Outdoor Cab, Anyone try it.

zapatistab · Oct 19, 2009

We want to make our Patio Area and outdoor/hangout/fun area. Ha Ha...sorry I just amused myself. (we have an outdoor ping pong table) Anyways...anyone ever attempt to keep their cab outside? My cab would be up against a wall, under an overhang. Rain would never get to it. Any suggestions on keeping it covered...or is this a bad idea. I know keeping it outside would ruin it...but...is this possible if I take care of it?

Any suggestions or criticisms are welcome.

Dinodoedoe · Oct 19, 2009

The machine will just get dusty and probably become a breeding ground for spiders and other bugs but as long the temperature is fairly temperate, I don't see why it would be an issue.

Your PCB, power supply and display would be the only thing that would be affected by moisture and heat/cold.

payment_due · Oct 19, 2009

Agreed with Dinodoedoe. Maybe get a nice tarp to cover it up while not in use?

zapatistab · Oct 19, 2009

Thanks for the feedback...I can probably keep out the critters...but I'm worried about my PCB and Monitor.

voltronbadass · Oct 19, 2009

I've been thinking about doing an outdoor cab as well. The weather is nice here in so cal and I think I will get a lot of use out of it

I think within the next few months I'll be giving one a try. I plan on picking up an american woody street fighter cab on the cheap. My plan is to just buy one knowing I will be throwing it out in a few years. Keep it unplugged and under a cover when not in use. Maybe put some 2 inch feet on it just to help keep visitors and water out. Other than that just be sure to pull the pcb out of it at the end of the night.

Every time I'm taking a smoke break outside on a nice night I always think some backyard street fighter would be awesome.

Dion · Oct 20, 2009

I think you'd be sorry after awhile. The moisture in the air will eventually rust your components even if there isn't a lot of moisture in the air where you are. Your monitor will probably go first. Oh and from experience, a woody is a delicacy to termites.

topher · Oct 20, 2009

I've read about monitors exploding from a combination of cold + condensation + rapid heat increase on power up with garage kept cabs in colder areas...not sure what part of cali your in, but I'd keep that in mind.

If temp isn't an issue, wood swell probably will be.

NGT · Oct 20, 2009

woodies will get bug/water damage and a candy will rust on hinges and bolts etc..

I say a garage is the closest anyone should put a cabinet that they actually care about.

andy251203 · Oct 20, 2009

There's a reason that the backs of old cabinets say "FOR INDOOR USE ONLY". I suggest you follow that piece of advice.

voltronbadass · Oct 20, 2009

topher said:
I've read about monitors exploding from a combination of cold + condensation + rapid heat increase on power up with garage kept cabs in colder areas...not sure what part of cali your in, but I'd keep that in mind.

If temp isn't an issue, wood swell probably will be.

Really? Exploding monitor you say? I doubt that would be a problem, the air is dry out here just about all year long. Most of the year the temp ranges from hot to real fucking hot. We just do not have seasons here like the rest of the country, it's spring/summer conditions most of the year with a very short fall. No real winter to speak of.

Also I am aware this is a death sentence for the cab. There is no way I am buying this cab to keep or restore. The only money I might put into it is a set of cheap happ controls and quick visit to P&L for a monitor tune up. I plan on throwing it out no matter what. I think the money will be well spent if it lasts 2-3 years.

zapatistab · Oct 20, 2009

Now I'm leaning towards not doing it. I had it in my garage for a while but it wasn't fully functional yet. I guess actually keeping it outside may be a bad thing. I would never keep a wood cab outside...but I guess the metal on my candy may rust. :hammer:

ilazul · Oct 20, 2009

Just keep a smaller cab (one that could fit through a door) near the exit (indoors) and wheel it out when you have a party or are chillin outside.

Don't keep it outside though. I wouldn't even keep cabs in a garage (our humidity skyrockets). You can install wheels on a wood cab, and most candys have wheels on them, so just roll it out.

Now if the only way out involves stairs, then give up.

zapatistab · Oct 20, 2009

ilazul said:
Just keep a smaller cab (one that could fit through a door) near the exit (indoors) and wheel it out when you have a party or are chillin outside.

Don't keep it outside though. I wouldn't even keep cabs in a garage (our humidity skyrockets). You can install wheels on a wood cab, and most candys have wheels on them, so just roll it out.

Now if the only way out involves stairs, then give up.

Trust me...if I had the funds I would take one of Battlesmurfs cabs...If I had a mini cab...I would be able to keep it inside. (I live only a hop skip and a jump from him)

It's too much of a hassle to roll it around. My back yard/patio area isn't set up for that.

Thanks for the ideas and suggestions.

DewmanSNK · Oct 20, 2009

I think an outdoor cab is a great idea, depending on where you live and what cab you use. I would not try this anywhere that it snows or rains a lot, southern California seems to get neither. Also, I would not put a nice cab outside - I want something that I just barely care about. I think a big American wood cab will work well outdoors. I like the idea of standing at a cab, drinking a beer and smashing through some loud, drunken Street Fighter. Plus, its seems to get rather warm and stuffy in a room with 2 cabs and a few people. Obviously, you would not want to leave any PCBs in the cab overnight. And keeping it covered with a tarp would be a good idea.

If it looks like rain - then pop the CP off (I dont know how hard this is on an American SF cab) and do you best job covering the monitor. I cant see there being that extreme of temperature changes - and by the time you want to fire it up, im sure it will be nice outside (otherwise why the hell are you playing on a cab outdoors).

So ya, go for it. Screw what the neighbors think of the noise.
:buttrock:

NGT · Oct 20, 2009

you know, I'd have to agree with it being ok to get a $50-$100 woodie jamma cab off of craigslist or something and leaving that outback in SoCal. Put it on bricks, have a tarp over it when not in use, tied down in some way...etc etc.. If you get bugs or rust, it's only $100 and I would guess you'd get that much use out of it before you have a real issue.

Something like this:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/clt/1429685545.html

loegan43 · Oct 21, 2009

I'm all for it. The weather's great here pretty much year round and there are plenty of beater woody cabs to be had pretty cheap in so cal. 3 men, 2 cabs and hours of gaming in any room are bound to test the limits of your antiperspirant. And I agree, screw the neighbors, they're not my neighbors anyways.

topher · Oct 21, 2009

voltronbadass said:
Really? Exploding monitor you say?

Over at KLOV a few guys in colder environments have had their monitors explode in unheated garages. Fact or fiction, I don't know since I've never seen it happen...but it is talked about every-time someone starts talking about garage keeping a game to play in colder areas of the country.

Since you are in SoCal and cold isn't an issue, here is another potential problem --- bugs attracted to the monitor at night. Not a biggie, just keep some bug spray handy. Other then that you might want to remount the PS off the floor in case you get some standing water in the bottom of the cab that you aren't aware of...it could be a shocking experience (groooooan

)

Chainclaw · Oct 21, 2009

I've seen RVs with big screen TVs on the outside, a metal door slides down to cover the TV when driving / during bad weather.

If you really wanted to go all out you could put a thin TV in your wall like that with a flip down control panel.

Dion · Oct 21, 2009

But remember that if it is in direct sunlight you will basically cook all of your electonics on the inside of the cab.

voltronbadass · Oct 22, 2009

Mitsurugi-w said:
But remember that if it is in direct sunlight you will basically cook all of your electonics on the inside of the cab.

That's a good thought, It will be in direct sunshine with high temps most of the time. I was just thinking of throwing a tarp over it which isn't much protection from the sun.

What harm do you think the temp and sun might do?

Electric Grave · Oct 22, 2009

I was thinking of usingan old STV Sega Titan cab which is made out of heavy plastic, manufactured by a company that makes trash barrels or something plastic of that sort. I was on the lokout for some sort of cover for it but perhpas I'm gonna have to make something custom, which is probably gonna cost more than what the cab is worth. If I had a porch or something like it this wouldn't be an issue.

chris1 · Oct 28, 2009

I like the idea..

Went to a party once,walked out into the back yard and on the wood landing.was a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade Machine like the below
http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?game_id=10052

My eyes popped out of my head..,holy shit an arcade machine...."outside"...Then it came to me,It's outside WTF..it was cold out..damp....it was dark so I really couldn't get a good look at it at that moment.

I tried to get a better look at it pushing the buttons and seeing if the sticks worked......looked up and there was overhang...The overhang was enough to keep it out of the general rain but not a severe storm..

The guy who lived there came outside and I asked"does that thing work"
No..He said..It used to when my Dad had people over here but it just stopped working.
He clicked on a light so that I could take a look at it better and it was Trashed from the weather being outside,everything looked washed out,like as if the sun had beaten on it for years..
.I felt bad and it actually sickened me ....It could of actually been put over to the left more but the guy had $$ and didn't give a shit.

My saving cab mode came into mind..I asked.Do you think he wants to get rid of it.what's he plan to do with it" the guy said Nothing.<he doesn't want to get rid of it..It's been sitting there like that for years..

I bet it's still there today..

zapatistab · Oct 29, 2009

Decided to put my cab in my daughters room (she's 13)

Gave her the how to care for, turn on, don't do this, don't touch that speech. It's too much of an eye sore to keep it anywhere else. We bought a house and are trying to keep it clutter and eye sore free.

Keeping it outside...in the long run...would be a bad idea.

Outdoor Cab, Anyone try it.

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