Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - computer operating temperature

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Bob T

10-06-08, 06:56 PM

I recently purchased a Cateye computer and I noticed that operating temperature range is 32 to 104 degrees F. I commute year-round and the temperatures in my area are below and above this range at times. Has anyone ever experienced problems with their computers at extreme temperatures? Can it be damaged or does it just start working again once the outdoor temperature returns to the "normal" range?

(I apologize if this topic has already been discussed. I tried a search but it doesn't seem to be working)

Pig_Chaser

10-06-08, 10:54 PM

Google's always on

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=18001[/URL]
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=267838 (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=18001)
[url]http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=252965
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=259469

wmodavis

10-07-08, 01:04 AM

The main temperature sensitive component, based on my working as a design engineer in the electronics for most of my career, is the LCD display. Mainly they get slow and blurry looking when it gets cold. We put a thermostatically controlled LCD heater in several pieces of equipment we supplied for outdoor service where the display had to be clearly visible under those conditions. The cold shouldn't actually damage it permenently only make it virtually unreadable when cold. Of course there may be exceptions. I wouldn't hesitate to have mine out in the cold.

127.0.0.1

10-07-08, 08:09 AM

if it isn't wet inside then cold won't hurt it. it just makes the display weak or slow

now, if you have a cheap or old battery in it, and that freezes, it may harm the battery,
but this is pretty rare. I ride winter a lot and have not killed a battery from freezing it,
it is just a possibility

Pig_Chaser

10-07-08, 09:08 AM

I think most batteries in computers are those 'coin' kind that start with CR. Those are all lithium and should hold up to the cold fairly well... much better than alkaline which freeze up.

CastIron

10-07-08, 09:14 AM

All of my wireless computers start to fail when it gets cold. My Cateye seemed to crap out about 40*. In winter it doesn't matter, so I just removed 'em.

Bob T

10-07-08, 11:26 AM