In-Dash iPad in Extreme Cold

Hey TW,

I'm about to install an iPad Mini 3 (Wi-Fi only, 128GB) in my Tacoma to serve as my primary audio / video system in conjunction with a Sony GS-610bt radio. Shane is providing the system in his thread, HERE.

My concern is this: I live in Fairbanks, AK where the temperatures drop below -40F during the winter. Lets just get what's below out of the way up front.

Apple recommends the following operating conditions:

Operating ambient temperature: 32° to 95° F (0° to 35° C)
Nonoperating temperature: -4° to 113° F (-20° to 45° C)
Relative humidity: 5% to 95% noncondensing
Operating altitude: tested up to 10,000 feet (3000 m)

Got it. Moving forward.

How do I protect a $599 iPad from these temperatures? Does anyone have any experience with any Apple products in cold temperatures, specifically below what is recommended? I'm an engineer, and I understand safety factors. I'm assuming that there is a recommended low temp and an absolute low temp. I'd like to know what the "you're about to cause permanent damage to your device" low temp is.

From my research, I need to worry about the battery and the LCD screen. I think the Lithium-polymer batteries handle cold better than alkaline or lithium ion batteries, but it will still suffer a voltage-output drop due to the cold, and recharging will be hindered. I plan to keep it plugged in when it is in the truck. Maybe this will limit the cold's impact. Any permanent damage I should be worried about?

I've heard of LCD screens getting screwed up when cold; I just don't have any first hand experience.

I'm not too worried about the hard drive, as it is a solid state drive. I've had experience with an iPod not working properly when cold, but I understand mechanical components trying to move at cold temperatures. I'm also not worried about water condensing inside, as It will primarily stay in the truck; thus no rapid environmental changes. It is also VERY dry during the winters here.

Right now, my plan is to turn the iPad off when I leave the truck for the night. When I get up in the morning, I'll use a remote start to begin warming the cab. Hopefully, the cab will reach a reasonable temperature by the time I'm ready to leave the house. I'll then power the iPad on, ensuring I power it off when I exit the vehicle. If all works according to plan, the iPad will see extreme temperatures during the night (usually the coldest part of the day) when it is powered off. I can guarantee it will get colder than -4F at night. But how bad will this be if it's not trying to run? When we have the -40F weeks, I'll remove it from the dash. I'm not going to push my luck at these extremes. However, most of the winter is between -20 and 20, meaning I shouldn't have to remove the iPad too often.

Thanks for any advice or experiences you can offer me!

Hunter

In my searching, I found this interesting article:
Sub-Zero Weather: Can Your Smartphone Stand The Cold?

 

Why not just remove it at night? Been thinking about doing this with mine too.

 

That is always an option, but the way Shane has designed the dash kit, I'd have to remove the dash "face-plate / cover" every time. The iPad doesn't just slide in and out. The point, is that it would be fairly time consuming, I presume, to take it out every night. I also don't want to risk breaking or wearing out that face-plate with repeated use.

 

No experience with the iPad in cold, but LCD screens don't like cold, I've seen LCDs have issues at 40 F, let alone -40 F

 

I remember leaving my iPad in my truck overnight during the winter and the screen would be super insensitive and sluggish. I wouldn't want to do that every single night personally.

 

This is what worries me. It may be something that I have to test by trial and error, but I don't want the error to result in buying a new iPad.

For sake of argument, do you know what temperature the iPad was at (approximately of course)? Did you turn it on right away, or did it warm up first before you tried to use it?

 

Id say just your average Anchorage winter night, so somewhere between 0 and 20 I'd guess? And that was both leaving it on and trying to use it right away, as well as turning it on when I got in and then trying to use it.

 

There's a guy on here that did an in-dash iPad install where it just slid in and out, let me see if I can find it.

EDIT - I don't think this is the right one (I'm gonna keep looking) but here's one that could be easy (start watching at 11:40)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAEN3LMxmBs

EDIT - I think this is the one I was thinking about. Not sure how you would go about making the mount or whatever, but it's an option.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgN12jl_5o4

Matt

 

Okay, thanks for the additional "data"

I'm hoping that my method of leaving it off and warming up the truck with a remote start for 15 minutes before powering it on will be enough.

 

It would probably be okay, but on those colder nights I'd definitely be worried. Especially for extended periods of time, or days and days in a row.

 

My LCD equipped electronics run 24/7/365 and ambient air temps of 40F and below cause display issues. iPad produces more heat, so maybe that will help.

 

That would make the most sense, but alas, I do not have a garage. I live in a one-room dry cabin in the mountains actually At least I have the temperature inversion working in my favor! It's usually 15F warmer at my place than in town.

In the spring, I plan to build this


but it won't be heated; just enough to keep the snow off hopefully.

 

Yea, I'll probably be worried. The Army doesn't pay enough to blow through iPads. If it is going to sit for days - long weekends, holiday block leave, weeks in the field - I'll probably take it out.

 

Interesting. What kind of electronics are you running? The JCR screens in our Strykers run at -40F, but they are sluggish too, and probably designed to handle it better than an iPad.

I'm hoping that the dash will warm up quickly, being that it is by the defrost vents and engine bay. With everything tucked into the dash (read tight space and minimal air flow), maybe the iPad will generate enough heat fairly quickly to keep it comfortable?

 

Yeah thats definitely a smart idea. Maybe buy a cheaper tablet and use that instead to see if theres any issues and if there isn't switch to your iPad?

I've been told that after a certain point the temperature isn't as noticeable. Like the difference between 10 and -20 isn't as noticeable as -20 to -50.

But I still say Eff that and stick the warmer parts of the state

 

The key is layers A base layer, insulating layer(s), and an outer shell /windbreak. It takes getting used to, but is definitely manageable. It is a dry cold too, which isn't nearly as bad as a wet cold like down south. I went through infantry officer basic training at Fort Benning during the winter and remember being miserable at 20F. Up here, 20F is light sweatshirt weather.

I'm wondering if there is a significant difference between the design / hardware in a TV and iPad that would make the iPad more suited for cold?

So much I just don't know...

 

Biometric and non bio time clocks, master clocks. Point of Sale systems etc.

 

Lol. It has been my experience that one feels the temperature drop to about -20F. After that, it all feels the same; the only thing that changes is how fast you'll die.

As a civilian, it wouldn't be that bad. Just running to and from warm buildings to get to your car. In the Army, we have to train in this weather. Be out on patrol, run small arms ranges, sleep in it, etc. That is when it starts to get miserable.