Best long-term storage options for vintage Thinkpads

[Khipata]

Hi everyone!

I wonder what do you guys use to store those precious vintage Thinkpads, or for new ones for that matter.
From my own experience, there are 2 best options I would highly recommend if you are not already using them:

Pelican 1450 (for vintage classics, fits two TP700 and/or 701c/cs)
Pelican 1470 (for everything else, fits 15" laptops)

These are what I use for storage, with foam of course! They are hard, waterproof, dust and shock poof and floating in the water if such a scenario arises.

[cadillacmike68]

It rained for two straight days here - over 12 inches, and thw water never got past a mild accumulation where the lot borders on the neighbors', so I don't think waterproof cases are a must, at least not for me.

Mine are stacked in boxes with some bubble wrap or sense foam between each one.

I think a better term solution if you have the space is to plug them all in, that way the little CMOS batteries will not die as quickly. I think it also helps the main batteries as well. I had a few T30 batteries die on me while I was off in the 'stan one year. Just stack them up, and plug 5 or 6 into an APC Surgearrest. No need for a UPS.

[Khipata]

I can not plug them all in because that would be more than 100 thinkpads and other vintage laptops... Besides, it is too risky. Most precious and rare ones I keep in Pelican and Storm cases, average ones in hard aluminium Zero Halliburton cases ( I got some used ones for cheap) and all the others in multiple Samsonite and similar HARD briefcases, 1 or 2 in each, depending on size

And yes, ALL the batteries I keep removed, separate and just those take 2 cases alone

[Kasm279]

It rained for two straight days here - over 12 inches, and thw water never got past a mild accumulation where the lot borders on the neighbors', so I don't think waterproof cases are a must, at least not for me.

Mine are stacked in boxes with some bubble wrap or sense foam between each one.

I think a better term solution if you have the space is to plug them all in, that way the little CMOS batteries will not die as quickly. I think it also helps the main batteries as well. I had a few T30 batteries die on me while I was off in the 'stan one year. Just stack them up, and plug 5 or 6 into an APC Surgearrest. No need for a UPS.

You'd end up killing batteries that way. They'd self-discharge, get recharged, and so on. Recharging a lithium ion battery from above 85% or so kills them.

[tfflivemb2]

Yeah, leaving them plugged in will kill the batteries faster. You'd almost do better to charge the battery about halfway, then PULL the battery and store it separately.

[geka3250]

As I remember IBM recommends(in Battery Maximiser help) to do 1 full battery cycle per 3 mounth in storage condition.