Welcome to our community

Be a part of something great, join today!

Log in
  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Thermal Shutdown!!!

StevenMore

StevenMore

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 3, 2011
Messages
48
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Clearwater, FL
Website
www.stevenmore.com
I was doing my first real shoot with my Scarlett this weekend in a warehouse at about 82 degrees. It was cool enough that I haden't broken a real sweat. After about 10 minutes of operation, my Scarlet said "Thermal Warning - Shutting Down".


WHAT??? This was indoors, in the shade, lightly air conditioned. I live in Florida, what do I do in the summer with an outdoor shoot? I was lucky there was a fan in the room, so I pointed it at the camera and and powered it up after about five minutes. It worked for the rest of the shoot, but ouch.

I mean this was really an ideal environment compared to most shoots. Is there something that I am missing? The Scarlet's fan was working...
 
Sounds weird. I had mine in direct sunlight at about 90F with a little breeze shooting 5K HDR timelapse at 1FPS for 4 hours then switched over and shot another hour of 4K 24 stuff. What firmware are you running?
 
was the fan set to manual or automatic mode?
if manual -> what fan speed (percentage) while recording?
 
I haven't had a thermal shutdown ever though it has been around -30 here... :)
 
I was directing an interview with some high profile artists and the fan kept popping on due to overheating issues when it was not supposed to be turning on. We had to go to manual and set the record speed as high as as possible without the audio actually significantly picking it up. This is a REAL pain I hope a firmware update addresses this. We already filed a complaint with RED and I highly recommend you do the same so that they are aware of this issue.
 
This is what scared me most about that noisy fan. I live in Oklahoma, and last year we had about 3 weeks straight of 100º+ weather. It absolutely will not be acceptable if I can't shoot for a month or if I constantly have to have keep cooling it to keep things running.
 
Wow, its not just me...

I was shooting a few 10 min interviews, when part way through the third interview in a basement, at about 70F, with no heat from lights, I noticed my Scarlet Heat indicator (the little red dot next to the temp) turned to red. I had the fans on the default for both recording etc. While the interviewer was answering the questions, I looked up the Scarlet manuel, and saw that it was not good over 40C, so I ramped up the fans, probably to the point of interfering with the sound, and the temp started to come down to under 40C. But I shut down and ran a hairdryer on cold over top of the vents to cool it down (didn't want to blow dust into the camera) and then the next take I had to run the fans on high again.

So thoughts/questions

at room temp, with no external heat:
how long should the camera be able to record?
What SHOULD the temp range be for optimal function?
What are the idea settings? Under record and standby
Auto percentage is weird: so if its at 50 (I THINK default) percent of AUTO, does that mean its HALF of what the camera thinks it SHOULD be? What is 100%? and why would I want it any less than what the camera thinks it should be?
How do I cool down the camera IF I turn it off, it seems like there should be a fan on, camera off mode to cool it down?
Total catch-22, leave the camera on, it generates more heat, turn it off, it doesnt run the fan to cool (hence me running a cool hair dryer over the vents.
CAN I blow INTO the vents without pushing dust into it?
Where is the front INLET vent?
And I tried to cool it slowly, like running cold water over a hot pan, I didn't want to warp anything; are there any parameters about HOW to cool it down, HOW FAST its safe to cool it down?
And how can I artificially cool it down, thought about those computer cleaning cool air bottles, but wouldn't that also cause condensation?

and HOW THE HELL DO YOU CHANGE the temp from C to F??? I have no reference for C, I'm American, I need F to "get it" (insert stupid american comment ____)

I REALLY wish some of this was in the manuel! I really looked, but couldn't find something.

Love my camera, just wish I could figure it out.
 
kevin holmgren said:
But I shut down and ran a hairdryer on cold over top of the vents to cool it down (didn't want to blow dust into the camera) and then the next take I had to run the fans on high again.
Click to expand...

Just a note, the Heatsink is isolated from the rest of the camera so need to worry about blowing dust into it.
 
The Camera fan is set on Auto. Software Version 2.0.5

In a 74 Deg F Room, My Camera said 23 Deg C when turned on and climbed to 41C in about 4 Mins. and then slowly climber to 43C in five more mins and then hovered there with the fan roaring along. When recording the fan only slightly slowed down.
 
In order for us to help you with these issues, you need to get a lot more specific with the details of your settings. Was the fan on Auto or Manual? What was the percentage setting for the fan?

I did a 2-day shoot in January with 8 long interviews. In one of those, we shot over an hour of footage in an hour and 15 minutes. The camera was rolling nearly constantly. There was no problem. Ever.

Taks a look at this thread: http://reduser.net/forum/showthread...LLET-PROOF-IN-ONE-EXTREME-TEST-FOR-NAT-GEO-TV
Dino is one of the most experienced Red DITs out there, so you can learn a lot by paying attention to what he says about pretty much anything. He shoots with Errol Morris, who is famous for mag-filling long interviews.

People are doing this stuff out in the real world with great success. If you are having trouble, there is a lot of information on this forum. (Google is a useful tool.) If that doesn't help, file a support ticket.
 
kevin holmgren said:
....le red dot next to the temp) turned to red. I had the fans on the default for both recording etc. While the interviewer was answering the questions, I looked up the Scarlet manuel, and saw that it was not good over 40C, so I ramped up the fans, probably to the point of interfering with the sound, and the temp started to come down to under 40C. ....
Click to expand...

That cannot be right? My camera core temp settles at 45C after warming up only 7 minutes or so.
On page 9 of the manual it says operating range 0C to +40C, i believe that means the temperature of the room/area you are operating the camera in, not the core temp itself. Please someone let me know if I'm wrong because my cam would definately need to be looked at if that's the case

I will usually be shooting very short takes for commercial work (and only 1 job so far with the X ), but I did do a timelapse for 1 hour of straight recording at 8fps only though...it got up to 48C I believe in a 27C room. Also in Florida here, and was wondering what the summer holds for this camera :scared:
 
Last edited:
StevenMore said:
The Camera fan is set on Auto. Software Version 2.0.5

In a 74 Deg F Room, My Camera said 23 Deg C when turned on and climbed to 41C in about 4 Mins. and then slowly climber to 43C in five more mins and then hovered there with the fan roaring along. When recording the fan only slightly slowed down.
Click to expand...

FWIW, I run the fan on my camera at 37% during record, on manual. 75% during standby. (Epic-M, so it should produce more heat than a Scarlet.)
 
Before I got the SCARLET, I was reading the EPIC sections regarding temperatures.

I have mine set at 30% during record and 90% on standby. I was shooting all day this past Friday in the sun (I don't recall the actual temperture), but never ran into a heating problem.

D Fuller said:
FWIW, I run the fan on my camera at 37% during record, on manual. 75% during standby.
Click to expand...
 
When the camera gets to 75c, the fans automatically switch to high regardless in manual or auto. I keep my fan at 30% in record, 85% standby. Have not had a overheat yet.
 
I shoot both Epic and Scarlet for 90 minute takes. Usually have the fan set to about 45% during record. Never had a warning or shutdown. There is always a balance, you just need to find it.
 
The inlet is on the front, under the lens mount.
Right where the RED badge is located.

If you just use a fan, or the hair dryer like you described, you won't damage anything.

The whole body is actually used as a heatsink, and unless you use cryogenic materials or liquids, you really will not damage the camera.

kevin holmgren said:
Where is the front INLET vent?
And I tried to cool it slowly, like running cold water over a hot pan, I didn't want to warp anything; are there any parameters about HOW to cool it down, HOW FAST its safe to cool it down?
Click to expand...
 
Justin Harrison said:
Sounds weird. I had mine in direct sunlight at about 90F with a little breeze shooting 5K HDR timelapse at 1FPS for 4 hours then switched over and shot another hour of 4K 24 stuff. What firmware are you running?
Click to expand...
How were you shooting 1fps?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top