mobile electronics
Extreme Weather & Your Investment
I
have been asked quite a bit recently about the effects of the extreme cold weather we can experience here in St. Louis and the audio equipment in vehicles, so I thought we would touch on that subject this month. To be honest, I have seen very few cases of the cold having any long term effects on equipment in my 20 plus years, although we always recommend gradually warming things up in the vehicle interior before getting rambunctious. Anything with moving parts such as speakers, subwoofers, and CD/DVD players would be better served to not be frozen before use (this seems like common sense but you might be surprised at what we get to see). Just like a vehicle’s fluids in the engine, warming things up to a stable operating temperature before use is always recommended and another reason to add a remote start and sound damping material if your vehicle is out in the elements. Extreme heat, on the other hand, can cause many more issues with electronics, and many pieces have built-in thermal protection to prevent damage, should the particular piece become too hot—causing it to lower its power output (such as an amplifier) or completely turn off until proper operating temperature is achieved. Multiple high temperature subjection can cause extensive damage to the electrical components inside modern vehicle aftermarket electronics and should definitely be avoided.
“... we always recommend gradually warming things up in the vehicle interior before getting rambunctious.” So there you have it, a couple quick things to think about when our lovely Missouri weather decides to change drastically on us and reasons why the installation is even more important to get the most out of your equipment for a long time.. ■ Thank you for reading, Brandon Green/ Owner The Car Audio Shop MECP Master Certified Technician www.thecaraudioshop.co Have a question or topic idea for Mobile Electronics? Email us at submit@AutoUrge.com.
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AutoUrge
FEB 2020
