Our facility during the week goes almost dark - nothing running but computers.

However today I went in there and someone to save a dime lowered the temp inside from 60F to 40F. It was quite cold. I was a little worried about our DLP projectors and computers generating condensate. Something about a bulb going from 40F to several hundred (or thousands) within 60-90 seconds worries me.

Consequently the dehumidifiers are also not working properly (they're part of the HVAC system) and the building has become quite moist.

Am I just being a worry wort or ? YOUR THOUGHTS.

12/30/2010 10:15:06 PM

if its real humid the condensation could be a problem, but if not they'll be fine. computers wont give no shits about 40F. IDK about projectors tho. It should have an operating temp range in the documentation somewhere.

12/30/2010 10:17:47 PM

^^ when you say facilities, are you talking about an office building or industrial facility or what? An if it's just an office building, do you really have separate, dedicated dehumidifiers?? Not that you couldn't have that but it just isn't common...

Also, what is making the air really moist in this building? This time of year, for air to be really moist, you'd have to have some stuff generating some pretty high latent loads for the air to be noticeably humid inside of a building (lots of people, kitchen cooking equipment etc.).

But in general, this time of year the only humidity problem you normally see people worried about with a server room or electrical room is LACK of humidity which is countered by having an in-line humidifier. And, although computers and electrical equipment don't like huge temperature swings, I don't think you'll have much to worry about on the condensation side of things and it shouldn't be a big deal. As far as the projectors go though, I have no idea.

[Edited on December 31, 2010 at 12:00 AM. Reason : ]

12/30/2010 11:48:42 PM

First get hard numbers of what the humidity is. That said, most operating specs call for up to 95% non condensing. While yes Id be worried if it was moist, as long as its not condensing you should be ok.

as ^ said, the dry air is more to worry about this time of year.

40F is low but well within most equipment's operating ranges. Id double check on the projectors but for servers theyd love it.

12/31/2010 11:29:33 AM

Facility is a converted mill. 105 years ago it did cotton (via water power no less ) then it was a parachute factory in the 40's, and now half of it is a YMCA and our half - which is a giant general purpose room/building/storage and server home.

I think it was just super moist from the snow all over during the last week. I got itchy when I pulled out the tray with the monitor and keyboard in the server room and saw a little frost when I cut the monitor on

I'm 99% the server couldn't care less - it's the $5000 in projection equipment I'm worried about.

1/1/2011 9:46:31 PM

As long as a computer or other piece of equipment is on it will be hotter than the rest of the room, even by just a degree or two, so condensation will collect everywhere else (walls, tables, etc). But, if the place was moist before it cooled down, and now it is going to frost, I would make a rule of not turning on any equipment until the room is heated back up. Frost collected inside a projector must be a problem.

1/2/2011 2:49:06 AM

projectors are for people. would it not be safe to assume that if people are there to view the projector, the temperature is going to be comfortable for people (>=60)

1/2/2011 9:16:34 AM

^yes. By the time the people arrive the room is warmer. However when the projectors come up the heat may not be up yet. They run for 4-5 hours while we're there working getting things ready.

Eh, now that it's 70 degrees outside I've got nothing to worry about, lol.

1/2/2011 3:22:48 PM

always good to ask questions though. I do see lots of people messing with thermostats and turning things off manually that they shouldn't be that can really screw stuff up.

1/3/2011 10:36:53 AM