Keeping your cool.

[jstraw]

I think the point in my opening post has gotten lost.

I've re-iturated that my concern is neither solely nor primarily about the peak temperature my film might reach. I'm talking about chronic, repeated exposure to high temperatures that may also affect equipment's lubricants, plastics and adhesives...as well as film emulsions. I'm talking about five-plus-hour stretches in unshaded parking lots day after day after day.

This may of course, not be a legitimate concern but it is certainly not analogous to the exposure to heat which film may experience a couple of times while in transit.

Is "ok" for equipent to get hot over and over and over? Maybe so. Would it be better for it not to?

 

[Brian Miller]

I would check first to see if the film is affected by the temps. If the film is OK, then the equipment will be fine. If the film is fogged, then its time to be concerned about the equipment. The film is the most sensitive part, so I would run a test with leaving the film in the car. If a roll of film is fine after a week in the car, then your equipment will be fine.

For keeping equipment cool while parked in hot weather, I would install a little solar-operated fan. I know that they are made for car windows, and that might be enough to keep the interior from getting too hot.

Otherwise I would install the very best, highest amperage battery I could install in my car, and keep the equipment in a refrigerated cooler. Those coolers will run down a battery, so you need something that will still start the car at the end of the day.

As for ice packs, I have found that the gel packs are fine. The gel does not get all over everything if the bag is torn, and I've had a number of torn bags.

 

[DougGrosjean]

I ride the motorcycle when it's hot outside, and with no way to lock most of the bags, I take gear inside with me.

I lived in Phoenix area for 3+ years, and never had a problem with heat affecting film. But I didn't store it on the motorcycle, and I didn't let it sit for long - I'd buy it and use it up fast.

Another issue you might consider when leaving gear in the car is the vibration. I wont leave any of my cameras in the car but I started to leave some light stands and a couple of tripods in the trunk because of frequent use at work. Twice now something has vibrated loose from the Bogen tripod and one of my light stands needed to have the upper tube latch tightened. When I used it this week it would no longer hold up the Bogen mono light at any extension. It held it just fine the two years I had it before carrying it around in the trunk.

Vibration; I *do* worry about. A *lot*. It's one BIG reason I like using simple older cameras that I can actually do some preventative maintenance on the road (ie, check for loose screws, replace along the way if needed).

But... worst issue I've had was film advance knob vibrating off a Rolleicord V, ending up in the bottom of the camera bag. I finished the roll of film (no light leaks, I found out later), and simply used another camera the rest of the trip. Didn't have *quite* the right screwdriver.... Sigh.

 

[DougGrosjean]

Is "ok" for equipent to get hot over and over and over? Maybe so. Would it be better for it not to?

I suspect it's a matter of degree.

Probably not all that harmful for the lubricants.

But the adhesives that hold on the leather.... that's the sort of stuff I'd be more worried about. Adhesives that hold on the felts that seal out the light... Think a bit - you remove wallpaper and bumper stickers with basically big hair dryers, ie, Heat.

Above is speculation on my part, but semi-educated... I'm a mechanical designer, so I have to think about stuff like this now and again.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Another issue you might consider when leaving gear in the car is the vibration. I wont leave any of my cameras in the car but I started to leave some light stands and a couple of tripods in the trunk because of frequent use at work. Twice now something has vibrated loose from the Bogen tripod and one of my light stands needed to have the upper tube latch tightened. When I used it this week it would no longer hold up the Bogen mono light at any extension. It held it just fine the two years I had it before carrying it around in the trunk.

I have had similar problems. These problems are made worse on dirt roads.

Steve