Leaving your smartphone on the dashboard of your car during hot weather can lead to overheating, potentially causing permanent damage or even battery explosions due to thermal runaway. This issue is prevalent because cars are enclosed metal spaces that easily absorb heat, resulting in significantly higher temperatures inside the cabin while driving.
When batteries can't dissipate heat safely, dangerous thermochemical reactions may occur. Known as "battery swelling" or the "spicy pillow" phenomenon, this poses a real threat to users who often rely on their smartphones for navigation during trips.
Why Does Your Phone Heat Up in a Car?
Smartphones generate heat from two primary sources: the surrounding environment and the device's internal activities. The high cabin temperature in a car is the main external factor, while the processor working hard to run applications creates internal heat.
Most modern phones are equipped with passive cooling systems like vapor chambers. However, these systems may not suffice to handle the combination of ambient heat and the heat generated by the device itself.
Cooling from the Outside: Modify the Surroundings
A common mistake users make is allowing their phones to be exposed to direct sunlight. Accessories like dashboard mounts can worsen this situation by placing the device in the hottest area of the car.
If you must mount your phone for navigation or calls, avoid charging it at the same time. The combination of dashboard heat and charging is a primary cause of overheating.
An effective solution is to position your phone in front of the AC vents. The airflow from the AC directed towards the back of the device acts like active cooling, similar to how a fan works on a laptop or PC. However, be cautious not to cool the phone too rapidly, especially in high-humidity areas, as this may cause internal condensation that could damage the components.
Remove the phone case while in the car. Plastic or silicone cases act as insulators, hindering heat transfer from the device’s chassis. Taking off the case can significantly reduce the risk of overheating.
Never leave your phone in the car longer than you would leave a pet or child. Taking the device with you when leaving the vehicle not only prevents overheating but also reduces the risk of theft.
Reducing Internal Heat: Change Usage Habits
Phones produce heat from data processing activities. Overheating occurs when the device cannot effectively dissipate heat from its internal components.
The best practice when your phone shows high temperatures is to avoid charging it in the car. Many car mounts now feature wireless charging, especially with the advent of MagSafe. Wireless charging generates more heat compared to wired charging due to lower efficiency, wasting more energy as heat.
It’s advisable not to use your phone while driving, as this ensures the CPU is not overworked. However, this is often challenging since many users depend on their smartphones for directions and music.
A middle-ground solution is to reduce the use of full-screen navigation on familiar routes and keep the screen brightness as low as possible when using the device. Disable unnecessary features like Wi-Fi, and avoid heavy tasks such as video editing or gaming.
Conclusion
Overheating in smartphones while in a car is a preventable issue through a combination of environmental adjustments and usage habits. Understanding how heat works in devices allows users to take the right preventive measures, both externally and internally.
Simple changes like removing cases, utilizing AC vents, avoiding charging while driving, and minimizing heavy activity on the phone can help keep the device safe during various travel conditions.
Source: https://telset.id/how-to/cara-mencegah-hp-overheat-di-dalam-mobil-saat-berkendara
