How hot is too hot?

[mphare]

I've got a DSR-704 with a PTVNet'd 160 GB drive running at about 48 C.
Is this too hot? Should I be worried?
If not, what is the temp where I should start getting worried?

[Dkerr24]

48C is on the high side. Is the unit is a enclosed cabinet? I lifted mine up by putting something under each of the rubber feet, allowing more air to flow underneath the unit. Mine runs between 38 and 42C.

[l2bengtrek]

My Dsr 704's and 708's run about 42C. Going consensus around here is that it's ok under 50C. Above that, try some better venting or clean the fan.

[mphare]

That's what I was afraid of.
Yes, it's in a smallish cubby in a cabinet with a closed back.
It's on top of a VHS/DVD Recorder. Maybe I'll try some spacers.

[John T Smith]

If you have a way to add a small fan inside the cabinet, go here
http://www.littlegreenhouse.com/accessory/controls.shtml

The Thermostatic Outlet will turn the fan on/off

[mphare]

Thanks John.
I was looking at some USB fans, maybe I could circulate some air in there that way.

[goony]

Maybe I'll try some spacers.I use plastic bottle caps from soft drink bottles - works good.

[mphare]

I cut up some styrofoam to make little spacers. The temperature has dropped 2 C to 46 C.
I'm feeling a little better.
The plastic soda bottle caps sounds better. I'll save a few and try those.
May still try the USB fan.

[classicsat]

You don't want to circulate air in there, you want to get it out.

[mphare]

Agreed, I was going to set the fan to blow (suck) air out of (from) the cavity.

[Traal]

Mine was running at 41C until an hour ago, when I put it on a cheap USB-powered laptop cooler. Now it's only 35C.

Ironically, the same laptop cooler did absolutely nothing for my laptop.

[goony]

Ironically, the same laptop cooler did absolutely nothing for my laptop.Which one was it? (URL?)

[Traal]

The cooler is a Rhino "Snow Leopard" PY-F69 (http://shop4.outpost.com/product/4977051). The laptop is a Dell Inspiron 8100.

[DeathRider]

That's what I was afraid of.
Yes, it's in a smallish cubby in a cabinet with a closed back.
It's on top of a VHS/DVD Recorder. Maybe I'll try some spacers.

Can you cut a hole in the bck panel and install an exhaust fan? The bigger the fan, the slower it can spin to pump the same amount of air...

A friend of a friend wanted me to look at their computer. It was running very slow. The harddrive lasted less than a year. I noticed it was in an enclosed cabinet in the desk with no way for the hot air to go.

I told them, they either need to cut a hole in the back or ventilation, or keep the door open while the computer is on.

Hasn't had a problem since :up:

[rock_doctor]

I use plastic bottle caps from soft drink bottles - works good.

This is what i do also. The TiVo dumps a huge amount of heat it really needs to be in an open space. All of mine are on top of my cabinet, then again i have three stacked...

mark

[dwill104]

My two units have been running about 50 - 52C for about 4 years, ever since I upgraded the original drives.

[Dkerr24]

Mine was running at 41C until an hour ago, when I put it on a cheap USB-powered laptop cooler. Now it's only 35C.

Ironically, the same laptop cooler did absolutely nothing for my laptop.

I had one of those Antec coolers that never seemed to work for my laptop as well. Soon as I put it under my RCA DVR40, the temp dropped from 40C to 38C.

Nice tip! Thanks!

[rbreding]

That's what I was afraid of.
Yes, it's in a smallish cubby in a cabinet with a closed back.
It's on top of a VHS/DVD Recorder. Maybe I'll try some spacers.

This arrangement alone is a problem. Heat rises and as such the heat generated by your DVD/VHS combo is heating the TiVo.

Move the Tivo to the bottom.

[John T Smith]

Ok... I looked at the idea of a laptop cooler underneath my DTivo boxes

But... does an UN-hacked DTivo USB port have power?

My4 boxes are all "stock" inside, so no point in buying USB powered coolers if the ports don't have active power

[Dkerr24]

Ok... I looked at the idea of a laptop cooler underneath my DTivo boxes

But... does an UN-hacked DTivo USB port have power?

My4 boxes are all "stock" inside, so no point in buying USB powered coolers if the ports don't have active power

The USB port on a unhacked unit still has power and would work.

[chrishicks]

can anyone recommend a good aluminum cooling pad to use? I'm using a plastic one with my laptop now and the fan louvers are cracked/broke already and if the laptop gets bumped just a hair it can push the louvers into the fans and it makes a lovely annoying sound.

EDIT: are there any good durable plastic models that I could use? I'm thinking the one I have for my laptop could just be some cheapo one and not represent all similar products? how durable is the one from the link posted above?

[John T Smith]

aluminum cooling pad
After you find some brand/models here
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=usb+laptop+cooler+aluminum

Go here to see if there are any user reviews
http://www0.epinions.com/

Another place to check prices and reviews
http://shopper.cnet.com/

[chrishicks]

After you find some brand/models here
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=usb+laptop+cooler+aluminum

Go here to see if there are any user reviews
http://www0.epinions.com/

Another place to check prices and reviews
http://shopper.cnet.com/

yeah, but that doesn't help me reading reviews on how they work with a tivo though. I was hoping someone here would be using one. maybe I should have worded a bit different.

[bnm81002]

yeah, but that doesn't help me reading reviews on how they work with a tivo though. I was hoping someone here would be using one. maybe I should have worded a bit different.




look above at posts #11, 17 and 20 ;)

[John T Smith]

Checked my temps... all OK, but may go ahead and get laptop coolers anyway, just to help extend the life of the components

Hughes HR10-250 in theater
- At 39c Temp on Jan 12 2007

Samsung SIR-S4120R in Bedroom
- At 36c Temp on Jan 12 2007

RCA DVR80 in Exercise area
- At 36c Temp on Jan 12 2007

RCA DVR80 for Great Room
- At 38c Temp on Jan 12 2007

One "oddity" on this last on is that the composite/coax output stopped working a couple days ago (but putting an RCA cable on still works to get a signal to the TV) which I attribute to an individual component "aging" and dying

[rbreding]

What is your ambient temperature however ?

[John T Smith]

What is your ambient temperature however ?
About 68-70F (depends on time of day and sun in the windows)

[John T Smith]

Wife finally found an equipment cabinet for the theater room,
so over the weekend I put the DTivo and Amp and DVD player in
the cabinet, and then we watched a movie

After a 2 hour movie, DTivo temp was 44c - so, while this is
not at the danger level, I think I'm going to add a fan to
push outside air into the cabinet (drilled vent holes, so as
the outside air comes in, the warmer air may escape)

What I have found so far, to control the fan, and a fan

Thermostat
http://www.littlegreenhouse.com/accessory/controls.shtml
Fan
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=20504

[rbreding]

I would suggest getting a 12v DC fan and an adjustable transformer to control the speed.

I have 2 120mm fans connected to one to vent my sealed cabinet and they run all the time at 7v and you can't hear a thing.

I believe they are pushing around 60cfm at that speed between the two of them. I could run them faster but I don't have to based on the temp inside the tivos.

Items in the cabinet:

HR10-250
SD-DVR40
SERIES2

Onkyo Nr900
900va UPS.

So you can see there is some heat being generated in there, especially with the amp/reciever. That being said, the temp inside the hr10-250 (which is the hottest of the bunch) is 38c with an ambient temp of 70f.

Hope that helps.

[JimSpence]

I suggest that you use a fan to extract the warm air out of the cabinet. Draw cooler air in from near the floor.