Cooling solution for LCD monitor?

DæmonEyes

Hi so I’m at the last quarter of my first MM build and I’m using the screen from my old laptop. Everything is working great, but I do have a concern about how hot the bottom third of the back of the screen gets after like just half hr of it running MM.
I have seen nice cooling solutions for the RPi, but is there any cooling solutions for the monitor/screen?

broberg

@dæmoneyes air circulation, screens gets hot, nothing to do about that, but either you have a mirror frame that has a larger air volume or you make holes, top and bottom, to let air circulate around everything.

BKeyport

I’d just run a fan through a couple of extra holes in the frame… Easy – if you get the right voltage, you could just use the pi for powering it.

DæmonEyes

@broberg @BKeyport thanks for the advice guys, I’ll keep that in mind. I actually got a poster frame from Joanns, but I’m going to add 1/2 x 4in boards to sort of make it like a shadow box frame.

Considering how you guys said heat circulation is the most important, I’m thinking about only adding the boards to the sides, while leaving the top and bottom open so so that air can flow through the inside.
I’m putting it in a location in my room that doesn’t get hit by sunlight directly so hopefully this will work out. If it doesn’t then I’ll complete the box framing and add a fan to the top board to help hot air circulate out better.

So I don’t need to put heat sinks on the back of the screen right? I’ve been wondering why no one does that, so I’m guessing there must be a reason.

cowboysdude

I drilled holes at the top of mine to allow the heat to rise and flow out…it seems to be working.

BKeyport

Most screens are designed with plenty of holes in the case to allow ambient heat to flow out. There’s really not that many screens that get hot enough to warrant heat control other than passive (holes).

DæmonEyes

@bkeyport But you’re referring to monitor screens right?
I’m re-purposing my LCD screen from an old laptop. so there really isn’t a case for it.

cowboysdude

@bkeyport yes they are but some of have taken the case apart so that’s no longer a problem ;)

BKeyport

Same situation, tho… If the heat was a problem before, it would have been handled. :)

roxx

Hi all… I am building magic mirror and i am using cooling fans from computer cpu to circulate air, keep it cool… Powered it with a 12v adaptor, another 5v fan powered by mobile phone charger, etc… So i have multiple ad/dc Power adaptors, for Rpi, fan, another fan etc… Search amazon for different types of fans… Also the heatsink from computer is useful… Or get something like a net made of aluminium…

DæmonEyes

@roxx nice! So Im guessing your’s is a pretty big build then. Looking forward to seeing you post it!
Ya I got several heat sinks that I put on the back of the monitor to ensure the heat gets dissipated.

roxx

@dæmoneyes said in Cooling solution for LCD monitor?:

@roxx nice! So Im guessing your’s is a pretty big build then. Looking forward to seeing you post it!
Ya I got several heat sinks that I put on the back of the monitor to ensure the heat gets dissipated.

Ya, it will be a thick one… mounted Rpi 3 with cpu fan, thats about 12x12x10cms… i will make it such a way that air blows on the Rpi 3 and then same air goes through all the ac/dc adaptors and then to the monitor, finally an exit for it… inbetween i will have heat sinks, aluminium fills/nets to keep the air cool… I have rip opened all the different adaptors from its case and using the circuits from it, changed how the wires will go, etc… i have a “L” shaped wooden structure/design in mind…

I am doing it this much because i wish to run magic mirror all round the clock with Google assistant…

DæmonEyes

@roxx I do have a question, isn’t it a bit noisy with your fans setup? I have a small fan that came with my RPi case and set it on low so it is silent.

I also got 10 heat sinks and put them all on the bottom of my monitor back. What used to be too hot to touch for more than a second, now is very cool at all times. I know I didn’t need to put all 10 there, but got carried away and liking the result lol.

roxx

@dæmoneyes …FAN 1 I am using 12v 0.18A CPU Cooling Fan, but i power it with a Laptop charger 1 with 16v 3.5A output so it gives better performance and makes a bit noise, i think we wont hear the noise when its all packed & built in the wooden frame… I had fully opened the fan, cleaned and lubricated it, also works with another Laptop charger 2 with 19v 4.5A output, same noise, superb extra speedy air flow!!! It doesn’t get hot when kept on for 2hours… This is mounted on top side of Rpi3B+, the air will be blown on RPi and then i will direct it to make it flow to the AC/DC adapters…

FAN 2 Rpi 5v fan, 30x30x30mm… I power it with mobile phone charger 5v 1A… I dont want to power it from Rpi… Tried to power it with 10v 2A but it rotates with ultra high speed, low noise… But it got super hot in just a second… So i m not overpowering this one, also its small… Mounted at bottom side of Rpi…

FAN 3 12v 0.18A CPU Fan, will be using this as the main air sucker in the wooden frame… Powered with Laptop charger 2
fan 1 and fan 3 are same model, using both with different power input.

Finally i will direct all air to monitor…
During building the wooden frame i may add another small fans to add the air flow for monitor if it gets hot like you had… . The built will be a bulky one in L shaped… It will be divided into 2 wodden box… Will share it when completed…

And your idea is good for me to use heat sinks as i have a few and got no other use…
Thanks.

DæmonEyes

@roxx Make sure to post your build in the Show your Mirror page. I’m curious to see how complex and big your build comes out when you’re done. I’ll be posting my own build today or tomorrow.