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SE/30 storage options

Dr_evil

New member
Hi all,
I am setting up some box storage for my SE/30. Unfortunately I cannot put it in an upright, (normal position), so it would either lie on its back, side or screen. Foam padding will be in all surrounding surfaces, so no worries about scratches.

Any thoughts on an optimal orientation for longer term storage?
 

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tecneeq

Well-known member
Depends. If this is a time capsule to be opened in 30 years, you might have to consider what plastic (SE/30 case) on plastic (foam) means.
I know that there is no reaction with cotton, so i would wrap it into a cotton rag, old t-shirt or maybe a pillow cover.
I would also put in half a kilo silica gel and make sure it's air tight.
In case the box will be handled rough, i would put the SE/30 on it's side and either pull out everything that could come loose or stuff the case tight with paper.
 

ArmorAlley

Well-known member
What about the capacitors?
Are the original ones still in place?
Would it be worth while to either get it recapped first or else take the motherboard & analogue board out?
They store them upside down so that should any capacitors burst, gravity should minimise the damage.
 

Juror22

Well-known member
I agree with tecneeq about the foam (even a year or two can be enough time for some foam to degrade and cause quite a mess) and if you do use some kind of cotton, make sure it is non-colored. I haven't made scientific study of this, but I have successfully stored and moved, multiple SE/30's a couple times over the last few years (over a distance of several hundred miles, some of it packed in PODs, the last move on a moving truck).

I store mine face down on a couple of layers of thin packing foam in a heavyweight box, surrounded by foam and paper on all the other sides. The trick is to limit movement, and allow for some compression. The reason that I store them face down is because 1) that's where the weight is concentrated and 2) I have also been storing monitors that way with great success for over 15 years. (even on a shelf, a layer of packing foam, face down). The ones that I have stored/transported that way have all survived and work perfectly.

Its great if you have already recapped the motherboard, but if you haven't, the shortcut I've taken is to remove the motherboard, and then un-cap the board and if possible, also clean it. That stops the caps issue with the least effort - just don't forget to put it back afterward.
 

Dr_evil

New member
Thanks all for the excellent points so far!

I had not considered chemical shenanigans between the foam and the case, so I might get some thick butchers paper to line the foam for safety.

Just to clarify, this is medium-term storage where I will put the Mac away between occasional use vs a permanent entombment, (I would love it on a desk full time, but don’t have the space in my current home).

I believe the board has been recapped, so hopefully that should not be an issue - better take a look at the expiry on the PRAM battery now :)
 
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