Using Laptop Outside?

[Tim Dorr]

For 5 years I have used the LOR1602WMP3 Show Director and it has performed well. This year I've added, or want to add, 4 CCRs. I was warned after buying everything that the CCRs might not work well through the Show Director as it can't keep up with the data stream. I tested it out yesterday and sure enough, it doesn't work as it should. So I need to switch to a computer, and I happen to have an old Inspiron 4100.

On top of that, our show will be moving to City property at the invitation of the Mayor (read the details at frontdorr.com). At this point it doesn't appear that I will have the opportunity to leave the computer in a nice warm place, but instead it will be subject to outside temperatures. The average low in KC is 22º, well below the computer's operating specs of 32º. And that's just the average. We all know that in any given year, the temperatures can fluctuate significantly from the average.

So my questions is:

Can a laptop operate in cold weather where temperatures are below the computer's specs, assuming it is kept away from moisture?

[Terry Hurrle]

My lap top is kept in the garage for the show and it works fine and it is below 22 out there. I had no problems at all.

[scubado]

I have a cheap laptop in my van that has a solid state hard drive so I don't have to worry about it with temperature flucuations.

[gizmomkr]

I dont think it will be a problem. If the laptop is sealed inside an enclosure, the heat from the cpu will probably keep it at a reasonable temp.

Im always far more conserned with overheating than freezing.

But if it really is a big deal, you could get one of these

http://www.echopi.com/prodView.asp?idProduct=41

or http://www.dell.com/content/topics/topic.aspx/global/products/latit/topics/en/latit_atg

But I think your exsisting laptop in a box will be ok.

I really like your "light tubes" or whatever you did around the oak trees. Good looking stuff. I thought it was an led sign module till I saw your pictures.

[Richard Hamilton]

How come you aren't considering to use a pair of the RF linkers to communicate outside? I wouldn't be worried about the cold as someone mention the internal electronics will generate enough heat to keep it running. I'd be more concerned about theft.

[Tim Dorr]

gizmomkr wrote:

I really like your "light tubes" or whatever you did around the oak trees. Good looking stuff. I thought it was an led sign module till I saw your pictures.

I call them vertical light tubes. There are 7 of them per tree, 10 segments of 100ct cool white LEDs per tube, 140 channels in all. A little over 10' per tube.

[bob_moody]

Tim.

I know a gentleman from Planet Christmas (his name is also Tim (Tim Fisher of PlymouthLights.com) that had a similar issue with a slide projector. He had a slide projection prop in his display that told the story of Christmas using the Peanuts characters. He had an issue with it getting to cold. He tried adding lights in the box and a warming blanket and was able to solve all of his issue.

If you build some type of enclousure that can be secured, you could do something similar to ensure that the laptop stays at optimal operating temps.

Bob

[Jim Saul]

Hi Tim, if the temps are going below zero, I'd be a little worried about the LCD screen on the laptop freezing. I repair computer in MN and during the winter I get at least 3 a month with screens that burst.
Where is the laptop going to be located? If the laptop is running 24/7 it will generate some heat so if it is in a small enclosure that may do it, or you could put in a 100w incandescent light with it to help. If it is going to be a large structure like a storage shed, it may not be enough and you may want to make a wood box to hold the laptop and light in to keep the heat in there. Another option would be a cooler with a hole in it for power and USB.
Also make sure the power saving features on the laptop are off, you do not want it to go to sleep at the end of the first night, then not run again till you go there and wake it up.

[Tim Dorr]

Richard Hamilton wrote:

How come you aren't considering to use a pair of the RF linkers to communicate outside? I wouldn't be worried about the cold as someone mention the internal electronics will generate enough heat to keep it running. I'd be more concerned about theft.

Richard, we are considering that option. Problems is finding a good place to setup the computer that is inside, and one that is accessible at all times.

In the meantime I'm moving forward with placing the computer in an enclosure which is attached.

I'm always concerned about theft, but think the risk is minimal, since the computer will be in this enclosure, which will have a front on it that is screwed down. Also the thief will have to scale a 6' fence to get to it. It would have been easier to steal parts of our display when it was in front of our house.






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[Tim Dorr]

Jim Saul wrote:

Hi Tim, if the temps are going below zero, I'd be a little worried about the LCD screen on the laptop freezing. I repair computer in MN and during the winter I get at least 3 a month with screens that burst.
Where is the laptop going to be located? If the laptop is running 24/7 it will generate some heat so if it is in a small enclosure that may do it, or you could put in a 100w incandescent light with it to help. If it is going to be a large structure like a storage shed, it may not be enough and you may want to make a wood box to hold the laptop and light in to keep the heat in there. Another option would be a cooler with a hole in it for power and USB.
Also make sure the power saving features on the laptop are off, you do not want it to go to sleep at the end of the first night, then not run again till you go there and wake it up.

Thanks Saul for the tips. I was drafting the post below yours at the time you responded.

Don't know if we will have sub-zero temps. Shouldn't based on history, but who knows with the whacky weather we've all had this year. You can see the enclosure above I'm using. So the question becomes whether I should build a second enclosure to just go around the computer or not? Based on what you wrote, probably so. If I do, will there be any consequences when I open up the 2nd enclosure and the cold air hits the warm air? Will any condensation form that might be harmful? The cooler is a great idea, but don't have enough room. I can insulate the 2nd wood box, but I'm thinking that there will be enough heat to keep things going without wrapping the box.

I thought about the power saving features and have already shut them down. Only thing going is a screen saver.

Thanks again for your response.

[-klb-]

I would make sure that the screen saver either just powers down the display, or goes to a black screen. Some of the screen savers are so CPU intensive that they may impact your display.

[Jim Saul]

Tim, that's a lot of air in a box that size, I don't know if I would make another box in the box though. Can you move the controllers under the computer so as the heat rises it heats it? if not, I'd still go with a 100 w light bulb under it, they generate a lot of heat (remember easy bake oven with 60w bulb) or you could go to the hardware store and get something like this that you could wrap around any metal pipe and place at the bottom of the box. http://www.smallparts.com/m-d-building-products-4366-thermostat/dp/B0006VAN32?ref_=goo_pf_B0006VAN32
The pope heaters have a thermostat in them so they will not get too hot and cause problems. :]

[Tim Dorr]

Jim Saul wrote:

Tim, that's a lot of air in a box that size, I don't know if I would make another box in the box though. Can you move the controllers under the computer so as the heat rises it heats it? if not, I'd still go with a 100 w light bulb under it, they generate a lot of heat (remember easy bake oven with 60w bulb) or you could go to the hardware store and get something like this that you could wrap around any metal pipe and place at the bottom of the box. http://www.smallparts.com/m-d-building-products-4366-thermostat/dp/B0006VAN32?ref_=goo_pf_B0006VAN32
The pope heaters have a thermostat in them so they will not get too hot and cause problems. :]

The box is 8' H X 34" W X 1' D, so pretty good size. Made it big enough for future expansion. There will be three more controllers sitting under the computer. Just didn't have them installed when the picture was taken. Also, I plan to have the bottom of the box open in order to run the cords from display items to the controllers. It wouldn't be a problem to block off most of the bottom and still leave space for the wiring. That way it would keep a little more of the heat inside.

I've used the pipe heaters when we lived in Fridley. They really work. Think I'll try the 100W bulb first. I can run a wireless thermometer inside the enclosure to see the affect.

Thanks again for your suggestions Jim.