Glossary A–ZLetter O
Operating temperature
Operating temperature is the range of ambient temperature in which the manufacturer states a device works reliably.
The data sheet gives a lower and an upper limit, often together with the permitted humidity. The storage temperature for the switched-off device is usually listed separately.
In screen networks the figure matters as soon as a device is not hanging in an air-conditioned office. Behind a shop window in the sun, in an unheated hall, inside a totem or in a recess without airflow, it can become much warmer or colder than in the room. Media players fitted behind the display also receive its waste heat.
Operators should note that the limit applies to the air directly at the device, not to the room temperature. Heat builds up in a closed enclosure. Operating outside the range risks failures, a shorter service life and possibly the loss of warranty. In cold conditions, condensation can also form when a device moves from cold into warm air.