TrackIR 5 Overheating Issue

[irfanahmed1979]

I've searched and searched and the only solutions I found were some Hardware mods like drilling ventilation holes and attaching a fan or a heatsink.

 

It used to work fine. But for the past 2 year it's overheating pretty fast.

[Braeden108]

Do you use the clip or hat? I think the hat uses reflectors, and the clip has IR lights on the clip. The base emits IR for the reflectors on the hat I think, but if you're using the clip there's no need for the IR peds in the base. I wonder what would happen if you disconnected the LEDs. Maybe there's an option to turn them off? I'll try it on mine

[irfanahmed1979]

I use the hat. If I turn on the ceiling fan of the room then it doesn't get that hot.

[Mars Exulte]

The IR emitters and processor make it get pretty hot. You mention the fan. As with ALL electronics you don't want stuff overheating, if the fan helps, then run the fan.

 

You can use a 3rd LED attachment and have the camera simply receive. That eliminates all the heat, too.

[Braeden108]

Ahh so you need the LEDS. So I just pulled apart my base/camera. Good news! There's a back panel on the unit that can easily be removed. If you pop that out you can attach a heatsink right on the board. Like these.

https://amzn.to/2K5HYcD

 

Should help if you tack one of those on to the back.

[irfanahmed1979]

Ahh so you need the LEDS. So I just pulled apart my base/camera. Good news! There's a back panel on the unit that can easily be removed. If you pop that out you can attach a heatsink right on the board. Like these.

https://amzn.to/2K5HYcD

 

Should help if you tack one of those on to the back.

 

Ok, thankyou.

[irfanahmed1979]

The IR emitters and processor make it get pretty hot. You mention the fan. As with ALL electronics you don't want stuff overheating, if the fan helps, then run the fan.

 

You can use a 3rd LED attachment and have the camera simply receive. That eliminates all the heat, too.

 

Thankyou. Could you elaborate on this 3rd LED attachment?

 

I also turned down the intensity of the status LEDs. Not that it had any effect on the temps inside the camera.

[Mars Exulte]

TrackClip Pro, for example, is an overpriced and poorly made example. It's a set of LED lights you wear, instead of the reflectors. It emits light toward the camera, which passively detects it (no heat generation). It is generally more reliable, especially if you have to sit very far or are in a brightly lit environment (or wear glasses).

 

With a little poking around there are multiple cheaper or otherwise superior alternatives to TrackClip Pro, I'd recommend any of them over it. I use DelanClip, but they are easily manufactured yourself. It's literally just 3x little IR led lights a wire to power them, and a frame of some sort to hold it.

[irfanahmed1979]

TrackClip Pro, for example, is an overpriced and poorly made example. It's a set of LED lights you wear, instead of the reflectors. It emits light toward the camera, which passively detects it (no heat generation). It is generally more reliable, especially if you have to sit very far or are in a brightly lit environment (or wear glasses).

 

With a little poking around there are multiple cheaper or otherwise superior alternatives to TrackClip Pro, I'd recommend any of them over it. I use DelanClip, but they are easily manufactured yourself. It's literally just 3x little IR led lights a wire to power them, and a frame of some sort to hold it.

 

Thankyou :thumbup:

[Thermal]

Firstly some monitors put out a surprising amount of heat, so maybe some kind of paper/cardboard shield can direct any hot rising air from the monitor away from the TrackIR.

 

Also you can change the IR LED intensity, and I would think that would decrease the amount of power used and heat generated.

 

You can find the setting in "Advanced Settings" -> "Camera". You can also adjust the brightness of the status leds, which might help further.

[irfanahmed1979]

Firstly some monitors put out a surprising amount of heat, so maybe some kind of paper/cardboard shield can direct any hot rising air from the monitor away from the TrackIR.

 

Also you can change the IR LED intensity, and I would think that would decrease the amount of power used and heat generated.

 

You can find the setting in "Advanced Settings" -> "Camera". You can also adjust the brightness of the status leds, which might help further.

 

Thankyou:thumbup: