Mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets or e-readers must be protected from excessive heat to avoid damage to batteries, displays and other components. This not only means not exposing the devices to direct sunlight.
You should also remove any cases and, above all, not put cell phones in your trouser pockets, advises the Thuringia consumer advice center. In both cases there is a risk of overheating and heat build-up. The devices are better kept in a handbag or backpack.
Sweat is also a danger if a device is worn close to the body and is not expressly protected against the ingress of water. Because then under certain circumstances moisture could penetrate the device and damage it.
Not a good idea: Put your cell phone in the fridge
That’s why it’s not a good idea at all to put smartphones and the like in the fridge to cool down, consumer advocates warn. Dangerous condensation water could form in the device.
Overheated devices that have switched themselves off should first be left for a while and not immediately attempted to switch them on again.
But how exactly does heat affect displays or batteries? It can damage the small liquid crystals or light-emitting diodes on the screen, so that the display only shows errors or nothing at all, explains the telecommunications portal “Teltarif.de”. And batteries lose their charge more quickly in the summer sun. In addition, manufacturers warned against charging batteries at temperatures above 40 degrees.
Window sill and dashboard as dangerous places
Not only outdoors, but also indoors, you should make sure that mobile devices are in the shade. Especially behind window glass, for example on the window sill, the sun’s rays are extremely concentrated.
The risk of overheating is particularly high if the devices are left on the dashboard in the car, explains “Teltarif.de”. Temperatures there often climbed to 60 or even 70 degrees Celsius.
