Nuts and Volts - March 2015

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EVERYTHING FOR ELECTRONICS READER FEEDBACK

Electronics Left Out in the Cold

I enjoyed reading Paul Verhage’s Near Space column in the May 2014 issue about building an electronic thermometer for a thermal vacuum chamber. The article mentioned that the thermometer could read down to -99 degrees Fahrenheit. My thoughts immediately went to the effects of such cold temperatures on the electronics. (Actually, I guess you have to deal with that factor every time you launch.)

The LM335 temperature sensor, for instance, is rated at - 40 degrees Fahrenheit for its absolute maximum rating when operating, and - 76 degrees for non-energized storage (I am referencing the Texas Instrument's datasheet). I would think that many board would be similarly rated by their manufacturers.

My limited electronics knowledge is self-taught. I always looked upon the ratings in a datasheet as being definite, but it appears from your project that the ratings are not absolute. Could you please say a few words on the subject, and about your own experience with component reliability in the face of such cold temperatures? Thank you!