Sunrod description is very bare bones. Searches through errata and the FAQ turned up almost nothing more then what is listed in the PHB section in equipment.
The listing in equipment says the rod glows. To my mind the use of the term glow and a total lack of any indication that these involve fire or anything leaves me feeling that these emit light but no heat.
I figure that a sunrod can probably be used as effectively as a wand. It takes a move action to cover one generally - though you could probably grab the end and reduce the amount of light coming off it considerably and do so as a free action presuming both hands are free.
That said hiding your light source is a really lousy plan to remain concealed. While the sunrod illuminates out to 30' (and shadowy out to 60') that is not how far some one can see your light source from. Some more experienced out doorsman can give a better idea how far on could see a light source from in the dark but I'm sure the monsters can the light from a couple hundreds feet away presuming its dark.
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That said hiding your light source is a really lousy plan to remain concealed. While the sunrod illuminates out to 30' (and shadowy out to 60') that is not how far some one can see your light source from. Some more experienced out doorsman can give a better idea how far on could see a light source from in the dark but I'm sure the monsters can the light from a couple hundreds feet away presuming its dark.
Our trainer in AFROTC survival class demonstrated that you can see a lit cigarette easily from 200'. A light source that provides bright light to 30' is almost certainly visible for miles in the dark.
That said hiding your light source is a really lousy plan to remain concealed. While the sunrod illuminates out to 30' (and shadowy out to 60') that is not how far some one can see your light source from. Some more experienced out doorsman can give a better idea how far on could see a light source from in the dark but I'm sure the monsters can the light from a couple hundreds feet away presuming its dark.
There's a rule in 'Underdark' that says you can spot a light at ten times the radius it illuminates. That is 600' in the sunrod case.
Bran.
From the description of the Sunrod I picture it as a really bright glowstick (Cold luminescense generated with a chemical reaction) Or maybe as a cold burning Flare. To use RL examples.
If a sunrod could light a fire, there would be no need for tindertwigs.
My groups always treated them as "glow sticks" essentially, as far as game rules. Kinda like the ones Ed Harris' character had at the end of "The Abyss" when he was disarming the nuke. Just for extra realism we even treat the light as overly "glowy", sometimes making it hard to discern fine detail or specific colors, just as with using a real glow stick. But that's just us. But no, not a heat source.