Anyone travel with a laptop for maps and weather?

sharrack · Joined: 15 Jan 2006 Posts: 42

I'll be doing just that this year in an effort to have live weather during the monsoon in Southern AZ as well as Google Earth and topo maps.

Anyone have experience or any tips on keeping your laptop cool in your vehicle? I know heat kills laptops.

I may turn a laptop bag into a cool zone bag to keep extreme heat from the unit.

Thanks, kenny S>

GTG · Posted: 12/29/2008, 9:09 am Post subject:

If I were going to try to keep a laptop cool, I'd try to reeingineer the plate from one of those 12 Volt cooler/heater units. Condensation will be an issue of course. You also shouldn't have a problem as long as you're running air condiditoning in the vehicle but when it's off maybe the issue. One of theose Targus laptop cooler fan dealys might be helpful too.

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Good things come to those who walk.

sharrack · Joined: 15 Jan 2006 Posts: 42

I'm more concerned with the ambient temps inside the car while you're out on the trail. So after a few hours, your laptop core temp shoots through the
roof!
Maybe a cooler bag to keep the intense heat from getting to it.

Kenny S>

GTG · Posted: 12/31/2008, 4:35 pm Post subject:

Bag or no, the heat will still get in. If the laptop is off there should be no issue with heat as long as it is out of direct sun. You best bet still might be to reengineer the thermoelectric plate from one of those 12V coolers. Condensation will be an issue to deal with though.

GTG
_________________
Good things come to those who walk.