iPhones – get ’em while they’re hot!

Good morning again,

After our fun at the Mission Repair company picnic yesterday, I got into my car, which is here I left my iPhone 6, and had this message:

Funny thing is that it let me take that screenshot. I guess it’s not too hot and tired for pictures! We see this a lot at Mission Repair. Customers have even claimed that their phones cracked due to extreme heat.

Virtually all manufacturers data sheets will list both the minimum and maximum storage and operating temperatures for their internal parts. In fact, many parts will be available in multiple versions designed to operate in more strenuous environments.

So for example an integrated circuit (IC) may be available in the following versions:

Commercial 0 to 70°C.
Industrial -40 to +85°C.
Military -55 to +125°C.

Needless to say, the cost goes up with increased performance. There are even chips specified for use in outer space. So for example a chip which costs $2 in the “Commercial” grade might cost $2,000 for the version rated for outer space! (As you can guess, your Samsung Galaxy S5 isn’t rated for a moon walk, but that’s probably ok.)

Let’s talk about the iPhone for a minute. According to Apple:

Use iOS devices where the ambient temperature is between 0º and 35º C (32º to 95º F). Low- or high-temperature conditions might cause the device to change its behavior to regulate its temperature. Using an iOS device in very cold conditions outside of its operating range may temporarily shorten battery life and could cause the device to turn off. Battery life will return to normal when the device is brought back to higher ambient temperatures.

Store the device where the temperature is between -20º and 45º C (-4º to 113º F). Don’t leave the device in your car, because temperatures in parked cars can exceed this range.

Remember that if it’s 87 degrees outside, it’s 132 degrees inside of your car on a hot clear day.

One needs to keep in mind that the temperature of the components is affected by two sources:

1) The temperature of the environment.
2) Self heating – some components generate a large amount of heat in operation, logic boards in phones are one example.

Please don’t leave your expensive electronics in your hot car like I did – especially when they are turned on – to avoid possible long-term damage and an extra trip into Mission Repair for a logic board repair.

Any questions? Give us a call 866-638-8402.

Take care, Ryan