Protecting my laptop from temperature and humidity?

Hey,

I have a Dell Inspirion E1505 and will be going to China for 6 weeks starting towards the end of July. I won't be using it regularly there but I will use it once in a while (maybe every few days or so). My main concern is the temperature and humidity there, both of which are a lot higher than where I'm at right now. I think humidity over there is 70% and above, though not sure how high it gets. Does Dell provide any humidity specifications for laptop use (for example, 5%-95% or something like that)? What's the best way to prevent any damage from being done to my computer?

Thanks

 

I have taken my notebooks (Dell 600m, older version of the e1405) and my current Acer to many humid locales all over the world, including Costa Rica, India, Malaysia. They have been fine for the most part, considering you use notebooks in a closed environment for the most part. The problem to consider is rapidly moving from one air conditioned environment to a very humid one, and then using the notebook. This applies to cameras and video cameras, and cell phones to some extent.

The bottom line is, there isn't anything you can do but to use your laptop in a safe area, most likely where you sleep or stay in China.

 

Thanks, thats good to hear.

What makes a safe area? Closed as in windows closed? Or just generally in a indoor area? As for the rapidly moving from an air conditioned environment to a humid one, does that mean I should wait a period of time in the humid environment before starting to use the notebook?

 

It's all a load of CROC!

I take my E1505 in the bathroom with me while I take a shower, and sit it on the sink and play a podcast or something - I don't think it gets much worse than 30 minute showers with super hot water, prob. gets like 100F and 100% humidity, and I've had it for a year and a half now...no issues...

 

Oh, so what I've read about traveling to hot and humid places probably isn't as serious as I thought then. Anyone else have any experience with this?

BTW, 30 minute showers?

 

The man enjoys his alone time, leave him be... ;x

 

You should encounter no problems in China. Chances are, where ever you will be using your laptop, you're going to be in an air conditioned environment.

The only problems I have encountered in humid environments is if you leave your electronic items unused for a long time. Due to the humidity and heat and hence the corrosive effect, unused electronic items will die a quick death. Quick in unscientific, but I would gauge, something along the lines of a year or less. But repeated use will be ok as the heat generated by your electronic will dry out the circuits so to speak. Humidity is a killer for optical items like camera lenses. The only way to combat that is to put it in a airtight container (they look like little kid's startup aquarium sets) and put silicon in them. Or if you're stationed for a long time, buy a dehumidity cabinet. Those are cheap in China. Heck, everything is made there lol.

 

hehe, people in Florida, Singapore, Southern India , Malaysia (All of 'em hot & humid places) etc use their notebooks, electronics and gizmos day in & out without any issues ...high humidity not withstanding
Actually folks in Singapore perhaps use a lot more gizmos per capita than the US and Singapore is as hot & humid as it gets

(per capita Gizmos aka PCG....LOL...now when will that term be used as a measure for economic develpopment )