CD/DVD Slim Enclosure Heat issues?

**jzgt** · 07-10-2005, 09:39 PM

Has anyone installed a slim laptop DVD IDE to USB 2.0/Firewire enclosure in the dash and had any issues with heat? I am fabricating an enclosure for the enclosure that will be part of the dash. What kind of air circulation, if any, do these drives and enclosures require? I searched and didn't find any real info.

The way I am fabricating it, the unit will be potentially in direct sunlight quite a bit.
Thanks!

- Jeff

**Jahntassa** · 07-10-2005, 09:53 PM

Slim drives shouldn't need much heat dissapation at all..afterall, most of them are in laptops already. The same goes for the board itself.

You should be able to find specs on heat tolarances for both..

**jzgt** · 07-10-2005, 10:07 PM

You know, that's true...hell, they're made to live in a small space...

I guess I'm worrying over nothing...

This is the drive I am getting:

Panasonic CW8124B

It says operating temperature, but that must be the heat produced by the drive...I don't see any actual max range for ambient... but I'm sure it'll be ok...

Thanks for joggin' the noggin'

- Jeff

**jzgt** · 07-10-2005, 10:10 PM

After looking at the site, why would they list storage temperature range as the unit can't produce any heat while in storage, duh...sniffed too many fuberglass resin fumes this weekend...

that must be the operating range...I should probably add a fan to my enclosure....

- Jeff

**Jeeve5** · 07-11-2005, 08:00 AM

No, seriously, don't worry. I fix a lot of notebooks and heat coming from the DVD drive is the least of your concernes. Those damn things are pretty much producing no heat at all. Just my experience and 2 cents

**jzgt** · 07-11-2005, 10:01 AM

Originally Posted by Jeeve5

No, seriously, don't worry. I fix a lot of notebooks and heat coming from the DVD drive is the least of your concernes. Those damn things are pretty much producing no heat at all. Just my experience and 2 cents

Thanks for the reassurance - What about the ambient temperature or radiant heat? Would it cause failure? I mean, I'm sure at some temperature, it would shut down, but would it be, say over 90* or something? The dash area is black and can get very hot in the sun...

Thanks again!
- Jeff

**Jeeve5** · 07-11-2005, 10:57 AM

Well about the dash area and becoming very hot. I have left my laptop in the car on various occasions during the summer so far since I do a lot of work on my CarPC from there. So far it always has been working fine. CPU temp was a way bigger problem for me to sfar.

**jzgt** · 07-11-2005, 11:14 AM

Thanks for the reply! I'm just going to fabricate it without the fan and if I have to I can later add a fan under the dash. But I think you're right, it should be ok...Maybe I can just include duct work for that and the LCD and if I run into any problems I could just add a fan.

Thanks again.

- Jeff