# "Don't put the chocolate on the checkout scanner. It'll melt." \*headslap\* What's the SD? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 29, 2015, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-put-the-chocolate-on-the-checkout-scanner-itll-melt-headslap-whats-the-sd/729308 "2015-08-29T17:48:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2015, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-put-the-chocolate-on-the-checkout-scanner-itll-melt-headslap-whats-the-sd/729308/1 "2015-08-29T17:48:14Z")
Quote from an adult ahead of me on line at the grocery store. What’s the heat spread (temperature) on an object passing under a scanner gun, or, as is more commin in supermarkets, over the glass patten? (Patten? Izzat the word?) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2015, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-put-the-chocolate-on-the-checkout-scanner-itll-melt-headslap-whats-the-sd/729308/2 "2015-08-29T17:50:38Z")
Well, if you really amp up the power on the scanners lasers… Nope. The person ahead of you is too stupid to be shopping alone. ---
**Author:** ![TheChileanBlob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thechileanblob/32/435_2.png) [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2015, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-put-the-chocolate-on-the-checkout-scanner-itll-melt-headslap-whats-the-sd/729308/3 "2015-08-29T17:55:36Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > (Patten? Izzat the word?) Platen. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2015, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-put-the-chocolate-on-the-checkout-scanner-itll-melt-headslap-whats-the-sd/729308/4 "2015-08-29T18:00:26Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > … an object passing … over the glass patten? > > (Patten? Izzat the word?) > [@TheChileanBlob](#): > > Platen. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2015, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-put-the-chocolate-on-the-checkout-scanner-itll-melt-headslap-whats-the-sd/729308/5 "2015-08-29T18:55:41Z")
The laser itself is extremely low-powered. I’m sure the overhead lights are contributing more heat than the scanning laser. In something of a defense of the person in line, though: when I used to work as a cashier (20 years ago), the horizontal glass-covered scanners did maintain a temperature above the ambient air temperature. Probably waste heat from the electronics inside. Of course, I’m still only talking about 80 F or something like that - just a little warmer than the counter around it. Not exactly a danger to a chocolate bar unless you leave it there overnight. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2015, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-put-the-chocolate-on-the-checkout-scanner-itll-melt-headslap-whats-the-sd/729308/6 "2015-08-29T20:38:12Z")
> [@dracoi](#): > > Not exactly a danger to a chocolate bar unless you leave it there overnight. If you mother says don’t do it do you leave there in spite? ---
**Author:** ![RaffArundel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/87869e/32.png) [@RaffArundel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaffArundel)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2015, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-put-the-chocolate-on-the-checkout-scanner-itll-melt-headslap-whats-the-sd/729308/7 "2015-08-29T21:04:45Z")
> [@dracoi](#): > > In something of a defense of the person in line, though: when I used to work as a cashier (20 years ago), the horizontal glass-covered scanners did maintain a temperature above the ambient air temperature. I did a stint as a cashier in the mid/late 80s and I think the reason that the laser scanner was warmer than the rest of the register area was because the laser was being spun by a pretty large and/or inefficient electric motor. It was motion activated and you could hear it spin up when you went to scan the first item. It was pretty much self-contained and I never cared enough (I was a teen after all) to look, but loud electric motors tend to have other inefficiencies like giving off heat. Generally the metal plate around the glass would feel warmer than the glass itself. The one I just used in the self checkout lane? Nope, no melting unless there was something wrong with the AC. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2015, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-put-the-chocolate-on-the-checkout-scanner-itll-melt-headslap-whats-the-sd/729308/8 "2015-08-29T21:23:32Z")
You mean they don’t use military grade lasers in supermarket scanners? ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2015, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-put-the-chocolate-on-the-checkout-scanner-itll-melt-headslap-whats-the-sd/729308/9 "2015-08-29T22:41:21Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > If you mother says don’t do it > do you leave there in spite? OK, quick poll, how many people got this reference (without looking it up)? Hint: a pop song from around 1960. I did, by the way. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2015, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-put-the-chocolate-on-the-checkout-scanner-itll-melt-headslap-whats-the-sd/729308/10 "2015-08-29T23:03:20Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > OK, quick poll, how many people got this reference (without looking it up)? Hint: a pop song from around 1960. > > I did, by the way. The second line is “Do you swallow it in spite?” ---
**Author:** ![storyguide3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@storyguide3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/storyguide3)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2015, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-put-the-chocolate-on-the-checkout-scanner-itll-melt-headslap-whats-the-sd/729308/11 "2015-08-29T23:08:30Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > The second line is “Do you swallow it in spite?” Dammit, I was about to post just that!! Shakes fist in impotent rage!! ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-put-the-chocolate-on-the-checkout-scanner-itll-melt-headslap-whats-the-sd/729308/12 "2015-08-30T00:10:59Z")
Can you catch it on your tonsils and heave it left and right ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-put-the-chocolate-on-the-checkout-scanner-itll-melt-headslap-whats-the-sd/729308/13 "2015-08-30T01:03:39Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > OK, quick poll, how many people got this reference (without looking it up)? Hint: a pop song from around 1960. > > I did, by the way. No hints needed. I still know all the lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-put-the-chocolate-on-the-checkout-scanner-itll-melt-headslap-whats-the-sd/729308/14 "2015-08-30T01:13:39Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > OK, quick poll, how many people got this reference (without looking it up)? Hint: a pop song from around 1960. > > I did, by the way. I got it. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-put-the-chocolate-on-the-checkout-scanner-itll-melt-headslap-whats-the-sd/729308/15 "2015-08-30T01:19:59Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > …an object passing … over the glass patten? > > (Patten? Izzat the word?) > [@TheChileanBlob](#): > > Platen. Chocolate on a paten: [Imgur: The magic of the Internet](http://i.imgur.com/bey1nI5.jpg) Chocate in a chasuble on a paten: [Imgur: The magic of the Internet](http://i.imgur.com/AOObs62.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-put-the-chocolate-on-the-checkout-scanner-itll-melt-headslap-whats-the-sd/729308/16 "2015-08-30T01:21:22Z")
I didn’t. Hint? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-put-the-chocolate-on-the-checkout-scanner-itll-melt-headslap-whats-the-sd/729308/17 "2015-08-30T01:27:54Z")
I never knew it as a pop song (I never knew the 60s, either), but I do know that song as a kids’ song. Does your Chewing Gum Lose its Flavor on the Bedpost Overnight ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-put-the-chocolate-on-the-checkout-scanner-itll-melt-headslap-whats-the-sd/729308/18 "2015-08-30T01:31:29Z")
Actual smart guy shows up, totally ignore OP. Figures. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-put-the-chocolate-on-the-checkout-scanner-itll-melt-headslap-whats-the-sd/729308/19 "2015-08-30T02:04:41Z")
[whimper whimper] … tell us tell us … ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-put-the-chocolate-on-the-checkout-scanner-itll-melt-headslap-whats-the-sd/729308/20 "2015-08-30T04:09:00Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > What’s the heat spread (temperature) on an object passing under a scanner gun, or, as is more commin in supermarkets, over the glass patten? Really small. I put my hand on one in a convenience store today (no additional charge!) and couldn’t detect any temperature different from ambient. [Relevant lyrics](http://lyricsplayground.com/alpha/songs/d/doesthespearmintloseitsflavoronthebedpostovernight.shtml) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-put-the-chocolate-on-the-checkout-scanner-itll-melt-headslap-whats-the-sd/729308.md?page=2)