HP A3716A DDS-3 Autoloader User's Manual - 3716-96001

Care of Cartridges and Drive
Temperature and Condensation
6-5
Temperature and Condensation
Condensation can be a problem for tape drives, where a thin tape is passing
across a rapidly spinning head. To minimize the chance of condensation, make
sure the environment meets the requirements on page A-3.
To avoid temperature and condensation problems, observe these guidelines:
n Position the autoloader in a location where the temperature is relatively
stableaway from open windows, heat sources and doors.
n If you bring a cold autoloader or tape cartridge into a warm room, allow time
for it to warm to room temperature before using it. For example, if you have
moved the drive or cartridge from a cold car to a warm room, allow time for
the drive or cartridge to reach room temperature (up to 24 hours if the
temperature change is extreme).
n Avoid transferring data (reading from and writing to cartridges) when the
temperature is changing by more than 10°C (18°F) per hour.
Power-Cycling
To ensure reliable operation, do not switch off power to the autoloader while it
is reading, writing, fast-searching, loading or unloading.
If the cartridge has just been unloaded from the drive (but has not been
returned to the magazine) when the autoloader is switched off, the cartridge
will be taken into the drive and threaded when the drive is next powered up.
Figure 6.2 Labeling a magazine
Label area