Minimum Humidity for long term storage of computer equipment?

[Martin Evans]

I would guess that they might initially pack these in a minimum humidity
environment.

British, minimum humidity?

Error, does not compute

--

 

[Lostgallifreyan]

British, minimum humidity?

Error, does not compute

So true. Bristol regularly records >98% for days on end in the late summer
coming off the rivers and sea to the west, often saturating at >99%
even inside houses at its worst. That's the kind of thing normally
associated with rain forests, or Vietnam.

 

[Peter Olcott]

British, minimum humidity?

Error, does not compute

--

If you pack something at zero degrees farentheit, there is very little relative
humidity at room temperature.

 

[joseph2k]

If you cant go to a gas refill station and get some nitrogen, next best
thing would maybe be get the small co2 cylinders like used for paintball,
and purge the containers with co2 gas. It will drive out all the oxygen,
which is what causes rust with water vapor. Also use the desecant to absorb
any remaining moisture.

Still nitrogen is best!
Jtt

No. Argon is best. Non-nutritive to all known forms of life, can't say the
same about nitrogen. not all that more expensive either. BTW ultra low
humidity has ESD issues; you must tradeoff between ESD and H2O amplified
corrosion.

 

[Peter Olcott]

So true. Bristol regularly records >98% for days on end in the late summer
coming off the rivers and sea to the west, often saturating at >99%
even inside houses at its worst. That's the kind of thing normally
associated with rain forests, or Vietnam.

I have the units in a thick plastic container with desiccant.
Is there any way that ESD can get into the container from outside it?
Would it be better if I placed the units in anti-static bags first?

 

[joseph2k]

"Frithiof Andreas Jensen"


Note that there's a difference between "waterproof" and
"watervaporproof". Water vapor will diffuse thru most plastics at a
very slow rate, so you need an indicator and enough desiccant to last
the 'lifetime' of the product.

Usually what is included is a thin metallic layer that plugs most of the
microporosities. drops moisture passage at least 99%.

In food grade products it is called moisture barrier bags.

 

[joseph2k]

The only thing that I would not know how do, after your excellent explanation
would be to find the most cost-effective source of nitrogen gas. It would be
nice If I could buy a couple of cubic feet at Wal-Mart for $2.99. Also would
nitrogen gas be reactive with CaSO4, CoCl2 ?
(That is the composition of my "drierite" desiccant).

No. nitrogen itself will not react with either of those chemicals. Both of
then react with any available moisture (H2O).

 

[joseph2k]

I wonder if the bag should be an electro-static bag, rather than just
plastic of some sort. That said, I've no idea whether truly air-tight
electro-static bags are available (or necessary).

Can't speak for anyone else, but i would use one for an inner bag.