Meltdown?

August 8, 2010 11:22 AM

Is there any danger in leaving my laptop in the trunk of my car all day during a summer heat wave?
posted by The Straightener to Technology (9 answers total)

Best answer: It is the coolest place in your car, but still probably above your manufacturer's storage specs (for my Mac it is 115f). When I lived in Texas I'd keep my computer in my car for hours and never had ill effect. A few times my work notebook would sit in the trunk soaking up the Texas sun all weekend. If I was thinking about it, I'd remember to bring in my notebook or if I was shopping or something I'd carry it with me even if I didn't plan on using it. Having said that, I forgot about it a lot.

If anything, it will harm the battery (the charge on it at the moment as well as the its total lifespan). I would avoid it if at all possible but a few times now and then won't be the end of the world.
posted by birdherder at 11:26 AM on August 8, 2010

Best answer: Yes. Heat is the enemy of electronics.
posted by proj at 11:27 AM on August 8, 2010

Best answer: The short answer is: yes. Long: Check your laptop's handbook for the temperatures it can handle, then check the max temp in your car.
posted by oxit at 11:28 AM on August 8, 2010

Response by poster: Cool, thanks dudes.
posted by The Straightener at 11:30 AM on August 8, 2010

Best answer: If you've got no other alternative, I'd advise popping out the battery and taking with you. In my experience, the very first thing heat fries is batteries (on laptops, GPSs, etc.) - the other stuff is a bit more robust, although it still doesn't thrive under heat.
posted by julthumbscrew at 11:38 AM on August 8, 2010 [2 favorites]

Best answer: The primary harm in leaving your laptop in high temperatures is damage to the battery. If you're not familiar with how heat affects the lifespan of lithium batteries, here is a great primer.

Assuming your laptop will be off, I see no other risks.
posted by christonabike at 11:45 AM on August 8, 2010

A few years back I took a laptop round Australia, during which time it spent 9 months in the back of my 4x4. I kept it in a foam padded metal case, for security. It endured months of searing temperatures and some pretty bumpy roads.

It worked fine. I can't say it enjoyed the trip, but it worked. The battery was never great but was absolutely pants - I could barely get half an hour.
posted by MuffinMan at 11:57 AM on August 8, 2010

Heat is not real good for LCDs, either.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 12:09 PM on August 8, 2010

Anecdotally: in 2003 I drove cross country twice in a car that was not airconditioned at the end of August. At the time had a new Powerbook. I had your concern and asked your question and in another forum, talked it out with some folks. The solution we came up with was to pack the computer in its sleeve the middle of my duffel bag in the trunk of the car. I don't remember the thought process or discussion that we went through to arrive at this conclusion, but I did that, and the computer was fine, lasted me for years and my mom is still using it.
posted by micawber at 12:14 PM on August 8, 2010