Carputer Condensation

**sigma957** · 01-14-2004, 01:05 PM

Originally Posted by TruckinMP3

Hey Sigma,

I assumed (bad of me) that I was the only member in the Denver area.

You acctually have cold boot issues here?

Yes, I have cold boot issues in the morning. If it's been below freezing it usually takes 5-10 minutes before I can get a good boot.

The conventional wisdom in these forums is that cold weather problems are hard drive related, but I'm no longer sure that's true. Recently I've done some experimenting with different hard drives, and they all seem to behave the same. I also tried using a removable drive bay and removing the hard drive at night. This also did not make a difference. Therefore, my new theory is that the PW-60 power supply I use is the problem. Perhaps these small DC-DC power supplies do not put out enough current in cold temperatures. (They are only rated to 0C.) Anyway, I'm going to try a regular ATX power supply (through an inverter) for a couple days, and I will post my results in a new thread.

**TruckinMP3** · 01-14-2004, 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by sigma957

SNIP
Therefore, my new theory is that the PW-60 power supply I use is the problem. Perhaps these small DC-DC power supplies do not put out enough current in cold temperatures. (They are only rated to 0C.) Anyway, I'm going to try a regular ATX power supply (through an inverter) for a couple days, and I will post my results in a new thread.

Interesting, I am using the PC power and cooling 12 v PS and have not had trouble.... But I am garaged most nights now. (home ownership perks).

I'll watch for the update on Boot reults.

**sigma957** · 01-15-2004, 11:37 AM

Originally Posted by TruckinMP3

Interesting, I am using the PC power and cooling 12 v PS and have not had trouble.... But I am garaged most nights now. (home ownership perks).

I'll watch for the update on Boot reults.

I used to be garaged every night, but between my wife's minivan and the kids bicycles, my car seems to have lost its spot...

**bridqer** · 01-15-2004, 11:51 AM

What about running a lead from the engine block heater into the computer case. what kind of heating element should be used(AC current).

**robiewp** · 01-15-2004, 12:20 PM

Originally Posted by sigma957

I used to be garaged every night, but between my wife's minivan and the kids bicycles, my car seems to have lost its spot...

well then the solution is obvious! give one of them the boot.

**gork** · 01-19-2004, 02:19 AM

Keep in mind that water only starts to be a good conductor when it gets a lot of ions in it via dissolved salts or something like that. A tiny bit of condensation or frost will normally be less of a problem for manufactured electronics than the rapid temperature fluctuations that could cause condensation or frost to form on the electronics would be.

In any case it's not been a problem for anyone on the boards operating in temperature extremes.