What are the environmental requirements of an Arduino?

Question

I'd like to use an Arduino Yún in a somewhat outdoor environment (in a metal box on a truck). I think I've seen that the temperature requirements of the Uno are -40 °C to +85 °C, but I can't find that information about the Yún. It would be nice to know where to find information about the temperature and humidity safe working requirements for every Arduino model.

Answer 1

The AtMega32u4 (the chip that drives the Arduino Yun) has an operating requirement of -40 to +85, so if you go outside that range, you will definitely void warranty (which is not to say it will break, of course!). See datasheet at http://www.atmel.com/devices/atmega32u4.aspx

A datasheet for the AR9331 seems to say that it only works down to 0°C ( http://www.eeboard.com/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2013/08/AR9331.pdf page 305, "Commercial Case Temperature") - this seems awfully high for a minimum temperature.

While that does not mean that, inside that range, you are safe, I would GUESS that you probably are - I would guess that the AtMega32u4 or AR9331 is going to be the most delicate part in there.

Of course, to get a definitive answer, you (or someone) would have to check the specs on each part.

• Russell McMahon: +1 Useful albeit incomplete aswer. You are unlikely to void warranty on temperature excursion alone. I do not know why anyone would downvote this.
• Gerben: That's only for the chip itself. Since the chip might have a different expansion coefficients as the PCB, the soldered connection might tear/crack over time. Same goes for all the other components on the Yun's board.
• Russell McMahon: @Gerben. Indeed - but if one component is specified at eg -40 to +85 and another at eg 0 -125 you can be confident [tm] that the overall figures is not outside 0 - 85 - unless extra work and specific design renders it otherwise. .