Tech: Is it bad to leave an amp in a hot car?

Subject: Tech: Is it bad to leave an amp in qa hot car?
From: Cool Beans
Date: 02 Jul 18 - 04:46 PM

I had a gig today (July 2) and I have another July 4th. Would it damage my amp to leave it in the car? Day time temps are in the 90s.

Subject: RE: Tech: Is it bad to leave an amp in qa hot car?
From: Stanron
Date: 02 Jul 18 - 05:12 PM

Probably nowhere near the damage that can be done to a quality acoustic guitar. That damage is to do with how some glues release in high temperatures and how very thin, quarter-sawn wood fails as well.

Those problems don't apply to amps, remember valve amps generate a lot of heat in normal running and survive that.

Subject: RE: Tech: Is it bad to leave an amp in qa hot car?
From: Stanron
Date: 02 Jul 18 - 05:13 PM

Of course a real problem could be the danger of theft.

Subject: RE: Tech: Is it bad to leave an amp in qa hot car?
From: Cool Beans
Date: 02 Jul 18 - 05:45 PM

Thanks, Stanron. Good points. The amp isn't high-end expensive and my neighborhood is safe.

Subject: RE: Tech: Is it bad to leave an amp in a hot car?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Jul 18 - 06:34 PM

I think it wouldn't get quite so hot in the trunk. Air gets superheated in the passenger compartment, and there's also the effect of the sun. I'd probably leave an amp in a car for a couple days, but not a week.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Tech: Is it bad to leave an amp in a hot car?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Jul 18 - 08:20 AM

Humidity?

Subject: RE: Tech: Is it bad to leave an amp in a hot car?
From: GUEST,Jack Campin
Date: 03 Jul 18 - 08:50 AM

What about batteries? Do amps often have lithium batteries for control circuitry? (Seems 60 degrees Celsius is about as high as they can safely go).

Subject: RE: Tech: Is it bad to leave an amp in a hot car?
From: The Singing Organ Grinder
Date: 03 Jul 18 - 01:52 PM

I always leave a dog or a child in the car to warn me when the amp's getting too hot.

Subject: RE: Tech: Is it bad to leave an amp in a hot car?
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 03 Jul 18 - 02:36 PM

"Is it bad to leave an amp in a hot car? "
Depends on whether there's any risk of your being discovered nicking cars!
Jim Caarroll

Subject: RE: Tech: Is it bad to leave an amp in a hot car?
From: leeneia
Date: 04 Jul 18 - 12:27 PM

Contact Customer Service at the amp maker's site and ask them.

I park my car outside all the time, and in hot weather I cover the windshield on the outside with a piece of dark felt which gets tucked under the wipers and into the doors. It helps.

Any dark cloth will do, but the felt doesn't ravel and stays nicer looking.

Subject: RE: Tech: Is it bad to leave an amp in a hot car?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Jul 18 - 12:44 PM

Of course the Traveling Willberries sing, "put it in a cool, dry place."

Subject: RE: Tech: Is it bad to leave an amp in a hot car?
From: Cool Beans
Date: 05 Jul 18 - 09:56 AM

The amp stayed in the trunk and survived very nicely. I kept the guitar in the air-conditioned house. Thanks for all your input.