School’s out! How to button up things for the summer

Summer is finally here and schools and universities are starting to slow down. Don’t forget about your control equipment while your fans are away for the season. Electronic components can degrade quicker over time if they are not stored properly.

There are a few things to keep in mind while you are between seasons and not using your control system regularly.

• Conserve power by turning off any displays, computers or peripheral devices that are not going to be in use for a while. However, it is advised to power up the Uninterruptible Power Supplies at least one time per month to allow the batteries to charge.
• The climate controlled environments are not just to keep your staff comfortable during the season. Heat and moisture are one of the top contributors to degrading your control components. Normal operating temperature should be between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. If your control room is powered off, keep your equipment between 40 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit. As for moisture, the normal operating humidity should be less than 80 percent non-condensing.
• Control the dust. Dust can damage your computer’s internal components. You may want to consider covering the racks if you are planning on construction in your control room.

We hope these tips will help you get the most of your control room when you need it, during and between seasons.