Protecting Notebook from Cold

Laptops are designed to work in temperature range of 10 – 35 degrees Celsius. (50 – 95 degrees Fahrenheit). This range is for both optimal and outside environment temperature. It is important that you protect your laptop from your cold weather. Not doing so may reduce the performance of the equipment. Protecting your laptop from cold weather is important and you should know how to protect your laptop from cold weather. Protect yourself and your laptop from the damage cold weather can cause.

Ruggedized Laptops. If your budget allows, purchase or lease a ruggedized laptop if you will be outside in cold temperatures for extended periods of time. Ruggedized laptops have been designed to work under extreme weather conditions. When you rely on your laptop and can’t count on the weather to co-operate – a ruggedized laptop is worth considering. Most ruggedized laptops have been tested according to MIL-STD-810F standards.

Careful storage. Do not leave laptop in trunk of vehicle in freezing weather. This may freeze the laptop and data may also be lost. It is also not advisable even if the device is well padded and insulated.

Let It Warm Up. Once you bring a laptop in from the cold – allow it to warm up to room temperature before booting. The same is true when you go outdoors – allow the laptop to acclimatize to the outside temperature before booting up.

Incorrect warming methods. Do not use pocket warmers or such devices to warm the laptop. These devices may warm the laptop from wrong places causing the components to melt internally.

Laptop Warmers. There are laptop warmers designed specifically for the purpose of keeping a laptop warm and these are what you should use. Laptop warmers have been tested to ensure they will safely protect your laptop and are a wise investment.

Excessive heat build-up. It is not recommended to use your laptop while it is still in its bag because there is no room for air to circulate. Always keep laptop on a raised platform to ensure that there is circulation. This will prevent the laptop from overheating. You can also develop your own box, but make sure that you keep laptop on a raised platform even in the box. The box will keep the heat inside thus keeping the device warm.

Protecting Your Display. Don’t use heating pads or other external sources of heat to warm up or thaw a laptop display. Allow the display to warm on its own and do not boot up a laptop if you suspect the display is frozen.

Stay out of cold. Keeping your laptop away from direct exposure to extreme weather conditions will help the keyboard from freezing. Also it will reduce the likeliness that any other problems related to extreme weather conditions will develop.

Change Power Settings. By changing the power settings from power save mode will help keep the laptop warm as it continues to run. Instead of having the hard drive shut down, keep it spinning. The longer the laptop can be kept left running, the warmer it will stay as it generates its own heat.

Don’t get creative. Do not make or use any devices on your own to keep your laptop warm. It may damage the device internally. Internal components may melt if heating is applied to wrong parts. It may also be damaged beyond repair.