Cold Weather USB Flash

[dilettante]

This is a sort of a review, but not a recommendation. Just a suggestion for a product category you might search for and buy one if you need it. Other brands might do as well or better.


We're back in cold weather times again here. One thing that has been driving me nuts is to get into the car and find that my music won't start playing. The "radio" (infotainment thingy) displays "No media" or somesuch thing.

The problem is that most flash drives don't operate below 32°F.

I had been pulling out the USB flash drive, warming it in my hand, then plugging it back in. A minor nuisance but I thought there had to be something better.


Did some digging and found the Verbatim ToughMAX product line:

• Extremely durable – the ultimate in data protection
- Crush resistant up to 5,000 lbs*
- Water resistant up to 100 ft.*
- Temperature resistant from -13ºF to 300ºF*

• Made from proprietary KyronMAX™ material – revolutionary, high-strength plastic
• Slim, stylish design – perfect for on-the-go use
• Password protection software available for download**
• Limited lifetime warranty

* Based on 3rd party testing. Actual performance may vary.
** Works with Windows operating systems only.

An ugly spud. The cap can be attached to the butt end while the device is in use, though it could still fall off and get lost I suppose. Hard to see in those images but there is a hole you could thread some sort of lanyard through, etc.


Results:

Better than I'd hoped, not as good as I had wished. Seems to work as hoped down to 25°F, however below that I have to unplug it and plug it back in for it to be recognized. That seems consistent.

This is better than pulling it out and warming it first, but not seamless. So far I've only tested it down to 10°F.


I only posted this because I was surprised that nothing turned up when I searched on this automotive tech issue.

[dilettante]

Ok, just retested.

The actual message is "No device connected."

Weather report says 3°F, car itself once started reports 7°F. Had to unplug/replug as before but no need to warm the ToughMAX in my hand before plugging it back in.

Note: At higher temperatures music play from the USB Flash Drive always starts automatically with no manual intervention as long as that source was the last one selected. Just in case that wasn't clear.

So not perfect, but an improvement. I could hope for better, since the device is plugged into a "hidden" USB socket in the center console storage between the front seats, so I have to slide a cup holder back to reach it.

[Steve R Jones]

What happens when you take the flash drive into the house with you after you've completed your last trip

[dilettante]

I rarely take it into the house, except to add a new album or maybe some podcasts. If I do that and plug it back in next drive it picks up where it was. The music source is "sticky" if that's what you are asking.

Tested again at 0°F (car's dash reported 6°F, maybe I need to see if it requires calibration?). Same, same: unplug/replug and it plays.

The unplug/replug is a nuisance, but minor. Fairly easy to "hit" the socket again that way compared to unplugging and warming it first where I'd normally pull my hand out of the deep well the socket is in while warming up the device.

Here's a pic that shows that hole a little better:

[dilettante]

Might have to bring it in anyway, as well as start the car a few times. We're going to be getting down below the -13ºF figure in the next few days.

[anshulraletta]

A SanDisk Cruzer USB drive from 2011, with 4GB of storage capacity.
A USB flash drive, also known as a thumb drive, pen drive, gig stick, flash stick, jump drive, disk key, disk on key (after the original M-Systems DiskOnKey drive from 2000),[1] flash-drive, memory stick (not to be confused with the Sony Memory Stick), USB key, USB stick or USB memory,[a] is a data storage device that includes flash memory with an integrated USB interface. It is typically removable, rewritable and much smaller than an optical disc. Most weigh less than 1 oz (28 grams)

[dilettante]

I've tried a number of Sandisk Cruzer and Kingston Traveler devices and all of them crap out around 32°F (0°C) and need to be warmed up in the hand before they will work in cold weather.

One the other hand this ToughMAX device only needs to be unplugged and plugged back in below ~25°F. So far the coldest I've tested is -2°F but I'll have more opportunities in the next few days.


I think I have the car's own thermometer reading figured out too. When sitting with the engine running the sensor must get warmed a little because while driving down the road it seems to reflect the outside air temperature more accurately.

[topshot]

I was actually surprised to see some brands do list the min operating temp at 0*C. It must be an issue with the USB controller electronics since there isn't anything I can think of within the flash memory that should cause that. Photographers regularly use a variety of flash cards in sub-zero (F) temps.

[dilettante]

It may be more about the lowest temperatures they want to guarantee operation at. To set a lower standard might mean that testing would produce more "failing" parts, reducing manufacturing yield.

SanDisk's site says:

SanDisk has tested its SD, SDHC, microSD and microSDHC memory cards under a variety of tough conditions. Our standard, SanDisk Ultra, SanDisk Extreme, and SanDisk Mobile Ultra lines (up to 32 GB) are capable of withstanding the following conditions:

...

SanDisk SD, SDHC, microSD and microSDHC memory cards are capable of withstanding operating temperatures from -13ºF to 185ºF (-25ºC to 85 ºC).

That may lend some support to your suspicions about the rest of the electronics in a USB Flash device.

[passel]

... Seems to work as hoped down to 25°F, however below that I have to unplug it and plug it back in for it to be recognized. ...

As one who likes to point out about reading the manual, I don't know what vehicle you have, but my car's manual would indicate that plugging in the device after starting the engine would be the expected practice anyway.

Connect the USB device after turning
on the engine. The USB device
may become damaged if it is already
connected when the ignition is
turned on.The USB device may not
operate properly if the car ignition
is turned on or off with the USB
device connected.

[Shaggy Hiker]

I'm a bit dubious about the upper end of that temperature range....though, if you ever reach that temperature in your car...whether or not your music is playing is probably not your biggest concern.

The upper end of 90 C seems about right, because that's about where the silicon is supposed to start breaking down. I had no problem with an SD card that I ran through a dishwasher, but when I boiled it...that killed it. That ToughMax seems to be able to take a substantially higher temperature.

[dilettante]

None of the documentation for my car says anything about connecting USB devices after starting the engine.

At warmer temperatures above about 25F it begins autoplaying the music from where it left off before, whether I start the engine or just go into accessory mode.

The coldest I have actually tested was operation at -12F.

[dilettante]

Well I had two of these and somehow lost one. It might be packed away somewhere before I got more organized and now keep all flash memory devices stored together in one box.

Checking, I found that they were on sale, and the 64GB were cheaper than the 32GB devices. Some of this is probably because they are older products now, some because they are USB 2.0, and some because they are slow as flash memory goes. Of course reviewers all seem to miss the point that these are not about speed but durability. How fast does reading digital audio files have to be?

So, ordering 2 I was not surprised to see 2 small boxes arrive. Opening one a few days later though I was surprised to find 4 blister-packed devices inside. My cost was now $2 each and I have 8 of them. Stocking stuffers, here we come!

[Shaggy Hiker]

With a drive like that, they'll be gone in a flash.

[dilettante]

The dumb part is that I got nowhere trying to return the 6 extra units. The only option online was to return them all or return 1 box. Trying to call got me nowhere at all.