Summer is here, and Extension staff find themselves out of the office. Devices often go with you to the field or on vacation. The NCSU Office of Information Technology has tips for those folks traveling with equipment. The article is at https://oit.ncsu.edu/2024/05/15/safe-travels-tips-to-secure-your-tech/ . 

Even when not on vacation, you need to think about the devices that are with you. Don't leave them in the cabin of a car or truck. Year-round, if devices can be seen, then the possibility of the devices being stolen from the vehicle increases. During summer, a second threat occurs: heat. All electronic devices have working limits on temperatures. Phones, tablets, and laptops have limits around 100℉. Overheating not only stops the device from working but may also halt charging as well. Some devices will have a warning message that the temperature limit has been exceeded, but others will just stop working.

Phones are even more likely to overheat. Even in your car with the AC on, the sun through the windows can cause the phone to overheat. The sun can affect phones cradled near the top of the dash or even sitting in the center console. Being frustrated could be the least of the problems if your phone shuts down while it is providing GPS driving directions. If you find this has happened to you, please be careful and pull off to a safe location. Hold the phone in front of an AC vent, rotating front to back until the phone restarts. Do your best to find a spot out of the sun and where the phone can still perform whatever task you need.

Be safe this summer and remember that too much sun/heat exposure can be harmful not only for you but for your equipment as well.