In our modern world, almost everyone travels around with at least one or two electronic devices. Cameras, laptops, tablets, notebooks, and digital media players are just a few. Most of today’s electronic devices are pretty durable, but they have yet to come out with electronics that are impervious to extreme heat— like the inside of a car sitting in the sun. Which is why we’ve brought you tips for keeping your electronics cool in a hot car.
Depending on where you live, it’s not just the summer months that you have to worry about. In much of the world, the inside of a car can be too hot for electronics for most of the year. So, unless you don’t mind buying a new computer or tablet a couple of times a year, you’ll need to be prepared.
While it’s best to remove your electronics from your hot car, this isn’t always possible. Leaving your air conditioner running is tempting, but that means leaving your keys in the car, which comes with its own set of problems. Plus, it’s not the best thing for the environment (or your wallet). Then again, neither is throwing away warped electronics. So, here are some easy solutions to keep your electronics cool in a hot car.
#1 – Keep Your Device Out of the Sun
This may sound like common sense, but leaving anything electronic in direct sunlight is just asking for trouble. Not only that, but an expensive tablet or laptop laying uncovered in your car can be a magnet for car thieves and other unscrupulous characters.
Keeping your electronic device cool in your car can be as easy as wrapping it in a bright-colored towel and putting it in your footwell. The brighter the towel the more sunlight it will reflect, thereby keeping your device as cool as possible under the circumstances.
#2 – Power Down Your Electronics
As you’ve probably noticed, electronics generate their own heat while in operation. This, added to the extreme temperatures of a hot car, can spell disaster. Making sure to turn off your electronic devices can help to keep them cool, especially when combined with one or more of the other tips on this list.
If turning your device off isn’t an option, try to limit the number of apps or processes running. Remember that the harder your device is working, the hotter it will get. Also, try to avoid charging the device’s battery while it is in a hot car.
#3 – Give Your Devices Time To Adjust
Turning on already-hot electronics can cause damage, as well. Optimal operating temperature for most electronics is around 73 to 76 degrees— room temperature. Try to give your device time to adjust before powering it on or running lots of apps. Several minutes in an air-conditioned building or vehicle can help bring the device’s temperature down and prevent overheating.
#4 – Use A Cooler— Carefully
A cooler is one of the best ways to keep your electronics cool in a hot car, although it does carry with it a little bit of risk. Since electronics and moisture don’t mix, if you decide to use a cooler in your car, you need to be careful. Just throwing your laptop, tablet, and cell phone into a cooler with a bag of ice is not a good idea. However, with a few easy precautions, a cooler or cooler-bag can be your device’s best friend.
Placing ice packs in the very bottom of a cooler and then covering them with a thin layer of towels or other absorbent cloths is a start. Then, wrapping your electronics in another towel or placing them in waterproof bags will help keep them free from moisture. You generally don’t want to use regular ice, as it melts and creates water. Ice packs work well since they only generate a limited amount of water through condensation.
Conversely, if you don’t like the idea of your expensive electronics that close to water, you can use an empty cooler. If you go this route, a white cooler will work best. Placing your electronics in the dry, empty cooler helps to keep them out of the sun. The inside of the cooler will also resist the extreme temperatures of the car, especially when the cooler is covered with towels or other objects to keep it in the shade.
#5 – Get A Windshield Sunshade
If you don’t already have one, a windshield sunshade can help keep the overall temperature of your car low. This not only keeps your electronics cool, but car sun shades work by also making it more pleasant to get back into your car. But, even with a sunshade, remember to cover your electronics or put them out of sight of the sun and prying eyes.
#6 – Put Your Electronics In The Trunk
Your car’s trunk generally stays cooler than the rest of your car. Since there are no windows in the trunk, the greenhouse effect doesn’t happen there. However, stuff tends to slide around in the trunk as you drive. So, moving your devices there while you’re parked is a good idea. Bringing them back into the car while you drive can help prevent other damage from happening to them.
#7 – Crack Your Windows
Leaving your car windows down an inch or two is a good way to get some air-flow in your car. If you feel comfortable doing so. When done in combination with a sunshade, cracking your windows can help to keep the temperature several degrees below what it would be otherwise.
#8 – Use Solar-Powered Fan
Solar-powered fans are surprisingly affordable these days. Not only are they great for keeping your car cooler, but they also work at the beach, poolside, or anywhere else you need a portable fan on a sunny day. These fans work best when you can crack your windows a little bit. Otherwise, they just tend to move hot air around in your car. But, they can also help move cool air from your air-conditioner around when you get back in your hot vehicle. Fans can cut your car’s cooling time in half.
#9 – Clean The Device’s Fans
Some devices don’t have fans. But the ones that do tend to get really hot when dust builds up on the fan blades and vents. Using canned air to clean your fans regularly is a good idea. This is true whether you’re leaving your electronics in a hot car or not. Just make sure that you’re blowing any dust out of the device, not back into it. This is especially important if you have to leave your device’s power on while it sits in your car.
#10 – Back Up Your Data
This is a good idea no matter what. Regularly backing up your data can prevent a mishap from becoming a disaster. Freak accidents happen all the time, so be prepared for the worst by backing up your data. USB drives are the cheapest and easiest way to do this. They should be used in combination with cloud storage, just in case. So if you’re leaving your electronics in a hot car, make sure your data is backed up.
#11 – Use Neoprene Storage Bags
They make neoprene storage bags for all types of electronics. The neoprene helps to protect your device from extreme temperatures, whether hot or cold. Plus, it acts as padding for transport and helps to keep your device clean. Putting your electronics in neoprene bags and keeping them out of the sun is usually a winning combination.
In Conclusion
You’ve got plenty of options when it comes to keeping your devices cool in a hot car. For the best protection, use a combination of these tips to keep your electronics safe and cool. No matter what, remember to back up your data and keep your devices out of direct sunlight. Also, remember to drink lots of water (for you, not your electronics!). Thanks for reading.