can cold temperatures kill an lcd touch screen factory

Cold weather can damage electronics, best to keep them indoors. While you"re planning to keep yourself warm during the cold weather, make sure you consider your electronic devices, too. Tech experts say the cold can drain your battery in minutes, cause permanent damage and it can also freeze an LCD screen.

While normally a cool environment is preferable to a warm one when it comes to keeping your electronics up and running, if it gets too cold, certain components can suffer sudden failure. For instance, LCD screens contain fluid and at extreme temperatures can freeze.

Electronics begin to break down and fry at temperatures above 120 degrees. Most systems tend to run 10 to 20 degrees hotter than room temperature, so anything you can do to reduce the build-up of heat will help to protect your investment better.

After a few hours in the cold, your battery will likely be drained completely, rendering your gadget useless until its next charge. Damage is done to screens and monitors when left out in the cold.

2) What are the temperature limits of electronics? At the low end, operation of semiconductor-based devices and circuits has often been reported down to temperatures as low as a few degrees above absolute zero, in other words as low as about −270°C.

Circuit systems within electronics work best at lower temperatures. Allowing systems to run for prolonged periods of time in high temperatures can decrease the longevity and reliability of devices. Solid-state electronics actually begin to break down and fry at temperatures much above 120 degrees.

An LCD or LED TV may not perform well under extreme temperature conditions. In the cold, the response time of an HDTV picture may lag. For this reason, many LCD and LED television manuals will specify a safe-operating-temperature range. In most HDTVs, this range is about 50–90°F.

It"s okay to store it in the garage but if you bring it inside from a very cold/damp place, I"d recommend you let the TV sit for a while to allow for any condensation to evaporate before plugging it in. An hour should do it.

Do not leave a laptop in a cold car for more than an hour if the temperature is below 10 degrees Celsius. Leaving a computer in freezing conditions can actually cause permanent damage to the battery and LCD screen. Reduce the risk by storing the computer in an insulated box in the trunk.

Laptops have been designed to work within a safe temperature range, typically between 50 to 95 degrees F (10 - 35 degrees C). This range refers to the optimal usage temperature of the outside environment and the temperature the laptop should be warmed to before using.

However, you do need to make sure your electronics are protected from moisture, water, wind, and extreme hot and cold temperatures. You should also make sure your electronics are made for outdoor use and not indoor-only use.

The trick to properly storing electronics in heat and cold is to avoid those temperatures altogether! Electronics are best stored in HVAC regulated environments between 50 and 80 degrees.

LCD stands for liquid crystal display. When temperatures dip below 32-degrees Fahrenheit, liquid freezes which can cause permanent damage to your LCD screen. That"s the number one reason to make sure you never leave your computer in a cold car or even on a cold floor overnight.

Best case scenario, the cooling system needs to be repaired and the internals of the Xbox would need to be cleaned. Worst case, you have a stylish $500 paperweight. I"d advise against leaving the Xbox in the car overnight if it"s 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.

Cold temperatures are not as dangerous to a computer as overheating is, but problems can still occurs. If computers get too cold when left powered off, their components can be damaged upon boot because the electricity heats the circuit.

Generally, once it hits 90° or 95° Fahrenheit, you want to start shielding your laptop and smartphone from the heat. Remember that the inside of your car will get hotter than the outside, too, so even if it isn"t quite 90° outside, you should keep it in your bag or leave it at home.

Extreme heat and cold can damage your battery. For example, don"t leave your smartphone in the glove compartment of your car on very hot or cold days. A common myth is that batteries last longer if they are put in the freezer. This is not correct and can damage your battery.

Safe temperatures vary from when the TV is being used or when being stored. LCD and Plasma Operating temps: 40 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. LCD and Plasma Storage temp: -5 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

What Temperature Is Too Cold for a TV? Ideally, it would be best to store your LCD between 40 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid freezing the liquid crystal fluid. LCD televisions should not be stored below minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit. In the cold, an HDTV image"s response time may lag.

Electronics. Most electronics are not meant to stand up to the outdoors, and that"s essentially what your garage is like. Not only will your electronics collect dirt and dust, but they will also become damaged. Humidity and temperature fluctuations will destroy batteries and other operating pieces to your electronics.

Cold weather can damage your laptop in multiple ways, from disabling your display and corrupting your hard drive to shattering your screen if it is warmed up too quickly. Both using and storing your laptop in a cold environment can cause problems.

Since the individual pixels utilize a fluid-like crystal material as the ambient temperature is reduced, this fluid will become more viscous compromising performance. For many LCD displays, temperatures below 0°C represent the point where performance degrades.

Cold weather can damage electronics, best to keep them indoors. While you"re planning to keep yourself warm during the cold weather, make sure you consider your electronic devices, too. Tech experts say the cold can drain your battery in minutes, cause permanent damage and it can also freeze an LCD screen.

Never leave your smartphone, notebook, tablet, or any other mobile device in your cold vehicle for extended periods of time. Even with a case, such extended time can cause permanent internal and external damage.

PC World found that different gadgets can withstand different temperatures of cold, but to be conservative, we recommend taking precautions once the ambient temperature reaches freezing, or 32° Fahrenheit.

Well, most consumer electronic devices use lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries and those batteries cannot be charged at subfreezing temperatures (below 32°F or 0°C) without causing damage.

Laptops have been designed to work within a safe temperature range, typically between 50 to 95 degrees F (10 - 35 degrees C). This range refers to the optimal usage temperature of the outside environment and the temperature the laptop should be warmed to before using.

An LCD or LED TV may not perform well under extreme temperature conditions. In the cold, the response time of an HDTV picture may lag. For this reason, many LCD and LED television manuals will specify a safe-operating-temperature range. In most HDTVs, this range is about 50–90°F.

Cold temperatures can degrade the functionality of an LCD/ LED television or cause harm to sensitive electronic components by forming condensation on them.

Do not leave a laptop in a cold car for more than an hour if the temperature is below 10 degrees Celsius. Leaving a computer in freezing conditions can actually cause permanent damage to the battery and LCD screen.

LCD stands for liquid crystal display. When temperatures dip below 32-degrees Fahrenheit, liquid freezes which can cause permanent damage to your LCD screen. That"s the number one reason to make sure you never leave your computer in a cold car or even on a cold floor overnight.

LED TVs can be stored in cold weather as long as it"s not in use. Samsung recommends that their LCD TVs are stored at temperatures ranging from -4° to 113° Fahrenheit.

Electronics are best stored in HVAC regulated environments between 50 and 80 degrees. Humidity control is another important factor in climate controlled indoor storage as moisture can be one of the biggest culprits for electronics damage.

Cold weather can damage your laptop in multiple ways, from disabling your display and corrupting your hard drive to shattering your screen if it is warmed up too quickly. Both using and storing your laptop in a cold environment can cause problems.

Can a regular TV be used outdoors? Even if it is well placed out of direct rain, a regular TV should not be used outdoors unless it is properly protected with some type of specific built-to-last outdoor TV enclosure. There are many weather and environment threats like rain or bugs to consider.

Safe temperatures vary from when the TV is being used or when being stored. LCD and Plasma Operating temps: 40 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. LCD and Plasma Storage temp: -5 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

Ambient temperature below 35 F/1.7 C: Generally speaking it"s too cold to operate at this point. You"re dangerously close to freezing and that"s when the physical properties of computer hardware change by flexing (usually). It"s just not a good idea to operate a computer below this mark.

While many electronics are designed to withstand up to 176 degrees Fahrenheit, the recommended temperature limit is 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Consistent high temperatures can lead to permanent damage to your device. Some devices will power themselves down to avoid this risk.

Don"t put it in a fridge. Condensation will kill it eventually. If you really can"t upgrade the machine, use an airconditioner. Put the laptop near the vent, and it will do what you need.

Circuit systems within electronics work best at lower temperatures. Allowing systems to run for prolonged periods of time in high temperatures can decrease the longevity and reliability of devices. Solid-state electronics actually begin to break down and fry at temperatures much above 120 degrees.

You can protect your electronic devices from damages due to cold weather by merely keeping them inside. Most electronic devices are designed to work between the 32 and 100 degree temperature range. Make sure that your device stays in that range when you have to bring it out in the cold.

All electronic components are subject to failure due to overheating. Any increase in temperature can result in a reduced lifespan. This includes increase in temperature due to ambient temperature of the environment, heat produced by the device itself, and the product"s efficiency at heat removal.

The ideal operating temperature of a computer"s environment ranges from 50 degrees F to 82 degrees, though it should be as close as possible to room temperature, 72 degrees. Laptops should operate between 50 and 95 degrees.

While you"re planning to keep yourself warm during the cold weather, make sure you consider your electronic devices, too. Tech experts say the cold can drain your battery in minutes, cause permanent damage and it can also freeze an LCD screen.

Both Apple and Android companies are warning customers to bring their electronics inside, and not leave them in their vehicles for an extended period of time because the cold air can cause permanent damage, and in certain cases cause items to explode.

Across the Midwest today, hundreds of schools and businesses are closed, dozens of flights and trains have been canceled, and the governors of Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan have declared states of emergency as a bone-chilling, breath-taking Polar Vortex bears down on the region. While I slept in Minneapolis, overnight wind chills in the city topped –50 degrees. With temperatures like that, you can’t stay outside for more than five minutes without running the risk of frostbite.

As a native Midwesterner, I’m used to the annual assault of winter weather on the human body, hairless and adapted over millennia to indoor living as we are. Despite our thermoregulatory shortcomings, we’ve managed to survive extreme cold through technology—from insulating clothing to systems that pump hot air and water around our homes.

But much of the tech that facilitates our connected modern lives itself loses functionality as temperatures drop below freezing. Batteries, screens, sensors, lightweight materials—the things that power our modern mobile lifestyles—just don’t work when it gets this cold. Here’s what to expect of your gear.

Think about all the gadgets that you regularly plug into a power strip. It’s a lot, right? Besides everyday items like a phone and laptop, you might also have a fitness tracker, smart watch, Bluetooth headphones, digital camera, e-reader, vape pen, drone, or rechargeable bike lights, just to name a few. Most if not all of them are powered by lithium-ion batteries, whose high energy density and ability to handle both low and high currents have made them the industry standard for personal electronics. But those same properties become a problem as soon as temperatures dive below 32 degrees F.

“Lithium-ion batteries suffer so badly in freezing temperatures because they have very little internal resistance,” says Hanumant Singh, an electrical engineer at Northeastern University who builds cold-weather robots for places like Antarctica and Greenland. Less resistance means these batteries generate less waste energy as heat (a good thing in more mild climes). But the absence of waste heat also means they’re more vulnerable when temperatures plummet. The colder it gets, the slower the metabolism of the chemical reaction inside the battery. The battery drains faster as a result. If you’ve ever been texting someone at a healthy-looking 25 percent charge only to have your phone die mid-eggplant emoji two seconds later, you’re familiar with how steep the drop-off can be. “It’s very dramatic,” says Singh. Carrying around a smartphone in any weather colder than –35 degrees F, he says, will kill it completely in 5 minutes—right around the time frostbite would strike the hand holding it.

Such deficiencies are particularly pronounced in devices like smartphones, which are designed to sit mostly inactive for long periods of time throughout the day. Their batteries never draw enough current to heat themselves. But vehicles like drones and electric cars, which demand very high power for shorter periods of time, can generate enough warmth to keep the batteries going, just at a greatly reduced level of performance. While cold weather is a challenge for all electric vehicles, the small size of electric scooters can make them especially vulnerable to failures, as noted by several “juicer” forums on Reddit. Companies like Lime monitor the performance of their fleets, including battery life, but say they are not yet aware of any trends coinciding with this week’s plummeting temps.

The performance of individual products will of course vary based on the manufacturer, battery model, and wear and tear on the device. Apple suggests not operating its phones below 32 degrees F. Amazon says the same for the Kindle. Fitbit, on the other hand, recommends a minimum ambient operating temperature no colder than 14 degrees F for its wellness wearables, which should maintain better temperature control based on continuous contact with your skin. But the same general rules apply to anything that uses lithium-ion battery technology.

No way in heck would I leave my scope (a Rigol) out in the garage. I have most of my stuff in an unheated storage unit at the moment and while I"m not using the scope for anything currently, it is still waiting patiently in my bedroom. I think you made the right choice by being more careful with yours as well.

When I said earlier that LCDs don"t like the cold... they can actually crack or otherwise completely break. I wasn"t just referring to sluggish performance, though sluggish performance is almost a definite in the cold whereas cracking is just a slight possibility (if your equipment is good).

The temperature in New York City on Tuesday was a high of 19°F and a low of 4°, which is being blamed on the Polar Vortex that is ravaging most of the country with icy weather.

Stepping into the bitter cold, you may have noticed such bodily effects as numbing of the extremities and difficulty breathing. But people are not alone in battling the effects of the cold. Some of our most prized possessions also react to the dipping thermostat: our mobile devices.

Smartphones are known to withstand cold temperatures much better than hot; however, extreme cold temperatures can have adverse effects on our favorite gadgets. Studies have shown that many Android devices fare better in the cold than Apple devices, but smartphones across the board appear to succumb equally at about -40 Degrees, where all functionality ceases.

Though it may just feel like its -40 out, recent temperatures are actually low enough to elicit negative effects on smartphones. Here’s a list of issues than can arise in your smartphone due to the cold.

Battery drain is one of the most immediate effects of cold weather. Devices may spontaneously shut down with a dead battery in the extreme cold. Over time, extended exposure to cold temperatures can kill a smartphone battery all together.

Smartphones with LCD displays are more susceptible to the cold than those with AMOLED displays. With LCD displays in particular, users may experience delayed touchscreen reactions as well as smudging and ghosting of text and colors. Display panels are also more susceptible to shattering when dropped as the cold makes the panel rigid.

In extreme cold temperatures smartphones may begin to register various errors of a their internal components. Devices may have difficulty reading a SIM card or executing a number processing functionalities.

As said, extreme cold causes components of smartphones, both internal and external, to become rigid, which could lead to physical damage like spontaneous screen shattering. Drops or blunt movements can also crack a screen and dislodge or damage internal components. Devices left in extreme cold temperatures for an extended time can be susceptible to permanent damage, especially when left in ‘sleep mode.’

Smartphones are susceptible to liquid condensation underneath their displays if they are used soon after being brought into a warm area after an extended time in the cold. This can cause various liquid damage issues and can also make the screen hard to read.

Don’t take your smartphone out in the cold/limit use in the cold. Leave your smartphone in your pocket, jacket, bag or purse. Leaving devices in a pocket close to your own body heat is most recommended.

Protect your smartphone with a heavy duty, weatherproof case such as an OtterBox or Lifeproof case. Such cases are dirt proof, waterproof and drop resistant.

Use warming gloves when handling a smartphone in the cold. Whether gloves are warmed or not, protecting yourself in the cold will also help prevent accidental drops due to your own physical reactions to the cold.

Don’t leave your smartphone in a cold vehicle for extended periods of time, especially not overnight. Such extended use can cause permanent internal and external damage.

Keep your smartphone away from or protected from snow related activities such as shoveling or sledding. In addition to the cold, the opportunity for the device to get wet is also great and extremely damaging.

Use headphones or a Bluetooth earbud and mic in order to keep smartphones put away while out in the cold. Not only do many Bluetooth devices have call answer buttons, many smartphones have quick answer options, which will allow users to take calls without handling the device.

Charge your smartphone before going outside. If your battery is fully before going out into the cold, it is less likely to experience battery drain. Keep a mobile charger around for long trips as well as an extra battery for backup.

If your smartphone happens to be exposed to extreme cold, the best thing to do is to turn the device off and allow it to warm back up to room temperature before turning it on again for use. This not only helps prevent condensation, but also helps prevent any other damage that might occur while the device is warming up.

The owners manual lists the operating temperature range as 32-140 degrees F. I have seen the screen lose contrast as it gets really cold but it still works.

The owners manual lists the operating temperature range as 32-140 degrees F. I have seen the screen lose contrast as it gets really cold but it still works.

That is also true for the battery BUT, if you then turn it on to use, the battery capacity will be a little bit less until it warms up and the screen might be a little dim.

More importantly, if your GPS is cold and you take it into a warm environmnet (like the car with the heater going), water might condense on it and IN it and cause some real damage.

My nuvi 200 has been in my car 24/7 for nearly two years with no ill effects. It turns on automatically in extreme cold and heat. Doing so might shorten the battey life, but I almost never run it on battery. Built in GPSrs see the same temperature extremes and can"t be removed from the car.

That comment is not meant to argue with or minimize your personal experiences but to suggest that your experience may not be typical of a majority of users(then again, it might be too).

2) Built-in units are designed from the start with that in mind. Some of the changes are a tad bit more expensive so they typically are not included in portable units. They are also physically connected to the rest of the car somehow, by a mounting bracket at the very least. This provides somewhat of a heat sink and helps keep it near to the same temp. as the other dashboard components.

In the winter months (Toronto, Canada) the only precaution I take in extremely cold weather is to warm the car a bit prior to turning my Garmin on. That seems reasonable, nothing worse than warmer your car a bit just to get to operating temperature..both for the vehicle and the driver.

If my car wasn"t used for long periods then i might worry about condensation....however if your vehicle is driven and heats up to warm temperatures often then for me that isn"t a concern. If i wasn"t going to use my car for 6 months at a time i might think different, but in a normal day to day driven car i don"t worry at all.

I checked the data sheets on some LCD components. It seems that the effects of very low temperature are reversible. However, to be safe I wouldn"t operate the unit until it was above freezing.

In very cold weather, condensation has never been much of a problem. This is because when the car"s heater warms the cold outside air, the relative humidity drops to very low levels.

I"ve heard rumors about the liquid in the liquid crystal display freezing and causing cracks that ruin some of the pixels, but after a quick Google search on the subject, I couldn"t find any actual cases of this happening.

Warm up the interior of the car a bit, and you should be ready to go. A friend suggests unclipping it and putting it in an interior pocket close to your body while you clean off the windshield.

I"ve heard rumors about the liquid in the liquid crystal display freezing and causing cracks that ruin some of the pixels, but after a quick Google search on the subject, I couldn"t find any actual cases of this happening.

Many years ago I left a digital voltmeter in my rental car overnight in subzero (F) weather and came out to find the display had been destroyed due to frozen pixels. Even though that was close to 30 years ago, I don"t leave LC Displays outside any more.

Well, I don"t know if the colder temperature will damage the gps but I think it"s best to take the gps with you since that will prevent your gps from being stolen.

FWIW I"ve had my old 200w and my current 205w in hot summer days up to 100 degrees and cold down to about 25 degrees, with no ill effects. I probably wouldn"t turn it on right away after it"s been sitting in the car all day (let it cool a little first), but I haven"t noticed any problems.

I have had 4 different models of garmin units so far. Three (3) have been left in the car with no ill effects, summer and winter. My sons and mother now have these sturdy units.

I look at a gps just like a cell phone or wallet. It just has too much personal data on it. Even tho the lock feature is nice I use a soft case and never leave it in the car.

I think if the LCD screen were vulnerable to cracking/freezing, wouldn"t the same apply to built-in navigation systems as well? They don"t crack so I see no reason that the Garmin (or whatever you use) should either. I"ve left mine in the car during the winter and never had a problem. We get down to single digits overnight here in PA on ocassion.

Warm up the interior of the car a bit, and you should be ready to go. A friend suggests unclipping it and putting it in an interior pocket close to your body while you clean off the windshield.

If only Garmin listed safe operating and storage temperatures in their manuals, then you wouldn"t be dependent on the bogus advice of those who not only are apparently too lazy to take their own unit out of the car, but seem to want everyone else to leave it behind too. If only Garmin listed safe operating and storage temperatures. Oh wait .....

And a built in device lacks the expensive and difficult to replace battery that a portable unit has, and might well be made of other components that are temperature rated to higher extremes.

It"s weird how many people still is using this old GPS units. You know, those - as somebody said - 30 or 40 pounds backpack units for car navigation. I agree, old electronic devices were made to last. But even I will not be happy to carry heavy backpack with me, when leaving car.

It"s always makes me smile, when first we have topic "My GPS is so big and heavy so I am unable to carry it around" and then new one "Can you believe that my so smartly hidden under seat or in glove compartment GPS was stolen? How could it happened?".

Laptops are ideal for “at the moment” work, but they can still crack. Particular components of a laptop require special attention and care. It is essential to take good care of the laptop when you take it outdoors. Cold weather has various ways to damage your laptop.

For starters, it can disable the display, and shatter your crash on your hard drive. Warming the laptop too quickly can also lead to serious problems. Laptop owners often ask; how cold can a laptop tolerate? Well, that depends on the make and model.

Other than that, using your laptop in both cold and hot temperatures can have an effect on your laptop. But our main topic is cold. When the winter comes, it is important to consider the impact of cold on your laptop.

We often worry about the heat damaging our devices, but we pay little to no attention to the impacts of cold weather on our devices. The cold weather is just as dangerous as the warm weather. The cold weather can freeze your laptop and destroy its battery within minutes. In most cases, the screen even gets shattered because of the extreme cold.

Furthermore, there is no determining how much cold laptops can tolerate, it depends on the period. The effects of cold weather are just as same as hot weather on laptops. Other than the cold weather being a factor, laptops can also collapse because of carelessness.

Some people might not believe this, but laptops can freeze. The temperature zones really matter. Even laptop cases don’t help in protecting the screen and the internal components. Don’t ever use your laptop while it is kept inside a laptop case. The heat will have no place to go, and chances are, all your memory will be lost.

According to the LaptopsChamp, some particular devices can handle the extreme conditions of weather, but just to be clear and cautious, it is best that you take no chances with your laptop.

Some high-end technology laptops can withstand all kinds of temperature zones subtly, but some are built from average technology which is not always right to keep in the cold weather. However, if you still have to leave your laptop in the cold weather, it is recommended to use a laptop cover or a bag.

Wait a couple of minutes to let the laptop regain its safe temperature. Other than just the cold weather, you should also not leave your laptop in the hot weather. Basically, always have a laptop bag with you wherever you carry the laptop.

The answer is clear; your laptop will not be able to withstand a wide amount of cold. You should always be cautious and treat your laptop with full care.

Whenever you have to travel with your laptop, means when you need to carry it around, you must always put it inside a laptop case. The laptop case should be properly insulated and of high quality.

This way, the cold will be warded off and your laptop will stay as good as new. However, even with the case, it is possible for your laptop to gather moisture and this may lead to damage. That is why; it is best suggested to keep your laptop out of humid areas and damp.

It is always recommended to keep your laptop indoors where the temperature is controlled. Never leave your laptop inside your vehicle or in other places where there are chances of temperature damage. You can’t always rely on the carrying case to be of service, sometimes it doesn’t even work.

When it comes to the component of your laptop; it’s the screen. If the laptop is exposed to the cold for too long, it can freeze the screen, and it might even shatter when you boot the system. This is not just dangerous for the screen, but the pixels can also lose their integrity.

Whenever you are transferring your laptop to a warmer area after it has been in the cold, do not turn it on right away. Wait at least fifteen minutes for the laptop to reach a temperate zone.

Keep in mind; you shouldn’t warm your laptop up by yourself, because that is not appropriate. Using different warming devices will not be helpful; in fact, they will damage your laptop. If you warm up the laptop too quickly, it can shatter your screen and other parts of the laptop.

To avoid any damage, always shut your laptop entirely by turning off all applications and closing tabs. When you shut the laptop, the hard drive retains rest. On the other hand, if you put your laptop on sleep mode, the hard drive will still be running.

This unnecessary movement can cause the hard drive to malfunction, lose data, or get corrupted. If you leave your laptop in the cold by accident, as mentioned above a thousand times, do not boot it until it gets enough time to acclimate. Closing the lid without turning off the laptop is also dangerous.

Well, there is no amount of cold that your laptop can tolerate. Sure, a laptop is an easy investment, but how can you even have it when you can’t take care of it? Buying a laptop comes with great responsibility.

You should be able to take all the required steps needed to take special care of your laptop and make it long-lasting. Keep all of the tips mentioned above and tricks in mind when it comes to avoiding cold weather and managing the maintenance of your laptop. If you take care of the temperature zones, you can protect your laptop from damage.

The owners manual lists the operating temperature range as 32-140 degrees F. I have seen the screen lose contrast as it gets really cold but it still works.

The owners manual lists the operating temperature range as 32-140 degrees F. I have seen the screen lose contrast as it gets really cold but it still works.

That is also true for the battery BUT, if you then turn it on to use, the battery capacity will be a little bit less until it warms up and the screen might be a little dim.

More importantly, if your GPS is cold and you take it into a warm environmnet (like the car with the heater going), water might condense on it and IN it and cause some real damage.

My nuvi 200 has been in my car 24/7 for nearly two years with no ill effects. It turns on automatically in extreme cold and heat. Doing so might shorten the battey life, but I almost never run it on battery. Built in GPSrs see the same temperature extremes and can"t be removed from the car.

That comment is not meant to argue with or minimize your personal experiences but to suggest that your experience may not be typical of a majority of users(then again, it might be too).

2) Built-in units are designed from the start with that in mind. Some of the changes are a tad bit more expensive so they typically are not included in portable units. They are also physically connected to the rest of the car somehow, by a mounting bracket at the very least. This provides somewhat of a heat sink and helps keep it near to the same temp. as the other dashboard components.

In the winter months (Toronto, Canada) the only precaution I take in extremely cold weather is to warm the car a bit prior to turning my Garmin on. That seems reasonable, nothing worse than warmer your car a bit just to get to operating temperature..both for the vehicle and the driver.

If my car wasn"t used for long periods then i might worry about condensation....however if your vehicle is driven and heats up to warm temperatures often then for me that isn"t a concern. If i wasn"t going to use my car for 6 months at a time i might think different, but in a normal day to day driven car i don"t worry at all.

I checked the data sheets on some LCD components. It seems that the effects of very low temperature are reversible. However, to be safe I wouldn"t operate the unit until it was above freezing.

In very cold weather, condensation has never been much of a problem. This is because when the car"s heater warms the cold outside air, the relative humidity drops to very low levels.

I"ve heard rumors about the liquid in the liquid crystal display freezing and causing cracks that ruin some of the pixels, but after a quick Google search on the subject, I couldn"t find any actual cases of this happening.

Warm up the interior of the car a bit, and you should be ready to go. A friend suggests unclipping it and putting it in an interior pocket close to your body while you clean off the windshield.

I"ve heard rumors about the liquid in the liquid crystal display freezing and causing cracks that ruin some of the pixels, but after a quick Google search on the subject, I couldn"t find any actual cases of this happening.

Many years ago I left a digital voltmeter in my rental car overnight in subzero (F) weather and came out to find the display had been destroyed due to frozen pixels. Even though that was close to 30 years ago, I don"t leave LC Displays outside any more.

Well, I don"t know if the colder temperature will damage the gps but I think it"s best to take the gps with you since that will prevent your gps from being stolen.

FWIW I"ve had my old 200w and my current 205w in hot summer days up to 100 degrees and cold down to about 25 degrees, with no ill effects. I probably wouldn"t turn it on right away after it"s been sitting in the car all day (let it cool a little first), but I haven"t noticed any problems.

I have had 4 different models of garmin units so far. Three (3) have been left in the car with no ill effects, summer and winter. My sons and mother now have these sturdy units.

I look at a gps just like a cell phone or wallet. It just has too much personal data on it. Even tho the lock feature is nice I use a soft case and never leave it in the car.

I think if the LCD screen were vulnerable to cracking/freezing, wouldn"t the same apply to built-in navigation systems as well? They don"t crack so I see no reason that the Garmin (or whatever you use) should either. I"ve left mine in the car during the winter and never had a problem. We get down to single digits overnight here in PA on ocassion.

Warm up the interior of the car a bit, and you should be ready to go. A friend suggests unclipping it and putting it in an interior pocket close to your body while you clean off the windshield.

If only Garmin listed safe operating and storage temperatures in their manuals, then you wouldn"t be dependent on the bogus advice of those who not only are apparently too lazy to take their own unit out of the car, but seem to want everyone else to leave it behind too. If only Garmin listed safe operating and storage temperatures. Oh wait .....

And a built in device lacks the expensive and difficult to replace battery that a portable unit has, and might well be made of other components that are temperature rated to higher extremes.

It"s weird how many people still is using this old GPS units. You know, those - as somebody said - 30 or 40 pounds backpack units for car navigation. I agree, old electronic devices were made to last. But even I will not be happy to carry heavy backpack with me, when leaving car.

It"s always makes me smile, when first we have topic "My GPS is so big and heavy so I am unable to carry it around" and then new one "Can you believe that my so smartly hidden under seat or in glove compartment GPS was stolen? How could it happened?".

You’ve just built the perfect snowman: top hat, carrot nose, corncob pipe, the works. You whip your iPhone out to snap a photo for your Instagram feed, but the screen won"t come on. It was fully charged when you left the house, so what happened? Did the cold weather kill your phone?

While this scenario is bleak—the dead-as-a-brick phone, not your empty Instagram feed—there"s no reason to panic, says Matt McCormick, owner of Jet City Device Repair in Chicago and Seattle.

“In the winter, especially on iPhones, it’s easy to see your phone simply die if you’re standing out in freezing weather,” he says. “I personally had this happen a few years ago when I was hiking with some friends in Wisconsin. The cold weather made the phone unusable as long as I was outside.”

In fact, “bricked” phones aren’t as common as you may fear. In the traditional software sense, a phone “bricks” when “the hardware is perfectly fine but the software has the phone locked up and unusable,” McCormick says. The most common causes of that are when someone tries to jailbreak his or her phone—hack it to access its master files or install third party apps—or if someone stops an update partway through the process. Neither of those are weather dependent. (While a bug on the new iPhone X did cause the phone’s screen to freeze when exposed to cold weather, Apple has since released a software fix to solve the problem. Other times, catastrophic hardware failures can permanently brick phones.)

“However, we do frequently see phones that appear dead,” McCormick says. Some common causes of that include water damage, a broken or blocked charging port, and the occasional software glitch that prevents the screen from coming on. But the most destructive and widespread is a bad battery.

Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, the kind used in iPhones, are vulnerable and volatile. According to Apple’s guidelines, iPhones should be used between 32°F and 95°F. Some tests suggest that the phones’ batteries can stop discharging electricity altogether when in frigid temperatures.

“Low- or high-temperature conditions might cause the device to change its behavior to regulate its temperate,” Apple says. “Using an iOS device in very cold conditions outside of its operating range might temporarily shorten battery life and could cause the device to turn off. Battery life will return to normal when you bring the device back to higher ambient temperatures.”

If your phone dies while you are in the cold weather, the solution is to keep your phone warm or warm it back up. That’s how McCormick ultimately revived his seemingly dead iPhone: He hiked inside.

To prevent this from happening when you’re outside, keep your phone in a sturdy case and store it close to your body—in a pants pocket, for example, instead of in a coat pocket. And while force-closing apps isn’t recommended for saving battery, it’s still a good idea to look at what’s using your power both onscreen and in the background. (You can check to see how much power your apps are using by following these instructions.)

If your phone screen still goes black, wait until you’re back inside and the phone has warmed up before trying to turn it on. Also, go easy on the charging while the phone is still cold—Battery University says never to charge consumer grade lithium-ion batteries in temperatures below freezing, which can cause permanent damage.

I have an inexpensive flash-based MP3 player that I got for skiing, and finally got around to using it this weekend with Giro Tune-ups (which work really well, FYI). Temps were 5-15 degrees. Player was in my pack on the first day, no problems, and was in my jacket for the second (colder) day. At the end of the second day, the LCD screen on the MP3 player had developed a big blotch across the middle, such that 80% of the display was no longer legible. After warming it back up inside, overnight, the screen is still 80% gone. Player works fine -- just can"t see anything on the screen. I"m returning it for another one.

Anyone have this happen with any LCD device in very cold weather? I"m glad it was a cheap MP3 player, under warranty, rather than my camera. I would"ve thought that it would remain warm enough inside my jacket, but maybe not.

Laptops are ideal for “at the moment” work, but they can still crack. Particular components of a laptop require special attention and care. It is essential to take good care of the laptop when you take it outdoors. Cold weather has various ways to damage your laptop.

For starters, it can disable the display, and shatter your crash on your hard drive. Warming the laptop too quickly can also lead to serious problems. Laptop owners often ask; how cold can a laptop tolerate? Well, that depends on the make and model.

Other than that, using your laptop in both cold and hot temperatures can have an effect on your laptop. But our main topic is cold. When the winter comes, it is important to consider the impact of cold on your laptop.

We often worry about the heat damaging our devices, but we pay little to no attention to the impacts of cold weather on our devices. The cold weather is just as dangerous as the warm weather. The cold weather can freeze your laptop and destroy its battery within minutes. In most cases, the screen even gets shattered because of the extreme cold.

Furthermore, there is no determining how much cold laptops can tolerate, it depends on the period. The effects of cold weather are just as same as hot weather on laptops. Other than the cold weather being a factor, laptops can also collapse because of carelessness.

Some people might not believe this, but laptops can freeze. The temperature zones really matter. Even laptop cases don’t help in protecting the screen and the internal components. Don’t ever use your laptop while it is kept inside a laptop case. The heat will have no place to go, and chances are, all your memory will be lost.

According to the LaptopsChamp, some particular devices can handle the extreme conditions of weather, but just to be clear and cautious, it is best that you take no chances with your laptop.

Some high-end technology laptops can withstand all kinds of temperature zones subtly, but some are built from average technology which is not always right to keep in the cold weather. However, if you still have to leave your laptop in the cold weather, it is recommended to use a laptop cover or a bag.

Wait a couple of minutes to let the laptop regain its safe temperature. Other than just the cold weather, you should also not leave your laptop in the hot weather. Basically, always have a laptop bag with you wherever you carry the laptop.

The answer is clear; your laptop will not be able to withstand a wide amount of cold. You should always be cautious and treat your laptop with full care.

Whenever you have to travel with your laptop, means when you need to carry it around, you must always put it inside a laptop case. The laptop case should be properly insulated and of high quality.

This way, the cold will be warded off and your laptop will stay as good as new. However, even with the case, it is possible for your laptop to gather moisture and this may lead to damage. That is why; it is best suggested to keep your laptop out of humid areas and damp.

It is always recommended to keep your laptop indoors where the temperature is controlled. Never leave your laptop inside your vehicle or in other places where there are chances of temperature damage. You can’t always rely on the carrying case to be of service, sometimes it doesn’t even work.

When it comes to the component of your laptop; it’s the screen. If the laptop is exposed to the cold for too long, it can freeze the screen, and it might even shatter when you boot the system. This is not just dangerous for the screen, but the pixels can also lose their integrity.

Whenever you are transferring your laptop to a warmer area after it has been in the cold, do not turn it on right away. Wait at least fifteen minutes for the laptop to reach a temperate zone.

Keep in mind; you shouldn’t warm your laptop up by yourself, because that is not appropriate. Using different warming devices will not be helpful; in fact, they will damage your laptop. If you warm up the laptop too quickly, it can shatter your screen and other parts of the laptop.

To avoid any damage, always shut your laptop entirely by turning off all applications and closing tabs. When you shut the laptop, the hard drive retains rest. On the other hand, if you put your laptop on sleep mode, the hard drive will still be running.

This unnecessary movement can cause the hard drive to malfunction, lose data, or get corrupted. If you leave your laptop in the cold by accident, as mentioned above a thousand times, do not boot it until it gets enough time to acclimate. Closing the lid without turning off the laptop is also dangerous.

Well, there is no amount of cold that your laptop can tolerate. Sure, a laptop is an easy investment, but how can you even have it when you can’t take care of it? Buying a laptop comes with great responsibility.

You should be able to take all the required steps needed to take special care of your laptop and make it long-lasting. Keep all of the tips mentioned above and tricks in mind when it comes to avoiding cold weather and managing the maintenance of your laptop. If you take care of the temperature zones, you can protect your laptop from damage.

With winter well upon us I thought it would be good to share some of my arctic shooting experience. I’ve shot in temperatures down to -45c in the arctic in winter.

Overall modern tapeless cameras do OK in extreme cold. The most reliable cameras are generally larger solid state cameras. Larger cameras cool slower than small ones and larger cameras will hold on to heat generated internally better than small ones. Cameras and electronics with lots of cooling vents can sometimes also be troublesome as the vents allow them to cool more quickly. But cold is not necessarily going to be the biggest problem.

Condensation is the big deal breaker. When you take the very cold camera inside into a warm house/hotel/car/tent you will get condensation. If the camera is very cold this can then freeze on the body of camera including the glass of the lens. If there is condensation on the outside of the camera, there will almost certainly also be condensation inside the camera and this can kill your camera.

To prevent or at least reduce the condensation you can place the camera in a large ziplock or other sealed bag BEFORE taking it inside, take the camera inside in the bag. Then allow the camera to warm up to the ambient temperature before removing it from the bag. Peli cases are another option, but the large volume of the pelicase means there will be more moisture inside the case to condense and the insulating properties of the case mean that it could take many, many hours to warm up.

I don’t recommend storing a cold or damp camera in a Pelicase (or any other similar waterproof case) as there is nowhere for the moisture to go, so the camera will remain damp until the case is opened and everything dried out properly.

Rather than moving a camera repeatedly from outside to inside and repeatedly generating risky condensation you should consider leaving the camera outside. You can leave the camera outside provided it does not get below -25c. Below -25c you risk the LCD panel freezing and cracking. LCD  panels freeze at between -30 to -40c. If you are using a camera in very cold conditions and you notice the edges of the LCD screen going blue or dark you should start thinking about warming up that LCD panel as it may be close to freezing.

LCD displays will become slow and sluggish to respond in the cold. Your pictures may look blurry and smeary because of this. It doesn’t affect the recording, only what you see on the LCD.

Very often in cold regions houses will have an unheated reception room or porch. This is a good place to store your camera rather than taking it inside into the warm. Repeatedly taking a camera from cold to warm without taking precautions against condensation will shorten the life of your camera.

Li-Ion batteries are effected by the cold but they are not nearly as bad as Nicads or NiMh batteries which are all but useless below freezing. li-Ion battery life gets reduced by between 25 and 50% depending on how cold it is and the quality of the battery (very cheap cells may have a higher water content which can freeze causing the cell to dramatically lose capacity and the ability to deliver power).

Down to about -10c there is only a very marginal loss of capacity. Down to -25c you will lose about 20%-30% below -25c the capacity will fall away further and it becomes impossible to use the full capacity of the battery.

Keep your spare batteries in a pocket inside your coat or jacket until you need them. After use let the battery warm up before you charge it if you can. Charging a very cold battery will reduce the lifespan of the battery and it won’t fully charge. One top tip for shooting outside for extended periods is to get a cool box. Get some chemical hand warmers or electric rechargeable handwarmers and place them in the cool box with your batteries to keep them warm. If you don’t have hand warmers you can also use a hot water bottle.

If your lens has and snow or ice on it, don’t be tempted to breath or blow on the lens to blow the ice off.  Do not to breath on the lens when cleaning it as your warm breath will condense on the cold glass and freeze.  Also try to avoid breathing out close to the viewfinder.  When it is very cold and if you are warm in your nice thick winter clothes even standing close to the camera can lead to frost and ice building up on it.  Small amounts of sweat from your body will evaporate and this moisture will find its way to the camera, even if you are a few feet (1 or 2m) from it. If doing a timelapse of the Northern Lights, once the camera is running you should move away from the camera.

A small soft paint brush is good for keeping your lens clean as in very cold conditions you’ll simply be able to brush and snow or ice off. Otherwise a large lens cloth.

Your lens will get cold and in some conditions you will get frost on the front element. To help combat this wrap some insulating fabric around the body of the lens. Wrist sweat bands are quite good for this or an old sock with the toes cut off.  For time-lapse long sessions in very cold weather you might want to get a lens heater for the lens. These are normally 12 volt or USB powered and wrap around the lens. They don’t use lots of power but they do warm the lens just enough to keep the worst of the condensation, dew and frost off the lens. They are sometimes also called “dew heaters” and are sold by most good telescope suppliers.

Conventional plastic rain covers become brittle below about -15c and can even shatter like glass  below -20c. The clear plastic panels in other covers can also suffer the same fate. So use if you use a cover use one made out of fabric. Special insulated cold weather covers often called “polar bears” can be used and these often have pockets inside for chemical heat packs. These are well worth getting if you are going to be doing a lot of arctic shooting and will help keep the camera warm. As an alternative wrap the camera in a scarf or cut the sleeves of an old sweater to make a tube you can slide over the camera. If you have a sewing machine you could make a simple cover out of some fleece type material.

For DSLR’s and stills cameras a balaclava can be used to cover the camera body to provide some protection. However unheated covers don’t make a big difference when the camera is outside in very cold temperatures for extended periods, eventually the cold will get to it.

Plastics get brittle at low temperatures so be very gentle with anything plastic, especially things made from very hard, cheap plastic. The plastic Sony use appears to be pretty tough even at low temps. Wires and cables may become as rigid as a steel rod. Be gentle, bend then too much and the insulation may split and the cable break. I try to avoid bending any cable once it has become very cold.

Other considerations are tripods. If outside in very low temps for more than 30mins or so the grease in the tripod will become very thick and may even freeze, so your fluid damping will become either very stiff or freeze up all together. Contact your tripod manufacturer to see what temperatures their greases can be used over. Vinten and some of the other tripod companies can winterise the tripod and replace the normal grease with arctic grease. If you are unsure put your tripod head in your deep freeze at home for a few hours and see if it still works when you take it out.

I find that the best way to operate the camera is by wearing a pair of large top quality mittens (gloves are next to useless below -15c), Consider getting a pair of Army surplus arctic mittens, they are very cheap on ebay and from surplus stores and will normally have an additional “trigger finger”. This extra finger makes it easier to press the record button and things like that.  If you can get Swedish or Finnish military winter mittens, these are amongst the best. I wear a pair of thin “thinsulate” fleece gloves that will fit inside the mittens, i can then slip my hands in and out of the mittens to operate the camera. If you can get gloves with finger tips compatible with touch screens this will allow you to use any touch functions on a camera or your phone.

I keep a chemical hand warmer inside the mittens to warm my fingers back up after using the camera (or use heated mittens powered by a USB battery pack).

The hardest thing to keep warm is your feet. If you’ll be standing in snow or standing on ice then conventional hiking boots etc will not keep your feet warm. A Scandinavian trick if standing outside for long periods is to get some small twigs and tree branches to stand on and help insulate your feet from the cold ground. If your feet get cold then you are at risk of frostbite or frost nip. Invest in or hire some decent snow boots like Sorel’s or Baffin’s.  There is almost nothing worse than having ice cold feet when working. Don’t forget that if you do get cold, moving around, running on the spot etc will help get your circulation going help war you up. Also a flask with a hot drink is always welcome.  I have an arctic clothing guide here; Arctic Clothing Guide |

Interestingly, there are many different factors to consider if you want to install an outdoor monitor in an area exposed to the elements.  Not only do outdoor monitors / outdoor signage need to be weather-proof, but useful in their new location. Our SRMW- and SXOBH- SeriesVideo on Monitor View-ability in Direct, Bright Sunlight

When you search for a waterproof high brightness LCD display or weatherproof touch screen, it is essential to make sure they are designed for the job. Check out our SRMW-24Z-SS 24 inch weatherproof screens.  For 2500 nits brightness, our SXOBH-55-4 and SXOBH-65-3 waterproof Sunlight Readable monitors will be the best outdoor monitor solution. Rated IP 68, they provide the highest level of protection of any outdoor  monitor on the market today. And all TRU-Vu monitors are TAA Compliant.

Ingress Protection Code (IP) is an internationally accepted standard.  It classifies and rates the degree of protection provided by enclosures. Protections include against intrusion and dust. Also included are accidental contact, and water. For example, this rating provides a standardized metric to compare different products’ performance with each other. The first number refers to protection against solids.  IP second number refers to protection against liquids.  Additionally, there may be an X in the rating. It means testing was not performed for that specific protection.  For a more detailed description onIP Ratingsfollow the link.  View our IP & NEMA Ratingsliterature for more information,  or watch our video: Demonstration.

We offer weatherproof touch screens and waterproof stainless steel monitors with a variety of resolutions and aspect ratios for your outdoor signage needs. For instance, 4:3 aspect ratio, 5:4 aspect ratio and 16:9 aspect ratio waterproof monitors are available.  Outdoor displays are used in amusement parks, auto racing, car wash facilities, and mass transit. They have also been deployed for advertising, digital signage, kiosks, sports stadiums and military systems. Outdoor monitors and weatherproof touch screens are a fast-growing segment in today’s outdoor display market. We offer only TAA-Compliant monitors.

TRU-Vu also offers a range of outdoor signage, and weatherproof touch screen and weatherproof stainless steel monitor options for industrial, commercial or residential use.  The SXN Series models are available with 55″ and 65″ screen sizes. With 4K resolution and 500 nits of brightness, video images look great in bright conditions.  Additionally, our SXOBH Series outdoor TV’s represent the top-of-the line performance in outdoor TV technology. They offer a fully-sealed IP 68 enclosure, 2,500 nits of brightness, optical bonding, and an operating temperature of -31° to +140°F. They are completely maintenance-free, with no fans, vents or filters to worry about. The front screen is protected by impact-resistant safety glass with an Anti-Reflective coating. It is rated IK 10, and can withstand a 60 mph fastball!! The SXOBH is available with 55″ and 65″ screens. Outdoor video images have never looked so good!

Basil is an annual herb that is very popular for its variety of culinary uses. Native to southern Europe and Asia, this plant thrives in warm, sunny weather.

Basil is very sensitive to cold temperatures. It will quickly show signs of damage, or even die off, when temperatures dip. Basil is the most healthy and productive at temperatures of 80 to 90 degrees F (27 to 32 degrees C). Chilly weather below 50 degrees F (10 degrees C) will begin to stunt the health of your basil. Once temperatures hit freezing (32 degrees F or 0 degrees C), your basil isn’t likely to survive for long.

The normal life cycle of basil means the plant will die in the winter and drop its seeds. In the springtime, those dropped seeds will germinate and grow into a new plant.

If you’re planning to grow basil outdoors, the safest practice is to start your seeds indoors in the spring. That way, you can get a jumpstart on the growing season without the risk of freezing your seedlings.

Covering your basil plant is a good way to protect it from the elements and lock in warmth. Just make sure to remove the covering as soon as temperatures rise again to prevent overheating.

You can also add mulch around the base of your basil plant to add a layer of insulation. Mulching is great for your basil year-round since it helps maintain moisture and reduce weeds.

Bringing your basil plant inside is another good option to protect it from cold weather. You’ll want to do this if temperatures are going to remain chilly longer than a day or will dip to freezing.

Lastly, if you’re planning to harvest the leaves on your plant for cooking, it’s best to do so before the risk of frost and damage to the plant. Fresh basil leaves can be frozen or dried for later use.

Excessive exposure to cold temperatures can kill basil, so it’s important to be aware of the signs of cold damage. You’ll need to take precautions to keep the damage from spreading further.

If your basil has been exposed to even colder weather, check the leaves for brown or black spots, wilting, or curling. These are all signs of cold damage and should be treated quickly to en