradual warm up since I'm taking 3 days to drive south.
I will follow all your advice and wrap it in plastic with several blankets over it.
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I've encountered some problems on the repair bench with weighted keyboard actions that were left in cars at both ends of the temperature extremes.
Don't do it.
I think its okay to travel with them, just don't leave 'em in the car overnight or all day in the cold extremes or out in the hot sun in the hot climates.
The rule of thumb for *any* instrument is to never leave it somewhere that you yourself couldn't survive...
--Mac
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Thanks, Mac I'm taking a chance on it. I packed it in my Accord's back seat and will see what happens. After spending some time getting it there I'm glad I didn't wait until morning. It fits nicely standing up between the front seatbacks and the back seats.
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.
I NEVER let any of my equiment out of my sight. I would no more leave a keyboard in a car where i can't see it than I would put it on the sidewalk with a sign that says "help yourself."
As a consequence, I still have equipment from 1970 that is not made anymore. I still have my prewar guitars and banjos, etc.
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I have no choice if I want to travel with my keyboard and have it to practice until April when I return home. I'm willing to see what happens. It will be in my car for two more nights outside motel rooms along the way. That's why we have car and home insurance.
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Quote:
The rule of thumb for *any* instrument is to never leave it somewhere that you yourself couldn't survive...
+ googol
Learned this the hard way with my first acoustic guitar, an Applause shallow bowl AE 38. Applause is the Korean made version of Ovation guitars. The wood top expanded much more than the glass reinforced plastic bowl during a summer day when I forgot that it was in the car. Top pulled up away from bracing. Ruined the guitar.
-Scott
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It may seem like a pain, but I would bring it in every night. Not so much because of worrying about theft as worrying about the board.
The car is probably warm enough all day while you are driving, but at night it will get extremely cold.
The temp fluctuation is what is going to cause condensation and problems.. that and trying to make any mechanical parts work in extreme cold temps. I assume you'll let it warm up before use.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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years ago, my band had a long-distance gig during the winter, and the truck we used to haul the equipment was unheated. When we got to the place where we were to play, one of the roadies thought he'd help my Les Paul come to room temperature more quickly by putting it on a heater to warm up. When I saw what was happening (too late) I grabbed it and moved it to a more temperate location and opened the case. The finish was shattered like the windshield of a car after a head-on collision.
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rharv, I would love being strong enough to carry it into my motel room every night. However, I can barely get it in and out of my car. My case doesn't have wheels but I drag it along with the bottom of the case scraping the concrete and try moving it a few inches at a time until I get the job done.
Tonight I'm in El Dorado Kansas and its mid 30's overnight. So I shouldn't have any temp issues with that.
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I'd be careful about announcing which town you are leaving your equipment in a car outside of a hotel ..  Sounds like you may need a small handtruck. There are some very nice foldable ones out there that would help. Specs say the board is only 30 pounds, but I guess if you have a 25 pound case it would add up! The case should help with the temp adjustment too then.. remember the warmup is most important - gradual..
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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30 pounds is about my limit for carrying anything. I do weight train and work on arms and legs often but envy the strength that some people have.
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Consider picking up a 61-note keyboard in the future, for travel and practice purposes, joan...
One that does not feature weighted keyboard can still be much better than nothing at all and the corresponding weight reduction would be a plus.
--Mac
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Keyboard arrived safely and works perfectly. So the plastic garbage bags and duct tape kept it warm enough and protected for the traveling. And I got a willing volunteer to carry it from my car to my condo.
On to Hanon and Bach!!!!
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Go to Amazon and order the Jazz Hanon.
I have listened to every Bach cantata (I was 19 at the time). I have about 50 of them on CD now. My favorite thing if I'm 'housebound'.
BTW, the precaution with the plastic is that all condensation happens on the outside of the plastic. Much experience with cameras at -40 (that's both C and F at that point). Once warmed up that sheen or the drops of water have all formed on the outside. I have all my lenses in zip lock bags, in the larger camera bag, which after use gets put in a sealed dry bag, like I use in the canoes. I also hoard in small baggies all the desiccant I can get my hands on and put that in the bags.
My wife claims I'm paranoid about cameras and music gear and nothing else. She uses another word for it though. Starts with Eh and is part of ones anatomy. LOL.
Have fun, I'm jealous. We are going to get 3 days where it goes to +3 C. Yippee! Then it will probably go back to -15 and snow. And more snow.
John Conley
Musica est vita
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Quote:
Keyboard arrived safely and works perfectly. So the plastic garbage bags and duct tape kept it warm enough and protected for the traveling. And I got a willing volunteer to carry it from my car to my condo.
On to Hanon and Bach!!!!
That's good.
But covering the thing didn't keep it warm.
Because it was generating no heat to try to retain with a covering...
But the plastic and duct tape would make a great moisture barrier to prevent condensation from forming on the keyboard during temperature changes, the condensation would most likely form on the plastic instead. That's a good thing.
--Mac
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