My HD DirecTivo overheats

[ninjagator]

My HR 10-250 is overheating.

History:
About a month ago I got a new TV stand that closes in my components. Which include my HR 10-250, a Yamaha receiver and a Monster power line conditioner that is on when I am watching TV Also a DVD, Mac computer and Wii are in there but almost never on. Before this new stand it was always on an open shelf.

Last night I get home and it wont turn on. I unplug to reset it and it boots like normal and after going to live tv it goes to a blue screen that says that it is running too hot and will shut down...

I try unplugging it 2 times then remove it from the tv stand and leave it on top to cool. This morning it works but after about 20 or so min it goes to the blue screen and shuts down.

So I can see that the fan is working pushing out hot air. Any ideas? I would hate to loose this box before the new one comes out later this (next) year.

Thanx for any help.

[cthomp21]

I'd pop off the cover and blow it out with compressed air. There can be an incredible build-up of dust/junk in there (especially if you've got any pets) causing it to overheat. Also, check the operation of the cooling fan.

[JimSpence]

You may also want to raise the unit a bit to get better circulation. And put it under the Yamaha if not already.

[Matt L]

That is also a common problem with a failing/failed power supply.

[ninjagator]

cthomp21 gets the prize for the idea that worked.

I tried JimSpence's idea and that did nothing.

Matt L I hope your wrong on my count.

So I went and spent $5 for a can of air and opened the case. It was dirtier than my bathroom in college. Yuch. There were actually dust balls in there that were 3-4" long. Everything was covered in a thick dust. So I blew my air and cleaned it off. Getting everywhere around the heat-sinks, the power supply, the cables, under the board. I got a lot of dust to come off and I emptied the can-o-air. It was clean...but would that fix the issue...

I put it back together and plugged it all in. It boots...Just a few more seconds...22%...47%...92%...live TV. But would it last? I had gotten to watch 15 minutes or so of tv before the dusting. Well yes I watched about 2.5 hours last night and another hour or so this morning.

Yea. But I can't wait for the new HD DirecTivo. I will be the first in line. Just like I was for my Older Sony SAT-T60. Waiting for them to unload the truck at Best Buy.

Thanx all. Hopefully that is a long term fix and a lesson learnt.

[JimSpence]

I'd still give it more circulation and check its temperature occasionally.

[ninjagator]

NNNNNnnnnnnnooooooo.........


Its still doing it. All dusted out and its still going to the blue screen of death. The fan is working and its 73 in the house. The Tivo box is on top of the tv stand with nothing under or over it. I even propped it up with some chick flick dvd my wife has.

So here are my choices....

Order a new fan.
Order a new power supply
Order both.

Get a non Tivo box from Directv So much for my lifetime sub.

Pull the 40 hour SD tivo out of the closet.

Any thoughts as to a new fan or PS or a new non tivo box?

[tlphipps]

I'll just chime in that I had an HR10-250 unit do this and replacing the power supply did, in fact, correct the problem.

[WaldorfSalad]

My HR10-250 didn't overheat but it did exhibit some other odd problems (like losing Tivo service) until I replaced the power supply ($70 from Weaknees) over a month ago and have had no problems since.

[TyroneShoes]

...So here are my choices....

Order a new fan.
Order a new power supply
Order both.

Get a non Tivo box from Directv So much for my lifetime sub.

Pull the 40 hour SD tivo out of the closet...You actually have a 6th option, which is to use component instead of HDMI (both of which have virtually identical PQ). The temp sensor is either near or on the HDMI board, and that board can fail in a way that manifests (falsely) as a temp/overheat problem. It is actually a very common failure scenario. If you connect via component HD and disconnect the HDMI cable altogether, it just may work. Two of mine failed in the very same way, and moving them to component was the fix, each time.

Option #7 = fix the HDMI board.

[ninjagator]

You actually have a 6th option, which is to use component instead of HDMI (both of which have virtually identical PQ). The temp sensor is either near or on the HDMI board, and that board can fail in a way that manifests (falsely) as a temp/overheat problem. It is actually a very common failure scenario. If you connect via component HD and disconnect the HDMI cable altogether, it just may work. Two of mine failed in the very same way, and moving them to component was the fix, each time.

Option #7 = fix the HDMI board.



I tried using the composite output to the same result.

Hey ya know what stinks.

I pulled out my SD DirectTivo that I never watch and pay for and it was dead. Gets as far as just a few more seconds then it goes back to starting up. another bad power supply. thats 2/3 tivos. I had to pull the one out of my room to put in the den.

[Yog-Sothoth]

About a month ago I got a new TV stand that closes in my components.

So, like me, you have an A/V oven. I ended up removing the doors from my cabinet, as my Onkyo receiver gets very hot. You can purchase fans made specifically for A/V cabinets.

[jmf243]

I've recently become a victom of the overheating issue. I just tried the compressed air solution, after leaving the DVR unplugged on the kitchen table overnight to make it cool as cucumber. The Directivo still boots right into the internal temp too high message. The fan is blowing cool air. Any other possible solutions besides replacing the power supply. I'm hesitant to dump $70 bucks into a solution that may not work when I could invest it in a new DVR.

[duanej]

For all of you over-heaters, I have a HR10-250 that I'd like to get rid of cheap. PM me if interested.