m00n Posted October 11, 2002 Share Posted October 11, 2002 Is cold weather bad for speakers... I realize in a house, they would most likely not get cold, but, where my theater is, it's not in the house. I just wanted to know how damaging cold weather is to them. And if so, at what temps does it start to get harmfull to them? Thanks hmm. just realized this should have gone in the tech questions not here in troubleshooting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenratboy Posted October 12, 2002 Share Posted October 12, 2002 Good guestion. As a guess, I would say you shouldn't need to worry. I mean, I see electronics (camera gear) that is rated down to -40. Basically, I think it should be fine. However, I don't know if taking a system from -40 to a loud movie would be good for it, I DON'T know about that one. Actually, I would be more worried about heat in the summer! That will break down glue, plastic, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Warren Posted October 12, 2002 Share Posted October 12, 2002 all of the polymeric components in a speaker have a *glass transition temperature* (aka GTT) which means that the polymeric goes from rubbery (compliant) to brittle (glass like) when the temperature is below the GGT for that material. For most polymerics that are designed for room temperature, the GTT is between 10-50F. Foam and rubber surrounds, plastic speaker baskets, poly cones can become extremely brittle if exposed to temperatures below the GTT. If the speaker is energized the polymerics will crack. So you could damage the speaker playing it in the cold. Outdoor drivers are designed with temperature extremes in mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDBRbuilder Posted October 12, 2002 Share Posted October 12, 2002 For cold weather playing of your speakers, I would suggest installing a manual choke on them! Once you have played them for a bit, and they have warmed up to operating tenperature, you can turn off the choke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m00n Posted October 12, 2002 Author Share Posted October 12, 2002 ---------------- On 10/12/2002 6:57:48 PM HDBRbuilder wrote: For cold weather playing of your speakers, I would suggest installing a manual choke on them! Once you have played them for a bit, and they have warmed up to operating tenperature, you can turn off the choke. ---------------- Cute, Builder, cute! This is good information to know about the not playing them cold. Soon, it will not be a factor as I am beginning some phazes of my remodel now. Tomorrow I am taking about a huge window that was covered up my curtians on my back wall. Then I will be filling in with insulation and sheetrock. Lots of things I have to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynnm Posted October 12, 2002 Share Posted October 12, 2002 Where do you live ? What are typical winter weather conditions in your area ? Would it be possible to install a heater that could be set to keep the room temperature from dropping below perhaps 50 degrees Fahrenheit when noone was using it and which would also have enough capacity to warm the room to a comfortable level if turned on say 45 minutes prior to a listening session ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WMcD Posted October 12, 2002 Share Posted October 12, 2002 It is an interesting question. We know that speakers in automobiles are left out in the winter when temperatures get to whatever is out there. Maybe special materials are used. On the other hand, a lot of car speakers look really cheap. It is difficult to believe there is a cold weather performance spec. During shipping of home speakers, they are in some unheated cargo compartment of the truck. If anything gets shipped into Chicago, Minneapolis, or farther north, in January, it is going to get chilled. I wouldn't be surpized if the suspensions get stiffer when cold. On the other hand, I haven't heard of failures resulting from exposure to cold, outdoor temperatures. Gil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m00n Posted October 12, 2002 Author Share Posted October 12, 2002 lynnm, I actually do have a small wall heater in the theater now. but, the problem is, is that there is a huge opening to the another are of the building. I was thinking about hanging a tarp over the opening until I get the wall framed in and sheetrocked, and a door put in. As far as car speakers go, I had not thought about that. But I would have to imagine they are built with materials that can withstand the cold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDBRbuilder Posted October 13, 2002 Share Posted October 13, 2002 Looks to me like it is time to get off the puter, grab a hammer, some appropriate nails, some wood and drywall, and get after it!! LOL! Time's a wastin!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m00n Posted October 13, 2002 Author Share Posted October 13, 2002 Well, got the window talken out, suds in, outside plywooded and inside sheetrocked today. Phew, long day. But it's such a labor of love Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djk Posted October 13, 2002 Share Posted October 13, 2002 I lost a pair of Forte' woofers to cold weather. The rubber surrounds developed a multitude of cracks across the 'U'. I've seen foam edge woofers develop one large crack around the entire perimeter. K33s hold up pretty good in a car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prodj101 Posted October 14, 2002 Share Posted October 14, 2002 hmm, I don't know what to say. car speakers get well below freezing point where I live (minneapolis mn), and speakers have been shipped to me in the winter before with no problems (when I took them out of the box they were very cold, but I blasted them right away anyhow, and no damage done). plllluuuuuuuussssss, alot of the commercial speakers the city uses are left outside the buildings here year round, and it often gets below zero. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheEAR Posted October 14, 2002 Share Posted October 14, 2002 John Warren said it best. Now as for speakers I would not operate speakers under 10 Celcius and over 45 Celcius.The lower you go under 10 Celsius the worst will the foam/rubber sourround perform its duty.And this is paramount in subwoofers. If you want to have sound(system)in a space where temperature varies and goes to extremes you should purchase speakers and gear designed for temperatura changes and large moisture variations. If you dont your gear(and speakers)may not last too long before extensive damage is done. Also when speakers are moved from a cold space(0-10 Celcius) to hot space(say 25 Celcius) you should wait a few hours before operating the equipement.Why,simple CONDENSATION.Condensation can ruin electronics and in the long run seriously damage speakers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pzannucci Posted October 16, 2002 Share Posted October 16, 2002 I had a set of Paradigm Studios (early Studio 100's) and it stated in the manual to keep them above approx. 60 - 65 degrees before playing. The rubber surrounds and motor are not made to handle the cold. Guess it is based on the design. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boa12 Posted October 18, 2002 Share Posted October 18, 2002 back to the original question, why are you asking the question? what are going to do, not heat the HT garage? still gets a lil cold in portland in the winter. looks like the next investment should be some heaters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Cornell Posted October 18, 2002 Share Posted October 18, 2002 Yea moon where do you live beings your speakers are sitting outside LOL I wouldnt keep them out in the cold, my magnet on the K-33-E i had in the shed frosted up big time, i had to slowly thaw the speaker out! It looked like a chunk of beef that was in the freezer for 2 years! That was 0 to -5 degree weather! Regards Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m00n Posted October 21, 2002 Author Share Posted October 21, 2002 Boa I have a small wall heater out there now and it will heat the room. But I don't want to have to run it constantly if I don't have to. If I keep the room at least 60 degrees, will I be ok? I am not worried about condensation as it says very dry in the ht/garage as Boa put it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boa12 Posted October 21, 2002 Share Posted October 21, 2002 moon, 60 degrees is warm for what we're talking. h, that's about what it is in my house right now here in cold kc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zandern Posted October 28, 2002 Share Posted October 28, 2002 60 Degrees. I thought we were worried about cold conditions. Thats nothing. You must live in the bahamas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zandern Posted October 28, 2002 Share Posted October 28, 2002 Oh one point I wanted to add. I agree with Ear on the condisation and I think you could damage it with out condisation if the woofer was frozen and then played at anything above a low volume. But the electrics part of it will work great cause electricity works best in cold conditions so maybe the rest of your system will be running at better than average. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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