IOTA shut off at high temps?

[mena661]

Went outside just a few minutes ago and noticed the IOTA converters fan running but no voltage output from it. Disconnected the power for 30 sec and reconnected and converter went to boost immediately. I read in the manual that the upper working temp is 104F/40C. Will the unit shut the charging portion off until the temps go down? My old Paramode never shut off no matter what the temps were.

[pianotuna]

Hi renoman,

With 270 watts of solar my guess is your Iota mostly idles rather than getting down to "brass tacks" of heavy duty charging.

Mena has not yet fallen "victim" to the siren song of solar, and he has a larger bank as well, so his Iota may be running flat out.

[mena661]

PT, it is a 55 amp IOTA. Renoman, probably not hot enough for it to come on unless you've been down my way with your IOTA. I checked on it a couple of hours ago and it was at 13.8V and 1.4 amps. Fan was not on.

[renoman69]

I have never heard the fan come on on my 75amp Iota.

[pianotuna]

Hi mena,

How many amps is the Iota? It may not be fair to compare a 60 amp Iota to a 40 amp Black and Decker.

It is interesting to wonder about these things. My PD fan runs from time to time even when the ammeter is saying zero. I find that a little disconcerting.

[mena661]

smkettner wrote:
So do you think IOTA was over 104F?
I would have let it be for a few minutes or into the evening to see if it restarted on its own.

I find it odd that it restarted if it was actually overheated.

It probably was close if not at that temp. Don't know how accurate the temp circuitry is. I thought about letting it alone but was curious. If I catch it again, I'll let it be. It's cool that it protects itself but the unit should be good for WAY more than 104F. If I would've known that I would've sold it on Ebay and got something that does work in those temps. Maybe I should start looking at other converters. You know my supposedly cheaply built B&D 1093 works in ALL conditions without fail or hiccup.

[time2roll]

So do you think IOTA was over 104F?
I would have let it be for a few minutes or into the evening to see if it restarted on its own.

I find it odd that it restarted if it was actually overheated.

[mena661]

Guess it's time to break out the cheap Chinese HF floaters again. Those don't have a problem with the heat. One more reason to dislike these junk converters.

[Salvo]

Guaranteed, heat killed the converter. Bad parts get get way worse under heat stress. Count yourself lucky Itoa has temperature protection. You may not have enough air flow in your converter compartment. If max ambient temp is 104F, then components may be at 150F or higher.

mena661 wrote:
Nah, the person that fixed it said that wasn't the cause. I asked.

[KJINTF]

Heat does indeed kill electronic devices and many other things as well

However I do not believe that it was just the heat that killed the Paramode Conveter - Cheap as in junk Chineese input side 1,200ufd @200Vdc 85C caps that were not constructed properly were the cause. A known issue for many years which continues to show up on all sorts of electronic devices. Either way yes excessive heat kills - they should have installed at least 105C caps in there in the first place.

Keep your Iota away from excessive heat if at all possible it will die an early death if stressed too much

PS - The Paramode is currently doing daily duty keeping two 6Vdc CG trolling motor batteries topped up and ready to go

[Salvo]

Likely an electrolytic cap died. Heat kills them!

mena661 wrote:

Salvo wrote:
That's no surprise the Paramode died then. Heat kills!

Nah, the person that fixed it said that wasn't the cause. I asked.

[BFL13]

It was the Wind they call "Maria" ( Mah- rye- ah)

[mena661]

Salvo wrote:
That's no surprise the Paramode died then. Heat kills!

Nah, the person that fixed it said that wasn't the cause. I asked.

[Salvo]

That's no surprise the Paramode died then. Heat kills!

Sal

mena661 wrote:
My old Paramode never shut off no matter what the temps were.