Okay - when I received the Ybox2 kit from Adafruit - I put it together and had excellent results. My question is: How can a Ybox2 user mitigate the heat coming from the 3.3 voltage regulator since heat is the number one cause for premature component failure and I want to do my best to prolong the life of my project.
It gets warm enough to actually slightly irritate your skin on touch. I did apply solder to the VR3.3 chip to the board - I need a better heat sink device - Any EE out there to speak to the Hottie issue?
Okay - so I punned the subject matter!
JuJuBee
I'm a Hottie
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Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.
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Re: I'm a Hottie
you can clip a heatsink on, or use a lower voltage DC converter. 5V out is ideal. 9V is cutting it high.
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Re: I'm a Hottie
There are heatsinks made for voltage regulators - check Jameco, Digikey or Mousser or even eBay. I am using a 5v regulator, which works fine without excessive heat. Make sure you check the voltage if you go with another power supply - some of those adapters can be WAY off, generally producing much higher voltages then specified. I think the mA needs to be around 300.
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Re: I'm a Hottie
I put on one of those tiny RAM heat sinks I had lying around. It hangs over the edge to cool it down. it's Still warm, but not uncomfortable.
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Re: I'm a Hottie
in a pinch, pennies work well
http://hackedgadgets.com/2009/01/16/penny-heatsink/
http://hackedgadgets.com/2009/01/16/penny-heatsink/
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Re: I'm a Hottie
Ladyada - will you be able to supply the lower voltage power supply (5V)?
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Re: I'm a Hottie
You can lower the power no problem. Don't go under 6 volts though.
- darco
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Re: I'm a Hottie
5 volts is too low unless you replace the diode on the board with a wire.
6 volts is the minimum if you are building the device with the diode.
If you need to be able to run the device with 5 volts, replace the diode with a wire. You won't get reverse connection protection, but it will otherwise work fine.
6 volts is the minimum if you are building the device with the diode.
If you need to be able to run the device with 5 volts, replace the diode with a wire. You won't get reverse connection protection, but it will otherwise work fine.
- samirsky
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Re: I'm a Hottie
What about using a screw/nut through the mint case to the heat sink.
Is there anything wrong with using the metal tin case as a heatsink?
Would the screw-to-case method be effective?
Is there anything wrong with using the metal tin case as a heatsink?
Would the screw-to-case method be effective?
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Re: I'm a Hottie
annoyingly, the LD33 heatsink is VDD not ground so you cant tie it to the case
- richms
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Re: I'm a Hottie
If you can touch it, and the things not going in a crazy hot place like a car then there isnt really a problem - touchable is about 45-50° C - which is well within what things can take.
I would just solder some cut pieces of thick copper wire coiled up onto the devices tab - lots of area for no money assuming it comes from your scrap bin, but if the board is enclosed that will do nothing to reduce the internal temperature which is what is going to cause failure. So perhaps some vent holes too?
I would just solder some cut pieces of thick copper wire coiled up onto the devices tab - lots of area for no money assuming it comes from your scrap bin, but if the board is enclosed that will do nothing to reduce the internal temperature which is what is going to cause failure. So perhaps some vent holes too?
Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.