LCD screens and very high altitudes

[Jumper Bones]

How susceptible to damage are LCD screens at altitude? I think I'd read that you're not supposed to take them above 10,000 feet - some even have a sensor for pressure along with the water sensor, to nix warranty stuff - so if I go to the summit of Mauna Kea, which is 13,796 ft, do I have to leave my cell phone at home? Camera? I live at 500 MSL...

Coloraggots - have you guys taken your phones much past 12k?

And if an airliner depressurizes completely at altitude, is everybody's laptop nuked?

[Pow4Brains]

Should be fine, it is the plasma TVs that don’t do so hot at altitude.

[Jethro]

Not completely sure, but I think the manufactures addressed the altitude problems with early plasma TV's

[samthaman]

I brought my DSLR to 5100 meters in india (and cold weather to boot), aside from persistent problems with user error, I haven't noticed any issues. I think you'll be fine at 13k ft.

[summit]

The problem is simply this:

Most electronics are produced near sea level. Small air bubbles are trapped during manufacturing. At very high altitudet he low atmospheric pressure outside combined with internal head boosting the pressure of the trapped air could cause deformation or cracking of microcircuitry.

Thus most consumer electronics are rated to 10,000ft in the small print of their manuals.

Most consumer products never experience a problem due to altitudes that most consumers can attain (14K or so). My laptop functions fine at 12,000ft. My smartphone and cameras function fine on top of 14ers.

[couloirman]

My smartphone and cameras function fine on top of 14ers.

And mine function at 18k in the jump-plane. The manufacturers are just being conservative with their warnings.

[rideit]

All my stuff has worked just fine at 16-18K, no worries...

[iamTRuTH]

The Apple website says do not take over 10k Feet. Screw that I have had both my Ipods and my 2 Iphones on top of many 14ers and they work fine.

[Todds]

I thought I'd read that Snowbird had problems with flat screen TVs in the hotel rooms awhile back. I don't know if it was LCD or Plasma.

[Skipig25]

I wouldn't worry too much about it, I've had my phone and camera to 16k and not a problem

[coreshot-tourettes]

Hard drives can have problems above 10K because the head no longer has enough air moving past it to fly over the drive.

[nick > jesus]

the only issue i have heard of is with hard drive devices at very high altitude.

[Hugh Conway]

cheap cigarette lighters can blow up >10k

LCDs, not so much of a problem

[summit]

Never heard of a lighter popping. However, piezo ignition units will fail at alttiude because the conductivity of the air goes down (push button lighters, stoves, etc).

I thought I'd read that Snowbird had problems with flat screen TVs in the hotel rooms awhile back. I don't know if it was LCD or Plasma.

Some Plasmas have known issues with buzzing noises at altitude.

[Hugh Conway]

had a shitty Indian one pop in the top pocket of my pack last year ~13,000 ft

[rideit]

had a shitty Indian one pop in the top pocket of my pack last year ~13,000 ft

Now THAT is some low-rent terrorism!