[windows2000] Re: How much heat can switches, FAX machines and PCs
- From: "Rod Falanga" <rfalanga@xxxxxxx>
- To: <windows2000@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 2 Dec 2002 12:39:26 -0700
Jim,
I'm sorry that I forgot to mention where it is that we are at. I'm in
Albuquerque, NM.
Frankly, I don't know whether the building has A/C or not. It was
vacate for about 2 years, and right next door to us. Finally we were
able to expand into it (and are doing so now). I assume that there is
A/C.
Rod
-----Original Message-----
From: Jim.Walls@xxxxxxx
Subject: [windows2000] Re: How much heat can switches, FAX machines and
PCs
Date: Mon, 2 Dec 2002 10:07:13 -0800
"Rod Falanga" <rfalanga@xxxxxxx> asked (in part):
> I've got a situation in which I've got a small room, with a
> 3COM 24-port switch, a Brother FAX machine, and a really old
> PC running Windows 2000 Pro.
<snip>
> I could shut and lock the door, but then I'm concerned that it
> might get too hot in that room. (It's about 4 ft wide by 8 ft
> long, on the southern wall of the building.)
> Bottom line: how much heat can that sort of equipment withstand?
> Would it be safe to leave the door shut, or should I leave it open?
You did not say where you are, nor if the rest of the building is air
conditioned. I'm gathering that the room is not air conditioned. It's
most likely not an issue, but the external factors could make it one.
You
mentioned that one side of this room is the south facing outside wall.
If
you live in Phoenix and the wall is not insulated, it WILL be a problem.
On the other hand if you are in Point Barrow, Alaska, it won't likely be
an
issue at all. A couple factors to keep in mind. How airtight is the
room?
A room with a heat source and no ventilation will get surprizingly warm.
How well insulated is it? Since this is a room inside of a larger
building, is the rest of the building air conditioned? If yes, is the
A/C
on 24 x 7? With more people concerned about electrical consumption, a
lot
of business shut down all the A/C for the weekend. The room where the
computers or phone equipment becomes an oven over the weekend. You can
do
a test by leaving the room with a couple hundred watts of electric
lights
left on and the room closed up. See what it's like on Monday morning.
A
chart recorder is even better for plotting the temp all weekend with the
lights on. If in doubt about the room being to warm for the equipment,
supply some cooling. If the rest of the building is cooled over the
weekend (or it's not an overly hot enviroment), that may mean just a
fan.
Remember that if the room is pretty airtight that you need to provide a
way
for air to get both in and out. I've seen way to many situations where
someone had a nice air duct and fan (or even a duct off the A/C) to blow
air into a fairly airtight room and wondered why it still overheated.
If
the air can't get back out of the room, the cool air won't go in.
As to how hot the equipment will tolerate, check the manuals. Most
electronic equipment will list that information. If not, I would not
want
the room over 100 degrees - that's a real "off the cuff" figure. In
general, the hotter the equipment, the shorter the lifespan. The
computer
is most likely the biggest issue. The exception is if the FAX has a
laser
based printer and keeps the fuser hot all the time, it will also produce
a
fair amount of heat.
-----------------------
Jim Walls - K6CCC
k6ccc@xxxxxxxxx
Mobile Radio Operations
Southern California Edison Co.
Ofc: 626-302-8515 - PAX 28-515
FAX: 626-302-7501 - PAX 27-501
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