RE: [gentoo-embedded] looking for a embedded platform with extended temperature range

["Peter Bell" <pbell@ink-media.com>]

-----Original Message-----
> From: Ed W [mailto:lists@wildgooses.com] 
> Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2010 9:51 PM
> To: gentoo-embedded@lists.gentoo.org
> Subject: Re: [gentoo-embedded] looking for a embedded platform with >
extended temperature range
>
> On 28/04/2010 21:45, Marcus Priesch wrote:
> > for the latter, gumstix look promising but i am a little unsure how they
> > perform ... and they only sell directly from the us. ...
> >    
>
> Have you looked through all the routerboard range?
>
> The "Linux Devices" website is great for checking out what industrial 
> boards are out there.  Probably your needs are satisfied by some 
> industrial solution?
>
> Note I would have thought min temp is not a problem.  I would think that 
> the main issues with cold are simply icing, frost, fans freezing and 
> other mechanical things like HDs?
>
> Patrick who makes the Alix boards is very approachable - you could ask 
> him what modifications are necessary to meet those targets?  You would 
> at least get an explanation of the practical issues?
>
> Also consider the cost of simply running the units out of operating spec 
> and estimating failure costs over X years... Might be cheaper to buy 
> twice as many and just let them fail?
>
> Good luck

I can say from personal experience that HDDs do not like subzero
temperatures - in many cases they will simply refuse to start up if the
ambient temperature is too high or too low.  Even the ones that will try to
start up sometimes fail because of sticktion - or, in one case, actually do
start to run, but then rip the heads off!  There are also potential issues
with condensation if the humidity is high.

You can generally get away with it if the drive is constantly powered up and
you only start up when it's warmer, but even of the drive shuts down due to
power management it can be problematic to restart.  You can use a heater to
keep the temperature up, but obviously this has a detrimental effect on the
power consumption.

Regards

Pete