Leaving electronics in a car for 4 hours, 40 degrees outside

swbsam

Platinum Member
Dec 29, 2007
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I'm going to pick up some computer gear (hard drive, motherboard, cpu, etc.). during my lunch break and want to just leave it in my trunk until quitting time - is that an awful idea?
 

Genx87

Lifer
Apr 8, 2002
41,091
513
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Dont see the problem? Worried condensation will get you when you bring it inside? If so let it warm up at home tonight before assembling and turning on.

 

thomsbrain

Lifer
Dec 4, 2001
18,148
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not a problem, but give them plenty of time to warm up and dry off before you plug them in and try to run them, because they may get a little condensation when you bring them into a warm room (just like the outside of a cold glass of water)
 

Feldenak

Lifer
Jan 31, 2003
14,090
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You think they ship electronics in climate controlled vehicles? Most things are not as fragile as you fear.
 

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
63,075
19,398
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If I did it, I'd just give it a long while inside before I plugged anything in.
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
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Originally posted by: Feldenak
You think they ship electronics in climate controlled vehicles? Most things are not as fragile as you fear.

Agreed. Storage temperatue is probably -20 to 120 degrees.
 

Genx87

Lifer
Apr 8, 2002
41,091
513
126
Originally posted by: JLee
Haha, 40? 40 is warm..:p

Yeah, my 67" Sammy LED DLP showed up when it was 5 below zero. The thing was frozen but I couldnt help myself and turned it on anyways. Nothing happened, worked great.
 

jlee

Lifer
Sep 12, 2001
48,518
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Originally posted by: Genx87
Originally posted by: JLee
Haha, 40? 40 is warm..:p

Yeah, my 67" Sammy LED DLP showed up when it was 5 below zero. The thing was frozen but I couldnt help myself and turned it on anyways. Nothing happened, worked great.

We fire up the computers in the cruisers right off, even if it's 20 below. Then again, they're probably not from the typical run-of-the-mill durability line. :p

The camera system will heat to..I believe it's 32f (could be wrong) before it'll turn on, but it's also recording to a HD- I don't think he'll have any issues whatsoever with 40 degrees.
 

swbsam

Platinum Member
Dec 29, 2007
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I just realized how stupid this question is.. UPS trucks are usually far colder and hold the stuff for far longer.

thanks for the answers anyways :)
 

Leros

Lifer
Jul 11, 2004
21,867
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Originally posted by: swbsam
I just realized how stupid this question is.. UPS trucks are usually far colder and hold the stuff for far longer.

thanks for the answers anyways :)

Its also stupid considering that your car has computers and various electronics in it too.
 

mrSHEiK124

Lifer
Mar 6, 2004
11,488
2
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Only thing I'd worry about is an LCD, and not even at 40F. In Lake Tahoe, I left my laptop and GPS in the car in -5F. When I powered up the GPS, everything was fine, the refresh rate on its LCD was 1 second for a good 10 minutes, then the car warmed up and it went back to normal. I powered my laptop up right away and it worked fine.