We are experiencing random restarts that with the help of Balena engineers has been traced to a chip that controls USB power. This chip. This is most likely because we are using 3 of these adapters per a device in a montioring mode which according to the specs draws 290mA during full receive mode. …

A more general status update. We think we solved our problem 3 key parts. Tiny copper pads that go on the chips: [image] Cut with a Dremel to size. They only are placed on the bottom two, the left one never got past warm to my finger test. I think this is because the heat is mostly from the de…

[image] An early design of the expanded lid for the case. -Thomas

Also @chrisys during the support chat you meantioned: I’m seeing a lot of messages in the log about usb over-current Was this just using: journalctl --list-boots journalctl -b -X journalctl -b -X -r | grep over-current because I have never managed to find that error and would love to be able…

Hey @taclog yep it was just using journalctl, I saw it on one of the devices as the last thing in the log before a reboot.

Hello @tacLog thanks for sharing this. Here’re my thoughts on your questions: There are many plastics used for 3D printing that will serve the purpose. You can take a look here for examples. Look for any that has a glass transition temperature (or “heatproof”) of 70C+ Those headers are exposed…

Hey, Thanks for your response, Nicolas. We are getting the first batch of the 3d printed cases today. I have no idea what they are printed out of so we should assume the lowest quality plastic out there. I have yet to have them in hand, but my thoughts are to try and melt one to make sure it do…

Thanks @tacLog for sharing your solution, very ingenuitive as always! No doubt @ntzovanis will be interested to see your photos.

Cases came and they look and feel rough, but good enough to work. They support the stock screws which make things easy. Time to test if I can melt them! I am working to get permission to open source the design and will update this thread if I succeed. [IMG_20190701_125104%20(1)]

@tacLog nice! That would certainly be a valued contribution if you are able to share the design.

Small update. We shipped these our last week. The screw supports were weak and one of them broke form over tightening, but overall they where sufficient for the pinch I was in. I received the OK to share the design files, and I will post them this week. They melt if you apply direct heat, so I wou…

Files released here: [image] New lid design files for the Fin case balenaFin [image] We encountered issues around thermals on the USB power regulators. As it was a problem only when we put it in the case, we designed this as part of our last-minute solution. Please feel …

Questions around thermal restarts on the fin

balenaFin

tacLog August 14, 2019, 6:09pm 23

Files released here:

Topic		Replies	Views
New lid design files for the Fin case balenaFin	1	948	August 15, 2019
USB controller problem during higher heat inside of control box balenaFin	14	4829	August 19, 2019
Did I fry my Pi? balenaFin	47	1670	November 10, 2022
Thermal Operating Range of BalenaFin balenaFin	34	2985	September 4, 2020
Thermal operating range of the Ethernet/USB controller on the Balena Fin balenaFin	9	1977	January 22, 2019

Questions around thermal restarts on the fin

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