Mac Over Heating issues in car during summer time???

crzunch · 03-05-2007, 04:18 PM

Will the mac Overheat in a car if u install in a dash where the stereo was in summer weather cuz as we all know our cars inside can get well over 120 degrees inside will it be ok to be left in the car day in and day out without harming it , but as well im thinking of putting a 120 mm fan in there somewhere to cool it while on but i need a amp convertor of some sort so i wont blow the fan up since its low ampage anyone know of a convertor as well maybe one that will hook up to your cig lighter

metalac · 03-05-2007, 05:06 PM

amp converter? how about a resistor?

Bugbyte · 03-05-2007, 09:14 PM

You need to step down the voltage, not the amperage. The Carnetix P1900 will supply the proper voltage if you set the jumpers up properly.

iamgnat · 03-05-2007, 09:35 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by crzunch

Will the mac Overheat in a car if u install in a dash where the stereo was in summer weather cuz as we all know our cars inside can get well over 120 degrees inside will it be ok to be left in the car day in and day out without harming it , but as well im thinking of putting a 120 mm fan in there somewhere to cool it while on but i need a amp convertor of some sort so i wont blow the fan up since its low ampage anyone know of a convertor as well maybe one that will hook up to your cig lighter

I bought some CPU fans and run them right off a 12v always on line. Having them run just when the car is running isn't good enough if you aren't leaving the top off the Mini as it will retain too much heat.

I would connect a couple of CPU fans to an always on source with a switch so you can turn them on during the day (it really won't effect your battery any more than the Mac itself will). Using a sun shade for your front windshield will help quite a bit too.

-dave

crzunch · 03-05-2007, 10:24 PM

oK WHAT I DID IS SPLICE A uSB CABLE USED THE RED AND BLACK WIRES ON THE USB CABLE THEN ,I PULLED THE PLUG OFF THE FAN THAT NORMALLY YOU HOOK IN A PC POWER SUPPLY AND CONNECTED THE RED AND BLACK WIRE STOGETHER AND SOLDER THEM THEN USE A PLASTIC SHRINK TAPE LOOKS LIKE A TUBE THEN U USE A BLOW DRYER TO SHRINK THE TAPE LIKE PLASTIC AROUND THEM AND NOW I HAVE A USB FAN TADA SO THER U GO UR LESSON FORM ME TODAY

iamgnat · 03-06-2007, 09:34 AM

I did that first with my fans, but found that A) they weren't getting enough power (but I was driving two fairly substantial fans) to move much air and B) it only ran while the computer was on and the "damage" (e.g. extreme heat build up) was done while the car was sitting in the office parking lot all day in the sun.

With that setup, the Mini's fans would scream the whole way home (and with ~20 minute drive) it couldn't cool itself down (which was no improvement over the requirement for the fans in the first place).

I changed it to the always on 12v source with a switch and turned them on when I got out of the car at the office and turned them off when I got back it (they are on the loud side) and I never heard the Mini's fans again.

-dave

Bugbyte · 03-07-2007, 07:58 AM

ARE YOU TYPING ON A DEVICE thaT has No LOWER CASE Or Has A MISSING Punctuation SET Cuz ITS reallY HArd to READ YouR StuFF aNd iT soundS lIkE StreAm of CONCIOUSNESS oR ThAT YuR SHoutINg At EV Ree 1.

Seriously, it is very difficult to read when you type it that way.

crzunch · 03-07-2007, 09:19 PM

my caps key on my keyboards gets stuck now and then but i have a new one sorry lol

DrZiplok · 03-10-2007, 12:43 AM

I'm going to assume you're talking about an intel-based Mac Mini here.

The Mini can look after itself; if it overheats, it will just shut down. As it starts to get close to "too hot", it will slow down and its internal fan will start to get quite loud - this is normal. Your car is not going to get hot enough inside to harm the Mini; the most conservatively rated components inside it are good to 85°C (over 180°F).

However, if you want to keep it happy, the most important thing to know is that it "breathes" in through the vents around the base, and out the row of vents along the back above the connectors. You should make it as difficult as possible for air to get from the out vents back to the in vents, so that the Mini is not breathing its own hot air (which it will make quite a bit of).

= Mike

crzunch · 03-10-2007, 02:29 AM

Yea i just ran 3 fans after soldering them together, then to a car cigarette cord , i solder them onto it like one for a walkman then ran them in places in the dash.

zapwizard · 05-22-2007, 09:05 AM

Sorry to revive the thread but,
I don't have any extra fans, and my mini has lasted well over a year in the Texas heat, it boots up even when the car is scolding hot.

FireAnt · 05-25-2007, 07:44 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by zapwizard

Sorry to revive the thread but,
I don't have any extra fans, and my mini has lasted well over a year in the Texas heat, it boots up even when the car is scolding hot.

Mine has been in the TEXAS HEAT for over two years and working fine with the Carnetix power supply.

I think mine was one of the first installed in a car

see it here http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/macc...mini-mini.html

My GPS recieve did die after less than a year. My Lilliput Monitor's touch screen does not usually respond to touch anymore either. And I'm still using CCAR as my front end. I sure wish I would upgrade this thing to a newer operating system and try AMP or Front Row.

Mike,
Pearland, TX