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Extreme Cold.

ZzZGuy

ZzZGuy

Golden Member
I work in Fort McMurray, Canada (the Oil/Tar Sands), traveling back and forth from Newfoundland.

Winter is fast approaching and the temperatures can dip as low as -50C / -58F, if not lower. When I travel up again I may be outside for 1 or 2 hours with my laptop (in a back pack) in these low temperatures and I don't know what it'll do to it.

So what parts would be sensitive to the low temps? Will I need to go as far as insulating and heating the laptop or will it be fine?

I sent off a email to the company that I bought the laptop from but I'm still waiting on a answer.

Thanks for any help you guys can give.
 
Originally posted by: clandren
what are you going to be doing with a laptop out in -50 degree weather? 😵
Click to expand...

even toughbooks are only rated for 20 below
see?

methinks the OP needs to talk to someone who had this job last and see what *they* did.
 
Well, when I travel up there I need to go and check in with whatever work camp (they can be worse then they sound), for various reasons this can result in a lot of walking around outside (while carrying everything you packed with you).

I guess I should ask someone else but I'd have to ask someone up there and it could be that cold by the time I travel back.
 
Originally posted by: ZzZGuy
Well, when I travel up there I need to go and check in with whatever work camp (they can be worse then they sound), for various reasons this can result in a lot of walking around outside (while carrying everything you packed with you).

I guess I should ask someone else but I'd have to ask someone up there and it could be that cold by the time I travel back.
Click to expand...

if this is typical of employees doing your job, theres got to be someone somewhere you can get in touch with who can help, or can get up with some documentation/handbook that may be of some use. this cant possibly be the first time someone has had to deal with this.
 
Originally posted by: ZzZGuy
I work in Fort McMurray, Canada (the Oil/Tar Sands), traveling back and forth from Newfoundland.

Winter is fast approaching and the temperatures can dip as low as -50C / -58F, if not lower. When I travel up again I may be outside for 1 or 2 hours with my laptop (in a back pack) in these low temperatures and I don't know what it'll do to it.

So what parts would be sensitive to the low temps? Will I need to go as far as insulating and heating the laptop or will it be fine?

I sent off a email to the company that I bought the laptop from but I'm still waiting on a answer.

Thanks for any help you guys can give.
Click to expand...

the laptop would have no issue operating at these temperatures. The danger is temperature changes. Heatsinks contract, hitting a -50 degree piece of metal with a 140 degree processor underneath is murderous expansion.

You also have condensation as air quickly reaches it's dewpoint when it hits the hot equipment.
 
I won't be sitting outside using it no matter how much I may want to OC it. Never thought of condensation, that can be easily fixed with a air tight bag.

But I'm thinking of things like the battery splitting open or ****ing up the LCD monitor. I would let the laptop come up to room temp before I use it as well.

 
Sounds like you can manage it OK. Condensation is not really a problem in real arctic sbu-zero temperatures - there is almost no atmospheric humidity at 20 below or colder.

Watch out for those Newfies. I hear they drink screech. 🙂
 
Thank you for your email.

I would not recommend taking the laptop anywhere where it can be exposed to freezing temperatures. The freezing point of water is 0° Celsius or 32° Fahrenheit. Freezing can create frost and when frost melts it will turn into liquid. Liquid inside of your computer is not good for the internal components as it will cause it to fry or short out.

Please let me know how i can be of further assistance.
Click to expand...

Bah, not a very helpful response from XoticPC.com.
 
Originally posted by: ZzZGuy
I won't be sitting outside using it no matter how much I may want to OC it. Never thought of condensation, that can be easily fixed with a air tight bag.

But I'm thinking of things like the battery splitting open or ****ing up the LCD monitor. I would let the laptop come up to room temp before I use it as well.
Click to expand...

It sounds like you've got the plan well thought out. Even though it'll be a PITA, here's what I would do:

- Put laptop in ziplock bag
- Wrap in cushy towel
- Place in backpack close your body; some heat will radiate thru
- Do not use laptop, don't even plug it in until it's at room temp for at least an hour

As has been said, it's the extreme temp changes that will kill the parts. TIM/heatsink/contact with CPU/GPU immediately come to mind, as do the moving parts (all of'em) in the HD.

I guess it's worth saying that a laptop/notebook with a SSD drive would be a better choice in your situation; one less moving part to think about. But that's another big expense. Maybe you can expense it out? 😉
 
And, this article may be even more relevant. The Antarctic climate can be even worse.

Cold
 
In india u get pre-made gear for electronics, etc... for climbs to Everest and k2...!!

I do believe that some of this hot air protection gear can help you... i saw only one and it was a big air balloon with a single man in glove that was for temp and extrema condition protection.
 
Ok, let me be a little more clear. I am Transporting the laptop while in these cold conditions, not using it while outside in the cold.

From the information and tips you guys have given me I should be able to work something out, but it'll take a little testing. I shall post results unless I forget.
 
You should have no problem if ur laptop is just passing through such weather conditions, although I recommend not using ur laptop until after it has been inside (relatively room temperature) for atleast 10 mins, and longer if you can.... While I was in Moscow during one winter, I was faced with a similar situation though not as extreme as your case, temps of -15 to -25 are common in moscow during winter, and 2005/06 was the worst (while i was there).....

Make sure you have a backpack that has good padding, and like ajaidevsingh says, you can get special backpacks with extra thermal protection maybe....
somthing like this probably: http://store.apple.com/us/prod...=MTA4MzQ2&s=topSellers
 
Just to transport the laptop I would look at something with good padding and weather tight. Once you get inside let the laptop warm up for a few hours before using it.

This is a really dumb suggestion.
There are disposable hand warmers. I think some will last up to 10 hours.
I have no idea how warm they would get. Place one inside the backpack near the laptop.
Or,,,,, electric socks. Those battery operated socks hunters wear.
If they don?t work out then you can use them to keep yourself warm!!!
(Just kidding around)
 
Originally posted by: Pghpooh
Just to transport the laptop I would look at something with good padding and weather tight. Once you get inside let the laptop warm up for a few hours before using it.

This is a really dumb suggestion.
There are disposable hand warmers. I think some will last up to 10 hours.
I have no idea how warm they would get. Place one inside the backpack near the laptop.
Or,,,,, electric socks. Those battery operated socks hunters wear.
If they don?t work out then you can use them to keep yourself warm!!!
(Just kidding around)
Click to expand...

Actually I was thinking of that myself.

1- Place laptop in air tight bag.
2- Tape heat pads to two pieces of cardboard (they can get very hot so I want to avoid direct contact wit the laptop).
3- Place on each side of laptop
4- Wrap laptop and cardboard in thermal blanket
5- Place in backpack and away you go.


Of course I will have to test this minus the laptop to make sure it's safe.
 
Set the laptop to stay on when the lid is closed and leave it on while it's in your backpack. It'll generate its own heat and there won't be any need for some kind of external heater. This should limit the overall temperature change by a good amount without doing anything especially complicated.
 
I lived in Fort Mac for 7 years. It does not get to -50C, nevermind below that.

-40C will be the lowest you'll see. Wind chill does not effect laptops.

I have left my laptop in the car a couple times for 8 hrs or so at -30C to no ill effect. Just let it thaw out nicely before firing it up.
 
Originally posted by: Scouzer
I lived in Fort Mac for 7 years. It does not get to -50C, nevermind below that.

-40C will be the lowest you'll see. Wind chill does not effect laptops.

I have left my laptop in the car a couple times for 8 hrs or so at -30C to no ill effect. Just let it thaw out nicely before firing it up.
Click to expand...

Ah, some real life experience.

I guess just wrapping it in a thermal blanket will do the trick then, and letting it warm to room temp before using.

With the temperature, that surprises me. It went down to -49C (local forecast plus my own thermometer sticking out the window, -edit- without windchil -edit-) in Medicine Hat the year I was working there and that is way south of Fort McMurray. I've also been told quite a few stories, but then again I only started working up there on and off for about a year now.
 
as long as you're not turning it on while its super cold you shouldn't have any problems. Just make sure and let it warm up to room temperature before turning it on.
Your only worry should be how brittle plastics get in extreme cold.. simply handle with care (like carry it in a padded laptop bag, don't throw it on the ground, etc) and you will be fine.

 
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