Winter cold damage a PID?

[Mike W1]

My casting shop is only heated when I use it. NE Iowa gets a lot of sub-zero weather and I noticed something in the manuals about low temperatures. Think I'll have to bring em' in the house when I'm not out there enjoying myself?

[bangerjim]

Most inexpensive/standard industrial digital electronics carry a temp rating of -10 to +150F due to capacitors and LCD displays. MILSPEC compliant devices are much wider and more forgiving.

I would follow the manual that came with your brand of controller. There is no way of knowing what level of quality of components they used.

banger

[lancem]

it should be able to survive the lower temps, but bring it into it's operating range before turning it on and using it.

[el34]

There are mfr's specs for 'operating temp' and usually a wider 'storage temp'. Personally, I wouldn't fear having it out there as long as it doesn't get wet, and firing it up if the urge hits you. It'll warm itself up.

[6bg6ga]

My Ballisticast Mark IV stays in the garage in the cold and it works fine.

[Mike W1]

Had a nice email from Frozone and he says he leaves his in an unheated garage with no problems and that's good enough for me. Did comment the Auber units do need a little more heat than the Mypin's do but that's OK. It'll be warm in there when I cast. Now I can figure out something else to "fret" about.

[Tazza]

I too thought that those figures were operating conditions, not storage.