Laptop battery stored in a cold car...?

[d3500ram]

I need to make an upcoming trip where I will be parking my car at the Denver airport for about 5 day.

I will have my laptop with me but won't be taking it on the plane. I would like to leave it stored in the car for that time. Denver could get into the 20's this time of year at night... don't anticipating it getting too much colder. Days are nice= 50's.

Should the battery be OK?

When I return, I will NOT be plugin in and using the computer right away... it will be a couple of hours that the temperature can acclimate back to normal before use.

I really do not have the option of not facing this situation. I am in Denver for work and then hopping a plane and do not need nor want to take it with.

[LittleBill]

I have left laptops in cars over night for 15 years. literally every single day, temps as low as -10f, where water drips off the laptop as you bring it inside. and I turn them on while still wet.

They all have lasted 5+ years and died due to cycle count.

Don't remotely worry about it.

[James_William]

pianotuna wrote:

Brandon the Traveler wrote:

pianotuna wrote:
Remove the battery. Wrap it in a blanket

And that will do what? Is the battery going to generate its own heat? Electric blanket? You'll need a long cord, those airport parking lots are huge.

Wrap in blanket laptop and battery (removed). Then allow the laptop and battery to slowly warm up to room temperature. Then charge.

Li can be frozen--not recommended. But charge them when it is -4 F and you have a poor and expensive door stop. You want them to warm up slowly if at all possible.

Hi,i think the easiest way is to Use your fingers or a lint-free cloth to physically remove any large dust clumps or visible lint. Such debris clogs the laptop's cooling system and causes .

[valhalla360]

d3500ram wrote:
I do not need nor want to take either the computer nor the battery with me on the plane, hence my asking for opinions.

In that case the whole discussion is silly. Just stash the laptop in the truck and move on with life.

The battery will get cold either way.

Only way you have parasitic loss is if you put it in "sleep" mode rather than turning it off.

[pianotuna]

Brandon the Traveler wrote:

pianotuna wrote:
Remove the battery. Wrap it in a blanket

And that will do what? Is the battery going to generate its own heat? Electric blanket? You'll need a long cord, those airport parking lots are huge.

Wrap in blanket laptop and battery (removed). Then allow the laptop and battery to slowly warm up to room temperature. Then charge.

Li can be frozen--not recommended. But charge them when it is -4 F and you have a poor and expensive door stop. You want them to warm up slowly if at all possible.

[MT_BOB]

Many laptops,and other electronics, have "parasitic drain". This means the battery can go dead, even when off. Some laptops, in as little as 10 days. This is why I recommend removing the battery.Just plain logic.

[d3500ram]

Just to clarify...

...yes, I was concerned about battery in cold temperatures while leaving it in the car for a few days. I do not anticipate those temps being sub-zero but there is a chance of it dipping below freezing (32 degrees.)

I do not need nor want to take either the computer nor the battery with me on the plane, hence my asking for opinions.

Methinks it prudent to remove the battery and stash it and the laptop out of sight before arriving at the parking lot. The computer and battery will have a couple of hours to acclimate upon return before needing to turn it back on.

Based on the great comments and discussion, I am not going to worry about leaving the components for a few days in the conditions described.

[Bobbo]

valhalla360 wrote:
I presume if he's worried about the battery freezing, it presumes he's taking the battery on the plane with him so he can keep it warm (the rest of the laptop stays in the truck).

Presume away.

d3500ram wrote:
I will have my laptop with me but won't be taking it on the plane.

d3500ram wrote:
Correct. I am not taking the laptop with me, but Valhalla's comment is good advice if one were to take a device where screening might be necessary.

I will take the OP at his word.

[Brandon_the_Tra]

pianotuna wrote:
Remove the battery. Wrap it in a blanket

And that will do what? Is the battery going to generate its own heat? Electric blanket? You'll need a long cord, those airport parking lots are huge.

[valhalla360]

Bobbo wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:
I'm not sure if they are doing it lately but lots of destinations require you to turn on electronics...so a battery may be an issue going thru security as there is nothing to turn on.

He is leaving the laptop in the car. It won't be going through security.

I presume if he's worried about the battery freezing, it presumes he's taking the battery on the plane with him so he can keep it warm (the rest of the laptop stays in the truck).

Security at a lot of airports requires you to power up electronics, to show that you aren't using it to smuggle a bomb inside the device (not saying it makes sense...just what we've experienced at probably 75% of the airports we've been thru over the last 5yrs).

How do you power up a battery pack without the laptop to show that it's an operational piece of electronics?

[srt20]

No need to remove battery. Many have been well below 0* F, including mine. If it makes you feel better, then remove it.




Ive flown many times with laptops/electronics, including Denver. Never an issue off, on, or whatever.

[d3500ram]

Bobbo wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:
I'm not sure if they are doing it lately but lots of destinations require you to turn on electronics...so a battery may be an issue going thru security as there is nothing to turn on.

He is leaving the laptop in the car. It won't be going through security.

Correct. I am not taking the laptop with me, but Valhalla's comment is good advice if one were to take a device where screening might be necessary.

[Bobbo]

valhalla360 wrote:
I'm not sure if they are doing it lately but lots of destinations require you to turn on electronics...so a battery may be an issue going thru security as there is nothing to turn on.

He is leaving the laptop in the car. It won't be going through security.

[valhalla360]

opnspaces wrote:
Hide the laptop before you get to the airport. No need to have someone observe you parking and then hiding something then leaving.

Probably doesn't matter if you take the battery out. But if it removes easily then why not?

I'm not sure if they are doing it lately but lots of destinations require you to turn on electronics...so a battery may be an issue going thru security as there is nothing to turn on.

Going down to 20F is a non-issue and it won't self drain over 5 days if you "shut down" the computer as opposed to just closing the lid which may just put it to "sleep".

[Ed_Gee]

In my opinion, if a completely turned off laptop cannot go for 5 days without significant battery depletion, there's something wrong with it.