Is it normal for my Terk 5x8 multiswitch to be really, really hot?

[Leila]

Is it normal for my Terk 5x8 multiswitch to be really, really hot?

I went up to my attic this morning and cleaned up the cable/wire clutter a bit.
The Terk 5x8 multiswithc, which all my DirecTiVo DVRs are connected to,
was really, really, really hot... :(

Come to think of it, I haven't touched it since I installed it almost two years ago.
(during winter) The signal going to all my DirecTiVo DVRs are near-perfect, 92 or
better on all transponders/sats.

Thanks!

[rminsk]

Most powered multiswitches tend to run very hot.

[TechnoRedneck]

And even those only powered by the receivers get pretty warm (or hot - depending on your touch).

[JimSpence]

My Eagle Aspen DTV48 (powered separately) is warm, but not HOT. I can leave my hand on it without pain.

[phox_mulder]

My Terk 5x8 is quite hot as well, and also working just fine.


phox

[Leila]

Thanks! I guess my multiswitch is normal... :)

Is the multiswitch a fire hazard? If so, I may want to move it out of the attic...
(don't go up ther more than once a year)

Thanks!

[JimSpence]

At the very least remount the switch on standoffs, regardless of where you end up putting it.

[Lee L]

My Terk switch also runs hot. Hot enough that if you were to grab it you would exclaim "ouch!" but it is not really hot enough to actually burn you.

[SeattleCarl]

Mine tends to run very hot also. You can put your hand on it and hold it there without burning yourself, but it is hot enough that your first reaction would be to pull your hand off of it right away.

I agree with the idea of mounting it using standoffs, and located so that it is not directly touching anything. If your attic tends to get very hot also, you might consider moving the multiswitch.

Carl

[Wilhite]

I mounted mine from a rafter using cuphooks. That way there is air circulation around all sides and it's not directly touching anything.

[johnfl]

My 5x8 Terk was running around 123-128ºF, according to my non-contact IR thermometer...It ran for a couple years with no problem at all. It was mounted in my basement in direct contact with a joist. Now I have an AT9 dish with a non-powered multiswitch.

[darthrsg]

Is it normal for my Terk 5x8 multiswitch to be really, really hot?


Yes, with all the quality entertainment from D* piping through it and all :) .

[appleye1]

What feels hot to the touch is not nearly hot enough to start a fire. If you can lay your hand on it and not have it burn your skin, then I think there's no need to worry.

[Leila]

I taped the sensor from my outdoor therometer to the Terk 5x8 multiswitch.
It shows 205 to 208 degrees.... is this too hot? It's almost hot enough to
boil water... :9

It's been like this for 2+ year and all my DirecTiVo DVRs are working just fine.

[JimSpence]

Another thing you can do is to mount the switch on a piece of aluminum. This can act as a heat sink to help cool it further.

[DTVPro]

I taped the sensor from my outdoor therometer to the Terk 5x8 multiswitch.
It shows 205 to 208 degrees.... is this too hot? It's almost hot enough to
boil water... :9

It's been like this for 2+ year and all my DirecTiVo DVRs are working just fine.


I'd be wary of that reading

unless it really will blister you if you touch it, I doubt it's that hot

[Lee L]

Yeah, I am guessing that the outdoor sensor probably is only accurate up to 120-130 degrees F. Anything above that is suspect.

[mosasso]

I am having the same concern with my Terk multiswitch installed in the garage attic. It is too hot to touch for more than a spit second. What solution did you come up with? It doesn't seem normal to be that HOT.

[JimSpence]

That's too hot. I think it should be replaced.

[drew2k]

I mounted mine from a rafter using cuphooks. That way there is air circulation around all sides and it's not directly touching anything.Thank you for the excellent suggestion! :)

I am gong to be installing a second multi-switch in my mother's basement next weekend, and was going to mount the new switch on plywood against the cinderblock wall, but hanging it from the rafters will be MUCH easier AND ensure adequate airflow!

[greywolf]

I have a thermostatically controlled fan aimed at mine. It's bolted to a framework of copper grounding straps to provide a central grounding buss and heat sink.

[john-duncan-yoyo]

Yeah, I am guessing that the outdoor sensor probably is only accurate up to 120-130 degrees F. Anything above that is suspect.

That does sound like you have passed the functional range of that sensor. Go get a kitchen thermometer and try to get a reading with that. The fast reading ones should be ok and go up high enough to give a valid number.