Re: Equipment in loft - dust and heat issues?

["dermot_bradley" <bradley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

--- In ukha_d@xxxxxxx, "Andy Whitfield"
<andywhitfield2002@y...> wrote:

> I run a business selling UPSs and occasionally I get asked about
> installing a UPS in the loft, garage or out building.  So I have had
> to think about the consequences of heat, cold and/or
> condensation/dampness on the UPS (and, of course, other equipment
> such as servers, etc).

Hi Andy. A UPS is one of the things I'll be placing along with the
other equipment wherever it goes. Do you do UKHA discount?s :-)

Much of what you've said about heat and dust were issues I was
concerned about as well.

> Condensation/dampness:  I had a stack of UPSs in a self storage room
> and the overnight outside temp fell to about 0C.  Next morning the
> UPSs were literally running in water!  The storage room was next to
> an external wall which no doubt made things worse.  Condensation can
> form on metal cased equipment or can form on the inside of the roof
> and drip down on to the equipment.  Fans running continuously should
> help against condensation/dampness and obviously, some sort of cover
> will stop condensation dripping down from above.

I hadn't thought about this...........hmm, so with a 19" cabinet setup
I'd need to make up some sort of drip-pan at the top of the
cabinet......which would then mean having to frequently check and
empty the pan :-(

> I would think the position of the equipment within the loft would
> also have an effect on it's temperature.  The warmest part of the
> loft on winter's night is probably above the bedroom.  But as you
> say the may be a noise problem.  Maybe situate it near the loft trap
> door?  If the loft door isn't lagged then that's probably a 'warm
> spot'.

As the price of standalone 19" racks is so high I was thinking of a
wall-mounted cabinet - in which case I'd bolt it to the internal wall
between me and my neighbours. Although I guess I could make up some
sort of plinth to sit the cabinet on.

My loft has the usual foam lagging between it and the floor below,
however the inside of the roof is lined with silver-foil covered
boards os some sort so I can't see the usual felt that goes underneath
the tiles. I'm not sure if these foil-covered boards are meant to keep
heat or not...