How do I keep my electronic gear cool in my car?

January 16, 2005 5:19 PM

DoesThisExistFilter: I’m looking for something to keep my electronic gear cool in the car this summer. More inside.

We’re taking a long road trip this summer, and I want to be able to protect our laptops, camcorders and blank and recorded tapes from the heat when the car is parked. I also want to protect said gear from the local criminal element.

Is there such a thing as a securable and lockable case that’s also climate-controlled? I don’t need or want it to be refrigerated, but I also don’t want my gear subjected to 120-degree car interior temperatures. A regular cooler wouldn’t work, because it’s just too humid.

Is this worth worrying about, or can such gear and media deal with hot temps?

posted by baltimore to technology (4 comments total)

An insulated case in the out of the sun would probably be your best bet. (Think cheap styrofoam cooler type). I have not seen lockable cooling cases (I've never looked). Active cooling takes A LOT of power, it would kill you battery quickly. If you can somehow get a bit of airflow in your car, that would help keep the temperature closer to ambient, and keep your gear from cooking.
Generally electronics are labelled with operating and storage temperatures, these would be a good guideline. Your laptops would probably be just fine, they get quite warm when running. Your tapes though... I don't really know.
posted by defcom1 at 5:50 PM on January 16, 2005

How 'bout something like this?
posted by fixedgear at 5:58 PM on January 16, 2005

The summers around here can get extremely hot. I drive a little econo-box car, and sometimes stow my laptop under the seat. It seems to hold up, and come out cool.

I've also stored electronics in a styrofoam cooler on long trips where they'd bake in the hatchback. They also come out cool and dry. If you're worried about moisture, I'd reccommend a dessicant like silica gel. If the cooler is even partly sealed most of the time, I don't think you'll have moisture problems, and your equipment will do better in moist conditions than it will in extreme heat (which will warp and damage the plastic).
posted by fake at 6:38 PM on January 16, 2005

I would use a cooler. I kept my digital camera in my glove box for a week last summer and it fried the LCD screen something fierce.
posted by amandaudoff at 6:43 PM on January 16, 2005