Now that the sun is out......

[kuba]

Our RDs are getting some major sun exposure now that it's summer. Especially since I have a convertible, it sometimes gets direct sunlight.
I was wondering if we can get an official statement from Mike B on how detrimental the sun is to a pro-78/xtr-690. I know people are often recommending to hide it from the sun but I'm just too lazy. I try to when I have some time to kill but otherwise I just leave it up there.

So Mike B whats the final word.

Thanks!

[jdong]

I've baked all my detectors and have yet to have issues with it. I find it hard to believe detectors are not designed to cope with car conditions. IMO most of these are old wives tales.

[fire65]

I used to agree, until this summer. My 4 yr old X50 gets hot and immediately freezes. I can cool it with the AC and get great range for a little while. Going to send it in on Monday.

[Andrew F]

I have been taking mine down because I put up one of those reflective sun shades. It is hard to put the shape up with the RD mounted there, also I imagine the RD would get much hotter trapped between a piece of glass and reflective foil with the sun beating on it.

[Michael B]

The units have been tested to work within specifications to 70 deg C and storage to 80 deg C

ABS plastic starts to shrink/deform above 100 deg C

Place an inexpensive thermometer on your dashboard.

If the dash of your your vehicle will get hotter than 80 C you may wish to remove from your dash and place in a shaded area of your car.

Try to park in areas that receive some shade.

Purchase window vent visors and leave your windows open an inch or so on hot days.

Your car and electronics will thank you.

[jdong]

I used to agree, until this summer. My 4 yr old X50 gets hot and immediately freezes. I can cool it with the AC and get great range for a little while. Going to send it in on Monday.

Now, is that because of the heat that it is now more sensitive to heat? I don't know -- maybe, or maybe not. Perhaps it's just the aging of the detector as components become less and less tolerant to heat over time... I surely don't have the experience with radar detector QA testing to know!

I'm just trying to point out that we might not be pointing the blame at the right thing.

As far as Michael B's information, 70-80C is pretty hot... I don't think my cars get that hot even when parked in direct sunlight though I'll be sure to have fun and test that...

[Michael B]

I can tell you I have received a handgull of units over the years with warped plastic so it can get to over 100 deg C in on your dash if the sun is strong and when windows are up.

One time my brother left one of those clear licence plate protective covers on his rear deck and it melted.

Try to park in an area that received shade sometime throughout the day.

Crack your windows an inch or two, your car and electronics will thank you.

Invest in window vents.

[MEM-TEK]

A parked car's interior can heat up by 40 degrees F compared to ambient temperature within 1 hour of parking your car. On a 90 degree F day, that translates to 130 degrees F for items inside the car's passenger cabin which are in the shade. Black colored items within the cabin which are in sunlight can heat up another 50 degrees F over that to a temperature of 180 degrees F or 82 degrees Celsius on a warm summer day. A black colored RD mounted above a dark or black colored dash also absorbs additional heat from the heat energy being radiated from the dash. This can push the RD's temperature to above 200 degrees F, and that is "cooking" temperature for electronics if they are powered on while that hot.

I just don't understand why people leave their RDs baking in sunlight inside a parked car. It is so simple to put the RD under your car seat or on the glove box so that it will stay much cooler.

[Jag42]

I take mine down during work cause its been 104 here and just put it in my console storage or glove box. Take car of your detector and it will take care of you.

[MEM-TEK]

Take car of your detector and it will take care of you.

Yup!