Ask Slashdot: Keeping Personal Tech Cool In Extreme Heat?

An anonymous reader writes "I live in the Middle East. Summer temperatures occasionally reach 60C/140F, well over the operating specs for most consumer tech. Quite a number of work and residential compounds are secured, prohibiting everything from computers to cameras to phones to USB sticks to car remote controls. When I know that I'm visiting one of those compounds, I end up leaving all the tech I can at home or in the office, and only bringing a cell phone, and leaving it in my car. However, "only a cell phone" has quickly morphed into "only two cell phones, a car MP3 player and remote, and .... ooh, shiny... a new tablet... and an electric razor just in case I have to touch up before a party in a compound." I'm wondering what kind of technologies we have for keeping all this tech cool for four hours in the car. Overnight events might last longer, but won't be as hot."

Comments

Not 60 C or 140 F

[Anonymous Coward]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_weather_records#Highest_temperature_ever_recorded

Re:Not 60 C or 140 F

[PrimaryConsult]

It is amazing how many people don't understand this. A car parked in sunlight all day, and they refuse to open the window for the first few minutes after getting in because "the A/C is on". It cools off a hell of a lot faster if you drive for a minute with the windows down so that you're starting with the cooler outside air as the baseline!

Seriously? Get a styrofoam cooler.

[Anonymous Coward]

You don't even need ice in it. Just the insulation will keep it far cooler than the rest of the car.

What's the next Ask Slashdot going to be, "How might I keep some refreshing beverages chilly at the beach?"

Just a cooler.

[pepty]

For an hour or two an insulated lunch bag (under the seat) would be fine. For all afternoon a cooler (big enough for a 12 pac- er, nevermind) with an ice pack wrapped in a towel would do the trick.

Re:Thermometer

[Anonymous Coward]

its inside a car numbnuts

Re:probably not a worry

[hawguy]

There is a difference between "operating temperature" and "storage temperature".

iPhone max non-operating temperature: 113 deg F (45 deg C)
http://www.apple.com/iphone/specs.html

Motorola Droid RAZR max non-operating temperature: 113 deg F (45 deg C)
http://www.valuesphere.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=SmartCards&Product_Code=Moto_Droid_Razr

Apple MacBook Pro max non-operating temperature: 113 deg F (45 deg C)
http://www.apple.com/macbook-pro/specs/

Re:Jet Airplane

[TheLink]

Try put the stuff in the boot. There's no "green house" effect in the boot. It will get hotter than ambient, but it won't get as hot as in the passenger compartment: http://school.maths.uwa.edu.au/~fowkes/SunFowkes/hotcarsels091209.pdf

If you want to test it out to be safe, put a candle (melts at about 60-70 C, beeswax melts at a lower point) at an angle in a container in the boot and in the compartment. If it melts or bends after the whole day that means it's probably too hot.

Re:Heat and technology

[The Mighty Buzzard]

Or just buy a cooler and keep your tech in it. No ice necessary just to avoid sealed car baking.

If you need it cooler than ambient air temp, put a layer of bricks in the bottom first thing in the morning. They'll keep the temp a little cooler without having to worry about condensation.