I know that sun like temperatures kill electronics, but what about 55°C if it's constant?
I have a small commercial web camera that is officially rated 0°C to 70°C. It has no jelly capacitors. I intend to heat it to a very constant 55°C so that it's operating characteristics never fluctuate whatever the room temperate. Clearly the device doesn't explode at exactly 70°C, so there must be some form of curve around that threshold.
Can this adversely affect the camera? Is there some form of general life de-rating for all components, not just jelly capacitors?
Are devices damaged by high current, or high temperature? amd What exactly gets "worn out" and damaged by heat? exist but don't quite answer this one.
Best Answer
The general working assumption is that life halves for every 10 degrees C rise, so you could guess the lifetime will be only 25% of the life at 25 degrees C ambient.
From your proposed operating temperature to the maximum permissible is only 15 degrees so it’s hard to actually do an accelerated test. You could try pushing the rated limits in a destructive test, but you may get an unnecessarily pessimistic number (many parts will work with relaxed specs at very high temperatures). It’s also possible to get an optimistic answer, particularly if it temporarily stops functioning, but that’s less likely.
My guess is that it would be okay for some years, but that and $2 will get you a cup of coffee. A better number could come from analyzing each component and applying reliability calculations. The LSI chip and any ceramic or tantalum capacitors are probably the weak links, and any stressed power supply components such as linear or switching regulators.
Electrolytic capacitors often have an operating life of only 2000 or 5000 hours at rated temperature (usually 105 or 85 degrees C), so they are a typical weak link, so it’s good your camera has none.