HD Tivo overheating

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

I have my HD Tivo in a garage closet. I've had stereos and VCRs in that same
closet for years without a hitch. It's warm in there, but not unreasonably
so (at least so I thought.) Anyway, the HD Tivo will either give me the
overheat warning, or it will "crash" (become unresponsive absent a power
cycle). I've switched out the unit with another, and the same things happen.
I've tried removing the closet door, and the thing still overheats. I put my
hand behind the fan and I noticed that the air flow is very weak.

Is there a snap on fan, or some other way of cooling the unit without
violating the warranty?

 

[danr]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

David L. Leon wrote:
> I have my HD Tivo in a garage closet. I've had stereos and VCRs in that same
> closet for years without a hitch. It's warm in there, but not unreasonably
> so (at least so I thought.) Anyway, the HD Tivo will either give me the
> overheat warning, or it will "crash" (become unresponsive absent a power
> cycle). I've switched out the unit with another, and the same things happen.
> I've tried removing the closet door, and the thing still overheats. I put my
> hand behind the fan and I noticed that the air flow is very weak.
>
> Is there a snap on fan, or some other way of cooling the unit without
> violating the warranty?

I'm not sure that I know what a "garage closet" is. But apparently it's an
enclosed space. So you need to move ambient air through that space. Look into
installing a fan(s). A Tivo is a computer with a hard drive and thus more
susceptible to high temperatures than your other hi-fi equipment.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

>>
>> Is there a snap on fan, or some other way of cooling the unit without
>> violating the warranty?
>
> I'm not sure that I know what a "garage closet" is. But apparently it's an
> enclosed space. So you need to move ambient air through that space. Look
> into
> installing a fan(s). A Tivo is a computer with a hard drive and thus more
> susceptible to high temperatures than your other hi-fi equipment.
>


It's basically in a cabinet that is located in the garage. I think you're
correct, and I'll need some sort of supplemental fan. However, I'm worried
about voiding the warranty. I was wondering if there is a recommended
cooling kit that wouldn't void the warranty. Any ideas?

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

In article <O56pe.1621$751.1582@newssvr30.news.prodigy.com>, David L.
Leon <news@leonlaw.com> wrote:

> It's basically in a cabinet that is located in the garage. I think you're
> correct, and I'll need some sort of supplemental fan. However, I'm worried
> about voiding the warranty. I was wondering if there is a recommended
> cooling kit that wouldn't void the warranty. Any ideas?


I've done well with a small desktop-type Radio Shack fan (about four
inches across) that I just let blow across the top of the TiVo. I had
no need to open the case.

 

[Howard]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

"David L. Leon" <news@leonlaw.com> wrote in
news:O56pe.1621$751.1582@newssvr30.news.prodigy.com:

>> I'm not sure that I know what a "garage closet" is. But apparently it's
>> an enclosed space. So you need to move ambient air through that space.
>> Look into
>> installing a fan(s). A Tivo is a computer with a hard drive and thus
>> more susceptible to high temperatures than your other hi-fi equipment.
>>
>
>
> It's basically in a cabinet that is located in the garage. I think
> you're correct, and I'll need some sort of supplemental fan. However,
> I'm worried about voiding the warranty. I was wondering if there is a
> recommended cooling kit that wouldn't void the warranty. Any ideas?

I think perhaps a fan in/on the cabinet was what was meant. You can put a
dozen fans in/on the TiVo box itself, but when the surrounding air is a
stale 120 degrees, it ain't gonna matter.

As far as modding the TiVo itself though, I wouldn't worry too much about
the warranty. It's short enough to not really be a concern, and depending
on the temp in the closet, it could be argued that operating it in a hot
environment would be 'misuse'. TiVo's not really a dick about such
things, thankfully, they're generally a very good company.

--
Minister of All Things Digital & Electronic, and Holder of Past Knowledge
stile99@email.com. Cabal# 24601-fnord | Sleep is irrelevant.
I speak for no one but myself, and |Caffeine will be assimilated.
no one else speaks for me. O- | Decaf is futile.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

On Sun, 05 Jun 2005 02:05:57 +0000, David L. Leon wrote:

> I have my HD Tivo in a garage closet. I've had stereos and VCRs in that same
> closet for years without a hitch. It's warm in there, but not unreasonably
> so (at least so I thought.) Anyway, the HD Tivo will either give me the
> overheat warning, or it will "crash" (become unresponsive absent a power
> cycle). I've switched out the unit with another, and the same things happen.
> I've tried removing the closet door, and the thing still overheats. I put my
> hand behind the fan and I noticed that the air flow is very weak.
>
> Is there a snap on fan, or some other way of cooling the unit without
> violating the warranty?

Why don't you just take some duct tape and seal the whole fricking case so
it can't get any cool air. You might be able to burn it up just a littlle
faster than than running it in a garage closet. Better yet, take your PC
tower and put it in there with the tivo and close the door. Hopefully,
this isn't too subtle for you to understand.

--
Abit KT7-Raid (KT133) Tbred B core CPU @2400MHz (24x100FSB)
My server http/wesnewell.no-ip.com/cpu.php
Verizon server http/mysite.verizon.net/res0exft/cpu.htm

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

"Wes Newell" <w.newell@TAKEOUTverizon.net> wrote in message
newsan.2005.06.07.05.19.05.542186@TAKEOUTverizon.net...
> On Sun, 05 Jun 2005 02:05:57 +0000, David L. Leon wrote:
>
>> I have my HD Tivo in a garage closet. I've had stereos and VCRs in that
>> same
>> closet for years without a hitch. It's warm in there, but not
>> unreasonably
>> so (at least so I thought.) Anyway, the HD Tivo will either give me the
>> overheat warning, or it will "crash" (become unresponsive absent a power
>> cycle). I've switched out the unit with another, and the same things
>> happen.
>> I've tried removing the closet door, and the thing still overheats. I put
>> my
>> hand behind the fan and I noticed that the air flow is very weak.
>>
>> Is there a snap on fan, or some other way of cooling the unit without
>> violating the warranty?
>
> Why don't you just take some duct tape and seal the whole fricking case so
> it can't get any cool air. You might be able to burn it up just a littlle
> faster than than running it in a garage closet. Better yet, take your PC
> tower and put it in there with the tivo and close the door. Hopefully,
> this isn't too subtle for you to understand.
>


Well, I originally had it in the fireplace, good ventilation and all, but
the case kept melting. All that melting plastic really slowed performance.


Anyway, I took Howard's advice and purchase a dual fan from CompUSA (they're
on manager's special for $9). I placed it underneath the vnets on the left
underside of the unit. So far, it's working. I'll keep my fingers crossed...

 

[danr]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

David L. Leon wrote:
> "Wes Newell" <w.newell@TAKEOUTverizon.net> wrote in message
> newsan.2005.06.07.05.19.05.542186@TAKEOUTverizon.net...
>> On Sun, 05 Jun 2005 02:05:57 +0000, David L. Leon wrote:
>>
>>> I have my HD Tivo in a garage closet. I've had stereos and VCRs in that
>>> same
>>> closet for years without a hitch. It's warm in there, but not
>>> unreasonably
>>> so (at least so I thought.) Anyway, the HD Tivo will either give me the
>>> overheat warning, or it will "crash" (become unresponsive absent a power
>>> cycle). I've switched out the unit with another, and the same things
>>> happen.
>>> I've tried removing the closet door, and the thing still overheats. I put
>>> my
>>> hand behind the fan and I noticed that the air flow is very weak.
>>>
>>> Is there a snap on fan, or some other way of cooling the unit without
>>> violating the warranty?
>>
>> Why don't you just take some duct tape and seal the whole fricking case so
>> it can't get any cool air. You might be able to burn it up just a littlle
>> faster than than running it in a garage closet. Better yet, take your PC
>> tower and put it in there with the tivo and close the door. Hopefully,
>> this isn't too subtle for you to understand.
>>
>
>
> Well, I originally had it in the fireplace, good ventilation and all, but
> the case kept melting. All that melting plastic really slowed performance.
>
>
> Anyway, I took Howard's advice and purchase a dual fan from CompUSA (they're
> on manager's special for $9). I placed it underneath the vnets on the left
> underside of the unit. So far, it's working. I'll keep my fingers crossed...

Stumped again with the word "vnets". But.... you MUST lower the temperature
inside the closet. Do that by blowing air into the closet or out of the closet.
In other words circulate air from outside to inside to outside. This advice
assumes your fireplace is not located just outside your garage closet.
My spell checker just told me what a vnet is.