Storing Electronic, Electrical and Batteries Operated Devices

Most people have more electronic and electrical equipment than they actually use or have storage space for. If you are planning to store some of these devices at a self storage facility, it is important to understand and practise the right way to pack and transport them in order to minimise damage to these expensive items.

While I love to buy electronic and electrical devices, finding a place to store them can be a problem sometimes. And you don’t want to keep too many around, because, you know, the wife might start complaining about the unnecessary large expenditures you have made on them. So I often resort to surreptitiously boxing up the older ones and slipping them in the self storage facility we rent for our extra belongings. Packing electronic appliance and batteries operated devices can be tricky though. If you are not careful, individual parts in the device can be easily scratched or damaged, rendering the entire item unusable. If you are planning to store some of your electronic, electrical or batteries operated devices for an extensive period of time in a self storage facility, be sure to take note of the following:

1.       Removing The Batteries

First of all, make sure that all batteries in the device are removed before you begin packing or wrapping it up. Batteries, if stored inside any device for a prolonged period of time, leak, and the acid will erode the components within.

2.       Removing Cords and Wires

It is advisable to remove all cords and wires that are attached to the main device because it reduces wear and tear in the sockets. If you are afraid that you can’t remember which wire goes where, label it before rolling it up in bubble wraps. Also, don’t forget to remove any CDs, DVDs or tapes inside the equipment too!

3.       Packing The Items

The best way to pack any electronic or electrical equipment is to put them back in their original packaging. However, we usually throw away the packaging because they take up so much space. If you can’t find them anymore, you can wrap the equipment in pieces of old but clean cotton cloth or bubble wraps. These materials not only protect the delicate components, they also help to absorb any impact or shock that could occur when they are moved. To prevent humidity from damaging your equipment, you can throw in a couple of silica gel packs which help keep the storage box dry and moisture-free.

4.       Padding the Items

Apart from covering your electronic or electrical equipment with protective wraps, you may wish to stuff the boxes with additional paddings, such as packing peanuts or  shredded old newspapers to prevent the equipment from shifting – hence denting or damaging its parts – while in transit. Some of these packing materials can be reused, so you don’t have to worry too much about your carbon print.

5.       The Proper Way of Stacking the Boxes

There is the right way and the wrong way of stacking your boxes when loading them into your self storage unit. You should always stack your boxes according to their weight, with the heaviest ones at the bottom. If your equipment is sensitive, you may want to leave them in a corner inside of stacking them with the less sensitive items.