• We will be performing upgrades on the forums and server over the weekend. The forums may be unavailable multiple times for up to an hour each. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to make the forums even better.

Cold Meters=condensation?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Flex277

Flex277

Member
Location
US
Wondering how important it is to bring meters inside when it gets super cold 0F and below. Not so much concern about the electronics bugging out, but condensation inside that’s just enough to turn it into a hand grenade. Especially on 480v. Is this a concern? If it’s sealed can it still build condensation?
 
drcampbell

drcampbell

Senior Member
Location
The Motor City, Michigan USA
Occupation
Registered Professional Engineer
Bringing them indoors will make condensation worse. Cold air is dry air; warm air might contain a lot more moisture. Leaving it indoors overnight will let the warm, possibly-moist air diffuse into it.

I'm not sure how much of a problem this is. Any moisture that does condense will be distilled water, a poor conductor. (if the inside of the meter's clean) And if left out in the cold 24/7, there won't be much moisture available.
 
Buck Parrish

Buck Parrish

Senior Member
Location
NC & IN
I use them indoors in the heat during the day. Then they sit in the truck where it gets in the teens all night. That's why I carry three. Mine are always freaking out. I turn them on they flash, flicker, make noises , etc... Perhaps it's because they are all the same brand, with non contact tester, too. Plus the batteries die really quick in the cold. But I can usually get one to work correctly.

They all work fine when it's normal temperatures .
 
kwired

kwired

Electron manager
Location
NE Nebraska
Occupation
EC
drcampbell said:
Bringing them indoors will make condensation worse. Cold air is dry air; warm air might contain a lot more moisture. Leaving it indoors overnight will let the warm, possibly-moist air diffuse into it.

I'm not sure how much of a problem this is. Any moisture that does condense will be distilled water, a poor conductor. (if the inside of the meter's clean) And if left out in the cold 24/7, there won't be much moisture available.
Click to expand...
I agree, bringing them in just increases how much condensation will form. They are going to do that anyway when you bring them in to use them, but to store overnight, leave them in the truck, one less heat/cool cycle each day to add condensation to it. Many better quality meters are sealed well enough this isn't much of a problem anyway.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top