Why does the car USB drive get hot?
2 Answers
It is normal for a car USB drive to get hot. The USB drive is composed of many electronic components, and the flow of current naturally generates heat when powered. Below is relevant information about USB drive usage: Format: Generally, vehicles recognize MP3 or WMA music files, so when downloading music, be sure to check the file format. If the format is incorrect, it must be converted to MP3 or WMA. Path: Try to place music files in the root directory of the car USB drive. If stored too deeply, the car audio system may not be able to locate the files. Capacity: Some car audio systems may not support USB drives with excessively large capacities. In older car models, since USB drives are mainly used to store music, which does not occupy much space, it is sufficient to choose a USB drive with an appropriate capacity rather than opting for one with excessive memory.
I've encountered the issue of USB flash drives overheating in many cars I've driven, and there are several main reasons: First, the in-car environment gets too hot. In summer, direct sunlight can raise temperatures inside the car to over 50°C, and poor heat dissipation in USB drives makes them prone to overheating. Second, low-quality USB drives are to blame. I've tried cheap ones that became too hot to touch shortly after plugging them in to play music, clearly due to poor internal circuit design. Third, prolonged use, such as playing music continuously for several hours with frequent data read/write operations, causes components to heat up. Additionally, unstable power supply from USB ports, like in my older car with significant voltage fluctuations, can also lead to overheating. The consequences? Excessive heat can cause data loss or permanent damage to the USB drive. My suggestion is to plug it in while driving and unplug it when parked. It's better to purchase high-quality, car-specific USB drives with heat dissipation designs from reputable brands, and avoid placing them in direct sunlight on the dashboard. Regularly check if the USB port is clean, as dust buildup can also affect heat dissipation. These practices can extend the lifespan of your USB drive.
