Packing up electronics for storage

[dee001]

Hello everyone, I am assisting a customer that is boxing up some of their electronics and putting those boxes in a pod until spring or summer next year. My questions is if we box these voip phones, printers, and a few workstations should we plastic wrap these boxes or ??? I am thinking about humidity inside of the pod, any suggestions?

 

[frase]

Use those packaging peanuts if original packaging not available into a box. I think if you wrap the electronics in plastic it could condensate over time and damage the items.

• Keep the boxes off of the floor to avoid moisture.
• Store your electronics near the back of the unit to help protect from the elements and temperature changes.

 

[Moltuae]

Weathertight plastic storage boxes is another option. Surprisingly, not many storage box manufacturers seem to make airtight/weathertight containers I found, except in smaller sizes designed for food storage. I needed some recently for storing IT stock at my business unit. An American company called IRIS USA Inc. was one of the only manufacturers I could find that made large weatherproof containers. I haven't tested them long-term yet, but the quality is very good and they appear to seal well:
https://www.irisusainc.com/products/storage?cat=58

If you do use airtight containers, it might be worthwhile throwing a few silica gel bags into them too in case you're sealing any moisture in.

 

[Markverhyden]

If you do use airtight containers, it might be worthwhile throwing a few silica gel bags into them too in case you're sealing any moisture in.

^^^ This. You will always find silica gel bags inside electronics packaging that is well sealed. These days though you won't find devices like those mentioned sealed in airtight bags. Containers, including those by PODS, all have ventilation ports. Where are you located? If it's a high humidity area, especially along the coast, area you might want to consider putting in a dehumidifier, the power cable will easily fit under the rolling door.

 

[Haole Boy]

Use those packaging peanuts ...

It's been a long time so my memory is kinda fuzzy, but don't those packing peanuts have a lot of static electicity?

Harry Z

 

[britechguy]

If you're talking polystyrene peanuts, yes. If you're talking the more environmentally friendly corn starch ones (I think that's what they're made of) then no.

If you're putting this stuff in a pod then you are going to have virtually zero temperature or humidity control, but given what I've seen stored stuff withstand, unless you were to have that pod in Death Valley, that is not going to be a problem. If the stuff is kept dry and can "breathe" in its boxes you should be fine.

Let's face it, these devices are able to function in a fairly wide range of environmental conditions provided they're dry. Storage is no more grueling and there's no internal heating from the components during storage.

 

[frase]

Yea sorry my bad, though was talking about poly ones, but everyone's enviromental nowadays..goin to naughty corner.