Will an arcade cab survive winter in a garage?

[roxybaby]

I was lucky enough to acquire two arcade cabs last year and I have been storing them in a friend's basement. But now my friend is moving and unfortunately the house I currently rent is too small to fit them. So here's my dilemma...my parents have offered to let me use their garage, but in the winter the temperature in there can drop into the 40s. Is that too cold? It stays dry in the garage so I don't think moisture would be an issue, and the garage is large enough that I could keep the cabs a good distance away from outside exposure.

[cyberfluxor]

You might be better off posting in Arcade Alley (http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=39), although it is an easy question. For better advice though some arcaders are found out that way of the forums.

My suggestion is no but since you have no choice it is a decent alternative. I'd suggest making sure they rest against a wall that's internal to the house so it at least gets a bit more heat from there and may not get as cold. Also keeping them out of feet traffic would be a good idea incase someone goes wondering through there with a hammer and *oopps* there is a dint in the side.

[c0ldb33r]

As a Canadian, I've learned that anything can survive the cold if you properly prepare it.

Plus, think about this, a lot of consumer electronics (i.e. TVs) will spend a number of months in cold warehouses, yet they work just fine.

I'd wrap them in some sort of plastic, then some heavy duty blankets, the type movers use. I'd also find a way to keep them off the ground, i.e. set them on something. Here I'm thinking of wooden planks, the type stoves appliances often have included with them.

[aegis]

I've stored my mame cab (attax), pole position and revolution x in my garage for five years and had no problems from the cold. I do turn them on a couple of times a month to play them and sometimes leave them on a couple of days. Only bad thing is the garage gets pretty cold during the night so I'm less likely to play them as much in the cold cold months.

[Arcade Antics]

So here's my dilemma...my parents have offered to let me use their garage, but in the winter the temperature in there can drop into the 40s. Is that too cold?
Nope. If they're in the garage, they'll be fine. Just DON'T (!!!) turn them on while they're out there in the cold. If you want to play them for some reason, bring them indoors, let them sit for several hours until they warm up to room temp, and then turn them on, otherwise you risk popping the tube from the temp difference.

Also moving to Arcade Alley, as you'll likely get some more feedback there. :)

[Goblin]

It will be fine. I had mine stored in a garage for 2 years before I bought a house and moved it inside. No special prep work was required, just move it in and let it be. You could take the suggestion of some others and turn it on periodically, I never did because it was frankly too cold to play.

[roxybaby]

Thank you everyone for your input. I'll make sure I put the cabs against an internal wall, and hopefully out of the way of hammers and such, although with my parents you never know. :P

[Peale]

Agreed. Storing them is fine. Starting them without warming them first is not.