Re: Anyone else seen this.

On 7/4/26 13:06, Charlie Gibbs wrote:
> On 2026-07-04, alan_m <[email protected]> wrote:
> 
>> Not router or flash memory but I had experience of set top boxes
>> overheating and becoming unreliable usually because the feet they fit to
>> the boxes only allows a few millimetres of air to circulate under the
>> box. I've often fitted taller feet and/or put the boxes on a a couple of
>> pieces of 2"x1" timber to increase the air flow beneath the box. Also I
>> don't stack one box on top of another that may be generating heat nor
>> operate the boxes in an enclosed cabinet.
> 
> I stood ours on its side; that seemed to help.

   Might, or might not.

   Admittedly the chips these days CAN run hotter
   than in the past.

   Disks/SD/etc may not appreciate that much however.
   Storage/utility life really starts to drop above
   50c.

   Anyway, there ARE tiny FANS. Some can plug into
   a USB port. Big improvement. GLUE 'em on to yer
   box if necessary.

   (note 'Alien Tape' - the gecko tech - is very
   good for sticking things and has no glue to
   melt)

   Anyway, not THAT hard to fab a 'cooling box'
   out of Amazon packaging. Cut slots to fit
   your whatever and add a little fan to suck
   or blow. Have a couple of BMax mini-boxes
   and some single-disk USB units sitting in
   one. The 2" fan runs on a 5V 2 amp wall wart
   and there's enough juice to add a second fan.
   Partially opened the drive cases. Makes
   everything run MUCH cooler for a $10 investment
   and about 30 minutes of cutting/bending cardboard
   and packing foam.

   There used to be "Icy Dock" boxes for external
   USB drives. May still be, but I think the prices
   got WAY too. The multi-disk units even had
   hardware RAID if you wanted that.