Leaving mobile devices & gadgets in the car

[pcslookout]

Has anyone ever done this in a really cold or hot environment ?

Does it destroy the device even if you put it under a seat in a really hot environment ?

 

[lxskllr]

I used to drive around with a laptop bungie corded to the dash. In addition to heat and cold, it subjected to heavy vibration and dust. I had no problems with it.

That said, almost everything in the world does best in moderate conditions. It's better to keep your stuff under the same conditions you'd like for yourself.

 

[Artdeco]

Heat destroys batteries

http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/how_to_prolong_lithium_based_batteries

 

[Graze]

Left my phone on the dash in the car while temps outside was 90 degrees F(32C) so in the car it would have been a whole lot hotter.
My phone could not power on until a good 15 minutes later when it cooled down. Surprisingly that phone is still alive today 3 years later after having soda spill also(had to replace the digitiser).

 

[mmntech]

Extreme temperatures are hardest on the batteries, as was mentioned above. I'd be more worried about heat than cold, as cars can really cook. Occasionally doing it probably won't hurt as long as its not in direct sunlight. I'll put stuff in the centre console. Keeps it out of sight of thieves too.

 

[JeffMD]

Heat kills batteries.. cold can also effect batteries (especially freezing temps), also cold LCD displays refresh slow so things look blurry until it warms up.

 

[sm625]

I left my phone in my car when it got to 95 outside. It must have been 120 in the car. It actually came on from standby when I hit the button. But it shutdown shortly thereafter. lol

 

[corkyg]

A lot depends on where you live and where you park your car. Our high yesterday was 111 F. If the car was parked in the sun, it would be well over 125 F after an hour. I never leave my phone in the car, but my GPS is there all the time, and I find no adverse effects on it (Garmin.)

 

[ThisIsChrisKim]

Honestly, rather than heat, I'd be more worried about someone breaking in and stealing stuff.

 

[razel]

Has anyone ever done this in a really cold or hot environment ?

Does it destroy the device even if you put it under a seat in a really hot environment ?

I wouldn't leave anything in the car that'd tempt a thief. Putting it under the seat (or even the glovebox) away from sunlight is your best option. Extreme cold, assuming your windows are up won't be an issue at all.

 

[soccerballtux]

don't do this. I leave old phone mounted to windshield, battery bloats after about 75C and stops working. Which is to say, every summer day. I've been through 4 so far. I'm currently trying to figure a way to trick the phone into thinking a battery is there when there isn't.

 

[Zodiark1593]

I've had my parents kill batteries several times this way.

 

[tvdang7]

I used to own a zune hd. Live in houston heat and left it in my car for a summer. The battery expanded and my device was destroyed.

 

[sm625]

I'm currently trying to figure a way to trick the phone into thinking a battery is there when there isn't.

You mean like cutting out the cells and leaving the shell of the battery intact, and then running a pair of wires out of it into a 3.7V DC supply?

 

[sm625]

The Sonim XP7 is supposedly built to withstand up to 131F in regular use.

 

[soccerballtux]

You mean like cutting out the cells and leaving the shell of the battery intact, and then running a pair of wires out of it into a 3.7V DC supply?

no, I mean a resistor on the middle wire to ground specifying the capacity, and another resistor between + and - so it looks like there's a load. If I get a better micro-USB cable and supply, it shouldn't need to touch the battery.

I'm sure this won't work. So, I don't really know what to do.

 

[VashHT]

I had a 21" CRT break after i left it in my car overnight in really cold weather, plugged it in the next day and something popped when I powered it up. Sure it was 95lbs but I moved it around a lot so I consider it a mobile device.

 

[sbpromania]

You have 3 things to worry: sunlight (although this is debatable), temperature and thieves. The sunlight might damage your display, the temperature your battery and the thieves...well, everything.