Jamminred Posted March 31, 2015 Posted March 31, 2015 (edited) I have wired up a hard-wired phase coupler and and outlet that has my PLM plugged into it currently in my attic, I am curious if the oncoming summer heat of Florida is going to kill either of those devices if I keep them up there. I was not so worried during the winter but now I am reconsidering where I hid those wall warts. any thoughts? Edited March 31, 2015 by Jamminred
Teken Posted March 31, 2015 Posted March 31, 2015 I have wired up a hard-wired phase coupler and and outlet that has my PLM plugged into it currently in my attic, I am curious if the oncoming summer heat of Florida is going to kill either of those devices if I keep them up there. I was not so worried during the winter but now I am reconsidering where I hid those wall warts. any thoughts? If these devices are really up in the attic don't expect any long term service out of them. I would highly suggest you move the PLM into a conditioned space because the capacitors in that unit will dry out and cause untold grief! Any electronic exposed to extreme heat such as an attic will not live very long.
DavidJ101 Posted March 31, 2015 Posted March 31, 2015 most of those devices are only good for 104F so I'd say you stand a pretty good chance of killing them in an attic anywhere in the south and especially in Florida. I'd get them out of the attic as soon as possible. Put them in a closet or something.
paulbates Posted March 31, 2015 Posted March 31, 2015 Hi Jamminred I agree with Teken. If the phase couple is in the attic, then your panel is in the attic? Paul
Teken Posted March 31, 2015 Posted March 31, 2015 (edited) I don't pretend to know how hot it gets in Florida but have to guess its hotter than where I live in the North Pole. But, as you can see in the summer even in my area the attic space gets extremely hot! This is what one hot August day looked like up there: 52.26'C / 126.07'F This is what it looks like in the dead of winter up there before the wind chill. Edited March 31, 2015 by Teken
G W Posted March 31, 2015 Posted March 31, 2015 There is a simple rule-of-thumb; do not operate electronics at more than 80% of their maximum operating temprature. Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk
stusviews Posted March 31, 2015 Posted March 31, 2015 Heat, any heat, is detrimental to electronics. Ideally, electronics should actually be in a cooled--not just cool-- environment. Although that's not always feasible, heat should be avoided as much as possible. Back in the days of DOS, we actually refrigerated CPUs to overclock them
Jamminred Posted April 1, 2015 Author Posted April 1, 2015 (edited) Hi Jamminred I agree with Teken. If the phase couple is in the attic, then your panel is in the attic? Paul The panel is in my kitchen directly below where I installed the jbox containing the phase coupler and outlet for PLM, I just used about 4 ft of 14/3 romex, I really wanted to get the PLM and phase coupler as close as possible to the panel. I will be moving this J-box to a closet or other place that is more air conditioned. Thanks Paul I don't pretend to know how hot it gets in Florida but have to guess its hotter than where I live in the North Pole. But, as you can see in the summer even in my area the attic space gets extremely hot! This is what one hot August day looked like up there: 52.26'C / 126.07'F In Florida, attics can reach temperatures of 150 to 160 degrees F during a summer day, although outside air temperatures are only 95 to 97 degrees F Thanks Teken. Thank you to all who replied, you have confirmed my suspicion on my bad idea I made when it was cooler up there... now to find a better place Edited April 1, 2015 by Jamminred
paulbates Posted April 1, 2015 Posted April 1, 2015 Jamminred Sounds good. There are multiple competing needs and all may not be able to be addressed with any one location: Close to the panel and bridge as you've done. The electrical system is the master antenna system for insteon, and the panel is the center Appearance- i get not having wall warts visible in your house PLM not being surrounded by metal so that its RF can get to other RF devices easily Good temperature and humidity environment, within specifications Its hard to hit all of those targets in one location. I have a dual gang box right off my panel, inches away. The box has the signalinc bridge and an outlet for the plm in it, connected to one of the breakers for the signal linc. Temperature is always well within the PLM's, even the 80% rule mentioned by Gary.. But... its under the electrical panel and has a metal furnace and ducting on one side. RF access could be better. However, that's been the best I've been able to do. The new UDI PLM is coming out soon, and its based on the Insteon Hub that has a 6' power cable. I can raise that UDI PLM higher towards the ceiling and clear my furnace. I had an Insteon Hub 1 with Homeseer and that approach worked. You may want to consider that in your future plans when the UDI PLM is offered for sale. Paul
shannong Posted April 5, 2015 Posted April 5, 2015 Just a bit more info about heat and electronics as an FYI for all. The wide swings in temp of the attic would probably do more to shorten the life of the electronics. That's why PCs actually last longer when left on indefinitely rather than if they are powered down each day when not in use. The thermal expansion/contraction as the device heats and cools causes micro-fissures resulting in failures.
Teken Posted April 5, 2015 Posted April 5, 2015 Just a bit more info about heat and electronics as an FYI for all. The wide swings in temp of the attic would probably do more to shorten the life of the electronics. That's why PCs actually last longer when left on indefinitely rather than if they are powered down each day when not in use. The thermal expansion/contraction as the device heats and cools causes micro-fissures resulting in failures. In this case we all know it has nothing to do with micro fissures. Any time you have cheap capacitors such as found in the PLM normal heat simply dries out the dialectic compounds inside. Now, add in some serious heat like an attic it won't take very long for the PLM to show failure. Back in the day cold solder joints were one of the major weaknesses due to hand assembly. Now given surface mount technology and wave soldering much of this is behind us. At the end of the day regardless of the technology every manufacture has a specified operating range which needs to be followed if the longest life and operation is to be seen.
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