Added Fan to Reduce Heat

[mdfled]

Has anyone added a fan or heatsink to their Eisy to reduce the temperature of the device.  When my eisy has been running I can barely touch the case because it is so hot.  I used to have it hang on the wall, but I've moved it and propped up one end of the case to get more airflow around the device.  I can't imagine that the heat isn't shortening the life of the device.  My ISY never ran this hot, are others finding their eisy extremely hot?

[larryllix]

I do not have an eISY, but two polISYs and they get warm also. I found routers that would crash on warmer summer days despite A/C in the house but, standing them vertically worked very well for increased cooling.

I have several USB run muffin fans that I plug into other boxes to keep them cool. One was created out of surplus 12Vdc desktop box fans, however two are attached by permanent wiring, and one was purchased with USB attached from amazon.

If there is cooling holes in the bottom, devices can lay flat on top of the 5 inch muffin fans with some standoff spacer legs.. The attached double units have a speed switch that was inside the media PC's case. I just run the fan on the low speed. It's enough to move the air.

[Brian H]

My NVG448BQ installed by Frontier. Was laying on its side and was getting very warm and even smelled hot. The information on the ARRIS web site said it should not be laying on it side as it has ventilation slots on both side. I mounted mine vertically as the installation sheet said. It it is now just slightly warm.

[Geddy]

15 hours ago, mdfled said:

Has anyone added a fan or heatsink to their Eisy to reduce the temperature of the device. 

Not directly attached to the device, but I added a (small) USB fan (from Amazon for ~$10 at the time) to circulate air through the cabinet that houses my electronics. It just helps circulate the air in a piece of furnature not really built for electronics, but there were vent holes in it so this seems to move enough air that things don't "cook".

With the ZMatter dongle on the eisy it's difficult to stand verticle without props (IMO). There were rack mounts in the box, but never attempted to add them or make something that might elevate it.

I've had the eisy running in the same spot since its release and don't think (expect) heat has been an issue. The mini computers are designed to specifically pull the heat to the surface. They will feel warmer on the surface, but should be well within operating temp internally just from their design. 

[mdfled]

Thanks all, I had my eisy mounted on the wall with the brackets that came with it, but felt things were too hot so like I said, I have it propped up so it gets more air around it, but it is still hot.  Compared to both Raspberry Pi's I run for my 3D printers, HA installation, and other small SBCs the eisy seems to run hot.  I've got some large aluminum heat sinks that I think I'll try first and see if that cools things some.  I've never been a fan (pun not intended) of the combination of heat and electronics; the TV above the fireplace design has always made me cringe whenever I see it.

[evilpete]

I placed a cheap ($11) usb fan from Amazon on top on the unit have had zero problems


With the ambient temperature on my desk is around 71°
 

[admin@eisy ~]$ ./get-temp.sh
CPU0      26 C / 78 F
CPU1      27 C / 80 F
CPU2      26 C / 78 F
CPU3      27 C / 80 F
TZ0       27 C / 80 F

Quiet 90mm Router Fan Cooler  $11.99

2Pack Quiet 80mm USB Fan Dual-Ball Bearings $19.99

[elvisimprsntr]

I don't have an eISY (MeLE Quieter3Q), but do have a MeLE Quieter3C running Ubuntu with Homebridge. The cooling fins on the top of the unit are plastic, not aluminum.  I simply mounted it to the back of a monitor with a VESA mount.  Hasn't been a problem after 2.56 years.

root@mele-ud22:~# sensors
coretemp-isa-0000
Adapter: ISA adapter
Package id 0:  +49.0°C  (high = +105.0°C, crit = +105.0°C)
Core 0:        +41.0°C  (high = +105.0°C, crit = +105.0°C)
Core 1:        +41.0°C  (high = +105.0°C, crit = +105.0°C)
Core 2:        +41.0°C  (high = +105.0°C, crit = +105.0°C)
Core 3:        +41.0°C  (high = +105.0°C, crit = +105.0°C)

acpitz-acpi-0
Adapter: ACPI interface
temp1:        +27.8°C  (crit = +119.0°C)

nvme-pci-0200
Adapter: PCI adapter
Composite:    +41.9°C  (low  =  -0.1°C, high = +84.8°C)
                       (crit = +94.8°C)
Sensor 1:     +41.9°C  (low  = -273.1°C, high = +65261.8°C)
Sensor 2:     +46.9°C  (low  = -273.1°C, high = +65261.8°C)
Sensor 8:     +41.9°C  (low  = -273.1°C, high = +65261.8°C)

root@mele-ud22:~# nvme smart-log /dev/nvme0
Smart Log for NVME device:nvme0 namespace-id:ffffffff
critical_warning			: 0
temperature				: 42 C (315 Kelvin)
available_spare				: 100%
available_spare_threshold		: 5%
percentage_used				: 11%
endurance group critical warning summary: 0
data_units_read				: 1,495,531
data_units_written			: 41,693,437
host_read_commands			: 21,305,919
host_write_commands			: 1,899,017,040
controller_busy_time			: 1,898
power_cycles				: 36
power_on_hours				: 22,418
unsafe_shutdowns			: 12
media_errors				: 0
num_err_log_entries			: 1,098
Warning Temperature Time		: 0
Critical Composite Temperature Time	: 0
Temperature Sensor 1           : 42 C (315 Kelvin)
Temperature Sensor 2           : 46 C (319 Kelvin)
Temperature Sensor 8           : 42 C (315 Kelvin)
Thermal Management T1 Trans Count	: 0
Thermal Management T2 Trans Count	: 0
Thermal Management T1 Total Time	: 0
Thermal Management T2 Total Time	: 0

Not sure if the eISY comes with the original warning label on it, but here is a pic from a 3Q review.

 

 

Edited September 12 by elvisimprsntr

[apostolakisl]

The heat sink on these things is the chassis.  So I think it is a little deceiving compared to other devices with internal heat sinks.  With these devices you actually touch the heat sink with normal handling of the unit.  With internal devices, you are touching plastic that is well removed from the source of heat.  I think if you opened your PC (or similar) and touched the heat sink, you might get the impression that it is also too hot even though it is working as expected.

[mdfled]

Thanks all,  I'll trust that the case is dissipating enough heat.  I haven't had any problems to this point, but knowing the chassis is the heatsink, I might have a fan blow on it to help keep it cool since fans are cheap insurance.

[larryllix]

9 hours ago, mdfled said:

Thanks all,  I'll trust that the case is dissipating enough heat.  I haven't had any problems to this point, but knowing the chassis is the heatsink, I might have a fan blow on it to help keep it cool since fans are cheap insurance.

Just standing things up vertically helps a lot in most cases. (pun noted)

[haroldunger]

I put four small 1/4" high bumpers (one on each corner) under the EISY and the unit runs warm, not hot.  The desk top upon which the EISY rests is not even mildly warm.

[mmb]

On 9/20/2025 at 10:02 AM, haroldunger said:

I put four small 1/4" high bumpers (one on each corner) under the EISY and the unit runs warm, not hot.  The desk top upon which the EISY rests is not even mildly warm.

I tried the bumper idea but mine is still pretty toasty (but not terrible). I’ll try a fan.

Edited September 23 by mmb

[larryllix]

54 minutes ago, mmb said:

I tried the bumper idea but mine is still pretty toasty (but not terrible). I’ll try a fan.

My router always started acting up about 44c on top of the case. This seemed quite low but the internal of the CPU would likely be more like 100c inside.

[mmb]

14 hours ago, mmb said:

I tried the bumper idea but mine is still pretty toasty (but not terrible). I’ll try a fan.

The fan helped lots.

And immediately after removing the fan.

Edited September 23 by mmb

[Geddy]

@mmb what are you using to take thermal heat images like this?

[mmb]

16 minutes ago, Geddy said:

@mmb what are you using to take thermal heat images like this?

A little iPhone plugin IR camera purchased on Amazon. And they have an app.

[apostolakisl]

5 hours ago, Geddy said:

@mmb what are you using to take thermal heat images like this?

I've got a Flir version of the same thing.  I think I spent $300 for it several years ago.  I see they can be had for less now, not sure how mine compares to those.

EDIT: Yup, just checked my Amazon history, Got it (Flir Pro One LT) 2019 for $300.  It continues to work.  Not sure how that compares to ones currently listed on Amazon.  I use it a handful of times per year.  Works well for doing checks on your AC function imaging the coils and vents and checking propane levels in free tanks.  Random other uses like seeing how hot your eisy is as well.  I have heard you can spot man-overboard at night with these as well but haven't tried that.

Edited September 23 by apostolakisl

[Ross]

19 hours ago, apostolakisl said:

I have heard you can spot man-overboard at night with these as well but haven't tried that.

The Royal Yachting Association just changed Man Overboard to Person In Water.  You gotta keep up with the times...

[apostolakisl]

3 hours ago, Ross said:

The Royal Yachting Association just changed Man Overboard to Person In Water.  You gotta keep up with the times...

Oh my.