Selador in the cold

Question

We use Seladors in a summer music theatre. The theatre is basically a barn that is not used or heated in the winter and that can get quite cold. For example, today (Dec 18) it is 24&deg;F or -4&deg;C but it can get down to -20&deg;F or -30&deg;C on occasion. 
 Is it OK to leave the Seladors hanging on a pipe in the theatre over winter or should I take them down and store them someplace warmer? 
 If leaving them is OK should I leave power to them or not? 
 Thanks 
 Ron Vogan 
 Lighting Coordinator 
 Westben Arts Festival Theatre 
 Campbellford, ON, Canada 
 www.westben.ca

robgerlach · Accepted Answer

I apologize for the delay in getting you an official ETC response. 
 The advice you got already is exactly what I would recommend: Take 'em down. 
 The biggest issue with this kind of installation is the temperature swings that can lead to water condensation on the fixtures, including on the inside electronics. This can happen any time of year, but depending on the location, I suppose winter might be a little more dangerous time for this. 
 Temperature alone is less of a worry. It's really all about water. When it's very humid, condensation can happen with even a small drop in temperature, and because of their internal power supplies and control circuitry, these fixtures are more sensitive to moisture than conventional tungsten units. 
 I have seen fixtures that experienced so much contamination from water condensation in a covered, open-air environment, that within only a couple of months after installation, many of the electrical contacts were corroded and completely failed. 
 Keep them tucked away safe and dry. It's worth the effort.