running FF my ipad overheated

Unit74

Unit74

Final Approach
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Mar 8, 2014
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Unit74
Never happened before. After about 20 min, the red battery screen came up and it shut down. It's 47 outside so it's not an ambient issue. I have been using my iPad for internet almost exclusively and it doesn't overheat.

I just updated the data bases this am, but that couldn't possibly be the issue! Just out of the blue it became very hot in my hands! I pulled out my backup and flew the rest of the way in no prob.

It's an iPad 3
 
Was it in direct sunlight? I've never had mine shutdown, but I've heard of it in direct sun.
 
Yes, but not even the black glairshield was warm. I have flow probably 120 hours , through 110 deg days and no problems with it in the same exact place.

It's almost like something was forcing a huge app or WiFi to run at max output.
 
It's not ambient temp, it's direct sunlight. Also, the device uses its case to transfer heat so if it's in a case that may not help. Always keep it in the shade or face down when not in use.
 
I can almost 100% guarantee that it was the direct sunlight. You need to somehow shield it from the sun. I have a sun shade on my yoke mount that doubles as a flip down clipboard. And my second iPad (when I'm flying xcountry) is in a kneeboard with a flip over clipboard. These NEVER overheat.
 
Highly unlikely that it's a case either. I haven't done this experiment recently, but a couple of years ago I ran an iPad streaming a movie for 2 hours wrapped in a wool blanket and sealed up tightly. It never even got warm.
 
Only time I have had the I pad overheat in the airplane was when it was in direct sunlight.
 
Walboy said:
Granted, I'm in AZ...but the iPad was mounted on a yoke each time it happened not exposed to direct sunlight on a glareshield.
Click to expand...

Also in AZ and mounted on yoke and never had any overheating issues. ( even in July !!)
 
If it is sunny out, the other potential heat generator is the brightly backlit screen you need in order to see it, even if the sunlight is not direct.
 
I would thing running Bluetooth etc would also make it run hotter
 
External.

I am 100% convince it is not a direct sunlight issue. If that was the case, my back up would have done the same thing. I flew longer on the b/u than the failed one. Again, I have put at least 120 hours in baking AR sun in this configuration with no issues.

Something funky was happening. 20 min on a fresh battery should not get it smoking hot. Maybe Apple is Fing with because because I refuse to do any more updates!
 
Unit74 said:
External.

I am 100% convince it is not a direct sunlight issue. If that was the case, my back up would have done the same thing. I flew longer on the b/u than the failed one. Again, I have put at least 120 hours in baking AR sun in this configuration with no issues.

Something funky was happening. 20 min on a fresh battery should not get it smoking hot. Maybe Apple is Fing with because because I refuse to do any more updates!
Click to expand...

So you were running on the battery, not plugged into power, correct?
 
When my iPad mini is in direct sunlight it always over heats no matter what the air temp is.
 
I've seen a bunch of them over heat and 100% of the time it's direct sunlight to blame. The iPad screen absorbs sunlight for some reason. The glare shield can be warm but the iPad is on fire hot.

Why didn't the backup have issue? Dunno, maybe you turned a degree or two and the sun didn't hit it right. Maybe you flew under some clouds. Whatever, I'd be extremely leaning towards the sun being the issue and not some undiscovered defect. Let me guess, it works fine now with no heat issues?
 
Yep, on it now. Been trying to,find the end of the Internet for tha last hour or so.
 
I never use any device with 100% brightness. Turn off auto bright and adjust brightness down a bit.(maybe 80-90% in bright daylight)

Helps with battery life too and have never had an overheat issue.

You will be amazed at what 10-20% less brightness does for power consumption.

Also agree if direct sunlight was hitting it....that could very well be the problem.
 
I use to have that problem a lot. It's due to direct sunlight. I put a small towel over it when I fly and have never had a problem since. Hope this helps.
 
I have had my iPad overheat just one time. It was on the glare shield in direct view of the sun.

I don't what else could be causing your issue.
 
Place me in the sunlight crowd. I've struggled to start my old E series motor after sitting on a hot ramp and had no issues with the iPad. But freezing my lower parts at 10500' in unobscured sunlight the iPad said "enough". It's happened a few times now. I just turn it over or close the cover.
 
Mine overheated once. Wife holding it her lap, but the direct sun was shining on her lap. Closed the cover and placed it on the floor leaning against the fuel selector (Cessna). 15 min later and it was fine. OAT at 10K MSL was about 70F. Summer in the desert.

It does not have to be on the glare shield to overheat.
 
I found a bug that effected at least the ipad mini2 and the iphone 5 where if you got them cold enough... and I am talking about well below freezing they would give you the overheating message and shut down.

Both devices died on me when I was deer hunting in WI last year. Temps 0-20F. Not in direct sunlight, devices cold to the touch after having been outside a couple hours. Wouldn't come back on until I brought them inside and warmed them up.

My theory is either the sensor goofs and misreports the temperature in extreme cold or the overheat message is actually triggered by any sensor reading outside a certain range and was tripped by the cold.

I can tell you previous iphones didn't do this, I had been using them as GPS guidance on my snowmobile and they didn't shut down like that.
 
My iPad was hot. Pulled put the cradle and I was like, damn son.
 
Mine is wifi only. I don't think is has GPS, does it? I though only the cell service ones did.
 
Unit74 said:
Mine is wifi only. I don't think is has GPS, does it? I though only the cell service ones did.
Click to expand...

Nope, my iPad is the same, but it only gets hot in direct sunlight. I have an old sunshade bezel from a radar that I use when I put it in the sun for use on a boat. With that it never overheats.
 
Is the iPad in a case or kneeboard? If so, that acts as insulation and prevents it from dissipating heat as efficiently as without it.

In my setup the RAM mount only partially covers the rear of the iPad and holds it up in front of the yoke where airflow from the vents can get to it.

I've had it in direct sunlight for hours and it never overheated. I know some people can't do the yoke mount thing but getting some airflow on the iPad will help. Those screens are big and bright and they do heat them up.

Possible booty-fabbed workaround: I fly with sticky notes (the larger ones with lines on them). I have been known to stick one above my Stratus (stuck on the window) to provide shade and (at least in my yoke-mounted config) I suppose you could fold and stick one on an iPad for shade too.
 
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My mini 3 always seemed to overheat when I had the smart cover on and mounted on the yoke.. in jus the slightest bit of sun..

My Mini 4 with a Smart Cover doesn't overheat at all.. it's smart cover is made out of silicone type stuff.. it transfers heat a lot better so it stays cooler..
 
Unit74 said:
Never happened before. After about 20 min, the red battery screen came up and it shut down. It's 47 outside so it's not an ambient issue. I have been using my iPad for internet almost exclusively and it doesn't overheat.

I just updated the data bases this am, but that couldn't possibly be the issue! Just out of the blue it became very hot in my hands! I pulled out my backup and flew the rest of the way in no prob.

It's an iPad 3
Click to expand...

Red Battery screen? Or "Ipad needs to cool down before you can use it"

These are two different issues. Red battery sounds like you had an application that went nuts caused it to run hot (internally) by eating up the CPU/GPS/ etc and sucked the battery down rapidly and eventually died.

If the IPad overheats, it actually says, Temperature on the screen and doesn't actually shut down, just not usable until it cools down.
 
ifly4fun said:
Red Battery screen? Or "Ipad needs to cool down before you can use it"

These are two different issues. Red battery sounds like you had an application that went nuts caused it to run hot (internally) by eating up the CPU/GPS/ etc and sucked the battery down rapidly and eventually died.

If the IPad overheats, it actually says, Temperature on the screen and doesn't actually shut down, just not usable until it cools down.
Click to expand...

This is a good point.

I've had apps go nuts and heat up/run down my iOS devices on occasion.
 
Yes, red battery screen is what I got. It was like a big F u dude. I quit.
 
I had ours shut down a couple of times. In the summer, I have one of the eyeball vents pointed on the ipad.
 
cool air blowing on it wont stop the direct sunlight from shutting it down.

I'm off the pad. Garmin 696 is rock solid and easier to use. (and there's one for 1k on Vansairforce right now if you're ready to move up in the world)
 
Unit74 said:
Yes, red battery screen is what I got. It was like a big F u dude. I quit.
Click to expand...

That was likely an application issue vs. overheat then. If you're able to catch it before it completely kills the device (Notice it running hot, battery life draining extremely fast) you can kill all running applications by double clicking the home button and swipe up on all the applications.

I use the "Storm" weather app, and they released an update a couple months ago that would kill my phone every other day. I stopped using until their next update and problem solved.

You can also try a hard reset if you catch it.. Hold both the home button and power button for 20 seconds (or until you see the Apple logo). This doesn't erase anything, just reboots.
 
My iPad 3 has never had an overheat shutdown, but I fly a high wing plane and I have a window vent that blows right into the back of the iPad.

I just got a new iPad Air 2, and the new cradle has me keeping the case I carry it around in on the iPad in the cradle. We'll see if that makes it get too hot.
 
bullwinkle said:
My iPad 3 has never had an overheat shutdown, but I fly a high wing plane and I have a window vent that blows right into the back of the iPad.

I just got a new iPad Air 2, and the new cradle has me keeping the case I carry it around in on the iPad in the cradle. We'll see if that makes it get too hot.
Click to expand...

With the airflow you describe I bet you'll be OK with the case on.
 
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