Care And Handling Of Tape Cartridges - Quantum DLT 8000 Product Manual

Configuring, Installing, and Operating the Tape System

2.4.1 Care and Handling of Tape Cartridges

Although designed and manufactured to withstand much handling and use, tape
cartridges should be handled properly.
•
Do not carry cartridges loosely in a box or other container that exposes them to
unnecessary physical shock.
•
Store each cartridge vertically in its protective case until needed.
•
Do not drop or bump the cartridge; this may dislodge and/or damage internal
components.
•
Avoid unnecessary opening of the cartridge door; this may expose the tape to
contamination or physical damage.
•
Do not allow direct contact with tape medium or the tape leader. Dust or natural
skin oils can contaminate the tape and impact performance.
•
Do not expose the cartridge to moisture or direct sunlight, dampness, or
condensation.
•
Maintain clean operating, working, and storage environments.
•
Do not place cartridges on or near devices that may produce magnetic fields such
as computer monitors, motors, or video equipment. Such exposure can alter or
erase data on the tape. Note that magnetic fields are not generally a problem since
their strength decreases as inverse of the distance from the source cubed. Unless
very near (within a few inches) a magnet or an electric motor there is no problem.
The earth exerts a magnetic field everywhere of less than about 0.5 Oersteds. The
field from a tape that is read by a recording head is about 100 Oer. To disturb the
information on the tape would require a field larger than this and to erase the
recorded information a field larger than the coercivity of the tape is required which
would be about 2000 Oer. field strength.
•
Do not attempt to remove a tape cartridge from the tape system unless the
Operate Handle indicator is illuminated steadily. Overriding the system handle
will cause damage to both the media and the tape system.
2-22 Quantum DLT 8000 Tape System