How Hot is my NIM?

Discussion about the MiniTiouner board and the MiniTiouner Digital ATV Receive Software. See also http://www.vivadatv.org/index.php
G6ORL
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Nov 02, 2017 6:56 am

How Hot is my NIM?

Post by G6ORL » Wed Jun 05, 2019 8:53 pm

It has taken me a while since buying the MiniTiouner hardware and I have now completed it. Proving it works by connecting it to the FreeSAT dish and it works but I am surprised at how hot the NIM is. So I checked the 4 Volt and all is well but the regulator is a very warm, so I upgraded the module to a 3A version and again it works, the regulator is now only warm but the NIM cannot be touched for long before being uncomfortable.

I am looking for clues where to go next as it could be "normal" ....?

Thank you

David

F6DZP
Posts: 217
Joined: Fri May 27, 2011 9:59 am

Re: How Hot is my NIM?

Post by F6DZP » Thu Jun 06, 2019 11:00 am

Hello,

Using an infrared thermometer, after several hours of work, my NIM shows a temperature of 28°C at the beginning of the metal box, 33°C in the middle, max temp is at the lower end, bottom : 41°C.

Touching it continuously seems to me lukewarm.

Nim is used with a MiniTiounerPro.

Jean-Pierre F6DZP

g0mjw
Posts: 2329
Joined: Sat Sep 20, 2014 9:15 am

Re: How Hot is my NIM?

Post by g0mjw » Thu Jun 06, 2019 11:57 am

Maybe you are receiving freesat with it? It probably takes a lot more power to process 27.5MBs than normal amateur use. Suggest you try it on the beacon and see what happens.

Mike

DG8KD
Posts: 83
Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2014 9:02 pm

Re: How Hot is my NIM?

Post by DG8KD » Thu Jun 06, 2019 8:16 pm

Hi,
My Mt also reaches 41 degrees centigrade on the nim and the 1.1 volts regulator, same values in the new MT pro board. I added a Heat Sink to the regulator.

G6ORL
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Nov 02, 2017 6:56 am

Re: How Hot is my NIM?

Post by G6ORL » Fri Jun 07, 2019 7:27 pm

Thank you, I have ordered a IR thermometer and will add a heatsink to the regulator this weekend. Then I will try something other than freesat once I learn how. This is my first adventure in to SAT so a interesting learning curve.

g4eml
Posts: 674
Joined: Thu Apr 26, 2018 9:36 am

Re: How Hot is my NIM?

Post by g4eml » Fri Jun 07, 2019 8:34 pm

I seem to remember a previous post regarding the NIM running hot. I think it was due to a manufacturing fault with lots of solder blobs on the board. Try a search of older posts and you might find the answer.

g4eml
Posts: 674
Joined: Thu Apr 26, 2018 9:36 am

Re: How Hot is my NIM?

Post by g4eml » Fri Jun 07, 2019 8:39 pm

Found it.
The initial post wasn’t specifically about the temperature but
The high temperature was noted as one of the symptoms.
Have a look at this post.
viewtopic.php?p=19661#p19661

g0mjw
Posts: 2329
Joined: Sat Sep 20, 2014 9:15 am

Re: How Hot is my NIM?

Post by g0mjw » Sat Jun 08, 2019 6:30 am

I will repeat what I said - using the minitioune to receive broadcasts at 22MBs and 27.5MBs will make it run hotter than normal because these modes require more processing power to demodulate, especially if the DVB-S2 error correction has to work hard. The 1.1V regulator and NIM will be dissipating more heat. That's normal. Don't assume it is faulty. If it gets very hot receiving the QO-100 beacon - that's not normal.

From the NIM data sheet for the FTS-4335 Series the operating temperature is up to 70C.

Maximum currents with both tuners active are:

3.3VT 640mA - this is the tuner without LNA. The newer tuners with LNA will need more, but I have never seen mine require 640mA.

1. DVB-S and DTV Legacy:
- 3.3VD: 30 mA(Typ.), 40 mA(Max.)
- 1.1VD: 145 mA(Typ.), 205mA(Max.)-> 2 Port DVB-S Active

2. DVB-S2:
- 3.3VD: 30 mA(Typ.), 40 mA(Max.)
- 1.1VD: 315 mA(Typ.), 400 mA(Max)-> 2 Port DVB-S Active

With only one tuner active, it is less but we may need to consider heatsinking for the 1.1V regulator when using both tuners. Running off 5V USB power as some have done will be more of a challenge as around 1.1A could be required. That's why I didn't do that.

When we come to use both tuners in DVB-S2 at high symbol rates we might be looking at up to 700mA at 3.3V and 400mA at 1.1V. The NIM will be dissipating 2.7W and will get hot. Normal DATV use much less.


Mike

DL4FBN
Posts: 18
Joined: Sun Nov 18, 2018 6:27 pm

Re: How Hot is my NIM?

Post by DL4FBN » Sat Jun 08, 2019 10:06 am

Hi,
on the picture you can see the hot spots around the regulator, the NIM is about 33°C.
Reinhard
Attachments
TempTiouner.jpg
TempTiouner.jpg (114.67 KiB) Viewed 5670 times

g0mjw
Posts: 2329
Joined: Sat Sep 20, 2014 9:15 am

Re: How Hot is my NIM?

Post by g0mjw » Sat Jun 08, 2019 11:16 am

Nice thermal image. Might try that mtself. Unfortunately may not be accurate on the nim as the emmissivity of the metal can will be low - the true NIM temp in your image is nearer to top scale from what you see through the holes, but it's a whopping 43C. I don't think we will have to call out the fire brigade.

Meanwhile here is a nano and a cup of tepid coffee for comparison.
ThermalCamera2019-06-08_12-10-01+0100.png
ThermalCamera2019-06-08_12-10-01+0100.png (261.49 KiB) Viewed 5657 times
ThermalCamera2019-06-08_12-09-32+0100.png
ThermalCamera2019-06-08_12-09-32+0100.png (308.26 KiB) Viewed 5656 times
Mike

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