Battling summertime heat issues . . .

**hartigan** · 07-02-2009, 12:04 PM

I haven't installed a carPC, but . . .

. . . my question is basically, how do you cool down your carpc prior to boot when your car has been sitting in the sun for a while. I'd imagine the interior of my car gets north of 50* celsius just sitting in the sun. Then, when power is applied, I'm sure the PSU (Carnetix 2140) will exceed its 60* celsius threshold. So, how do you pre-cool before you get rolling.

tint?
powered vent fans for windows?

Please let me know what solutions you guys have found. Also, I'm curious how hot your interiors get during the summer.

TIA!!

**Bugbyte** · 07-02-2009, 02:48 PM

This isn't much of an issue. Most people either roll down the windows to let the heat out, which cools the interior very quickly, even when it is 'hot' outside or they turn the air conditioning on with similar results.

It takes a few minutes for the psu to heat up over that temperature. Also, if your computer is mounted down low, the temperature differential will be much greater and give you more time.

**Heather** · 07-02-2009, 02:54 PM

moving to the new Environmental Considerations in Mobile Computing section...

**tempgp** · 07-02-2009, 11:10 PM

I had my mobo in the box, in the trunk, hoter temp made me add extra 80mm fan... now i'm all good. Not thta we hit 32C outside but so far no problems wirh performance, so don't worry to much unless you down south or in Australia =)

**Punky** · 07-03-2009, 10:36 AM

this is why i never put my carputer in the interior, and always in the trunk. No direct heat and almost always is cooler than the rest of the car.

**tempgp** · 07-03-2009, 10:41 AM

oh yes location location location
im thinking to put pico board behide the monitor in the dash (thats next to engine) that location gets ~30C at winter times, and during summer my black dash gets even hotter so u can fry eggs there, still monitor works fine, will see if mobo will survive that. I think via claims up to 60C environmental operations

**Punky** · 07-03-2009, 10:52 AM

careful temp, even if the mobo survives it. other components may not, ie. HD, add cards, PSU, unless of course you pay for the industrial specs for everything $$$$$CHING$$$$

**tempgp** · 07-03-2009, 11:33 AM

if my tropical aquarium fish can live at 15C instead of 32C them electronics should survive too

**Punky** · 07-03-2009, 11:38 AM

organics adapt, electronics do not.

**Maheriano** · 07-03-2009, 11:51 AM

I keep mine in the trunk with plywood above and below it with the CPU fan and case fan to cool it down. Haven't had a problem in 3 years including the August heat in Atlanta when I was living there.
The only issue I had was the touchscreen would be too hot to touch for a few minutes, I'd have to wait for it to cool down or risk burning my fingers.