Black GPS and Radar Detectors Overheat: Anyone paint the sides and backs of their GPS and Radar detectors silver or white to keep them a bit cooler?
288031
I've taken 800+ mile summer trips, 106 deg this summer in Kansas, my unit never overheated. Haven't had a problem with heat in over two years. We have 5 of these units and they work as long as we don't "lose" them! :)
610498
I don't see that being a problem because the battery is in the sending unit. I know it gets cold in WI, but not cold enough to stop radio waves or electrons :-) When in doubt I always contact the manufacturer. I've been using this device (both units are in the house) for a few months now and it has worked flawlessly for me. One side note is that we have our house heavily insulated. It's wrapped in foam board insulation as well as the usual in-wall cavity insulation along with triple pane windows. After installing the extra insulation and new windows we no longer can use outdoor radio wave devices (indoor-outdoor remote thermostats). The receivers can't pick up the signal even if it's only a couple feet away with new batteries.
635646
Silver reflective on one side, white on other. Works very good. I put it in large metal storage building in south alabama, it kept building cool even in 100 degree weather. Metal building without this insulation. Was like an oven during same period.
1887490
This sensors have only black color. If you need to change to white color then you have to paint before attached on your car. Or return this sensors, and searching been coloring other sensors.
452648
I advise against it. Changes in temperature on the glass will degrade the sticker over time. Exposure to direct sunlight also isn't advised. I placed my detector near my front door. This allows for changes in air around the detector.
1101158
Absolutely a must, arctic silver is better than the white kind, but I suppose as long as you have something there to transfer the heat from cpu to heat sink it should be ok
1729822
Hey Bob, No!! After about 2 summers the 2 suction cups stiffened and never adhered to the windshield again. Buy a good after market...worth the money...cuz, it's a great detector. Good luck. Keep the detector,it'll save ya. Peace. ✌
1459727
I would advise against varnish. You do not want to put an insulating material over electronics that can get hot. I also would not worry about ambient moisture, even on a boat. Just mount it vertically. If you are worried about it getting splashed, then you can Google, "Conformal Coating" and read up on it.
1392110
I have mine outside and have no problem with them. They are in a bullet type housing. (Rad motion detection system)
1487102
White white look and work great better than the other ones I took out....don't know the temp
2024653
I live in Vermont... It's cold here... last winter we were frequently in the -15°F range... These operate on watch batteries - 2nd winter running and I haven't changed them yet. My only suggestion is be careful mounting them with screws, if it's cold and you over-tighten the screw you crack the mounting plate.
1984722
I would get a thermal silicone rubber insulator and mount the P/S against a metal plate via the four metric sized corner holes. A die cast aluminum box, like those made by Hammond, would make a dandy heat sink as well as a case. The problem is getting to the in/out selector push button and making a window to see the voltage. For my application, I just used sticky two sided mounting tape and stuck it to the chassis. Sticky back Velcro also works but can be difficult to release and Velcro is a terrible heat diffuser. 4-40 screws are difficult for mounting as the nuts and the heads of the screws create an "interference fit".
278319
Yes, the unit works off of passive infrared, which means the unit needs to see a change in temperature in motion to detect. So anything with a heat signature and moving within the detection area will be picked up.
905782
Electronics and heat - bad combination. The fact that this thing is metal means it will conduct even more heat than plastic, and possibly transmit it to the sensitive electronics inside. I would never leave mine in the vehicle, even up here in MA - never mind FL!!
449519
I have had them on my back or laying on them for well over two hours and they were still cold. I had a three hour drive the other day and had them behind my back, they were still cold when I got there Tip, don't freeze them silver side together, they won't last. It is best if you can freeze them in different parts of the freezer so they don't touch, but I freeze mine white side to white side so the silver side is not touching them.
2249051
The silver side is the reflective side, so the other writer probably had that facing in. If you have the silver side facing out of your windows, it might be effective to reflect heat and glare.
307594
I have a disc on my dash. I live in San Antonio where our summer temps easily exceed 110°F! Also, the round & rectangular "magnets" aren't magnets. They're metal plates. The actual magnet is the round part you see with their logo. I am using 2 with my phone because my Trident case is a bit thick.