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Do You Need to Warm Up a PS3?

The Sony PlayStation 3 is one of the three seventh-generation consoles, and as such, it's a highly sophisticated piece of equipment with sensitive electronics. Most of the time, temperature concerns for the PS3 surround overheating issues, but like most other electronic devices, extreme cold can cause problems for the console. Normally you don't need to warm up the PS3, but you may need to in rare circumstances.

Operating Temperature
- The PS3 console should only be operated in a temperature range of about 41 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. If the console is too hot or too cold, its internal components could be damaged if it's turned on. Normally you don't need to worry about warming up a PS3, since it would need to be in an environment below 40 degrees for many hours for its temperature to reach the air's temperature. In rare cases, if the console reaches a temperature below 41 degrees, you may need to allow it to warm up.
Important Warning
- Warming up a PS3 isn't necessarily difficult, but if it's too cold, warming it up may bring a serious risk. If cold electronics are placed in a warm environment, especially if it's humid, condensation may form on them. Condensation on the PS3's internal components could cause severe damage if the PS3 has power. You may want to wait for at least a day before plugging in the PS3 so that it can warm up and the condensation can evaporate.
Warming Up
- The best way to allow the PS3 to warm up is to put it indoors where the humidity is low and the temperature is normal, around 68 to 74 degrees Fahrenheit. Over time, the PS3 will approach or reach the room's temperature. You could try to measure the temperature of the PS3 with a specialized thermometer, like an IR thermometer, but you won't get a accurate reading because you shouldn't insert the thermometer into the vents or any other part of the PS3 to check its internal temperature. Blowing a fan on the console may speed up the warming process and help condensation to evaporate, but don't point it directly into the PS3's vents, since doing so can damage the console.
Other Temperature Issues
- The most common temperature problem with the PS3 or any other piece of electronic equipment occurs when the device gets too hot, not too cold. You can prevent the console from getting too hot by cleaning the vents with a vacuum attachment and by keeping it in an open space, preferably not on carpet. If the PS3 begins to overheat, its main LED by the power button flashes red and green, and you should turn the console off quickly to prevent it from shutting itself down and to avoid damage to its components.

PlayStation 3