Overheating In Cold Weather

Dan Keaton · November 27th, 2010, 07:09 AM

Dear David,

We will have the firmware fix in our next firmware.

In the meantime, you could try some type of thermal wrap for the nanoFlash.

All we have to do is to get the nanoFlash above freezing to start, then keep it, internally, above that temperature.

Since the nanoFlash will typically work fine, if started above freezing, and then exposed to very cold temperatures, I have a few possibilities.

1. Put the nanoFlash in Zip Lock bag with a hand warmer or add even more insulation.
2. Power up the nanoFlash, using a second battery while it is warmer than freezing.

No amount of insulation will protect the nanoFlash from getting below freezing, if the nanoFlash and its thermal protection is exposed to cold whether and the nanoFlash is powered off. Eventually it will get cold.

This will be a lot easier once we release the firmware with the fix.

On one shoot, the nanoFlashes were powered up a normal temperatures, then flown to 99,200 feet and minus 75F (-59C). Since the units were powered on, they self heated and stayed above freezing.

They were also in a very thin styrofoam case for some protection. This case had two nanoFlashes, a radio transmitter, a GPS unit, some other electronics and a battery.

Please be aware that one also has to keep the CompactFlash cards warm.
Unless you are using special cards, they will not work at very cold temperatures.

The Delkin CombatPro CompactFlash cards are designed to work over a wider temperature range.

David C Wright · November 27th, 2010, 08:18 AM

Hi Dan,

Actually we did insulate the nanoFlash and had it warm until we needed to use it. Plus made a box from a thick rubber sleeping mat for use in cold temperatures. Then packed hand warmers around the nanoFlash. The unit stayed on for about 20 secs and then shut down when no longer inside my jacket. Unit fired up fine when back in the warmth of a vehicle or building. It is a 'big' ask to have gear work under these conditions as it was terribly cold but would not recommend that any one rely on any gear working at these temperatures with out doing extensive testing.

I have spent extended periods working in Arctic conditions and have was not surprised this happened. My Panasonic HDX 900 also started acting strange, the record button froze etc..... Canon 5D had reduced battery life......

I would suggest a housing for the nanoFlash when using under these conditions, with a heating element. That or the low tech method of long cables and keeping the unit inside your jacket. I had to keep any batteries inside my jacket and use a long cable to power video cameras, otherwise their capacity was drastically reduced.

David

Willard Hill · January 4th, 2011, 08:14 PM

The latest beta firmware definitley stopped this problem with my unit, or at least it is working at much lower temperatures than before. It has been powering up flawlessly in weather down to 10 Fahrenheit, where it was failing to work in the upper 20s before.

Larry Hill · April 17th, 2011, 10:53 PM

Is there a direct interpretation of this message? During a worship service recording today, when a card change was forced, the second card recorded only about 25 MB before giving this message. This was clearly not a cold environment, but possibly the opposite. These cards have worked flawlessly many times before, though this is only the second time the forced switch was applied.

Our firmware was updated to the latest public version a couple of weeks ago.

Any help before next Sunday would be greatly appreciated.

Dan Keaton · April 18th, 2011, 06:07 AM

Dear Larry,

This is an error message that we generate when we cannot properly communicate with a CompactFlash card.

What Brand and Type of CompactFlash card were you using?

Where the cards formatted in the nanoFlash?

Where the cards purchased from a reputable source?

Please feel free to send me a private email and I will do my best to assist.

November 27th, 2010, 07:09 AM	#16
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Dear David, We will have the firmware fix in our next firmware. In the meantime, you could try some type of thermal wrap for the nanoFlash. All we have to do is to get the nanoFlash above freezing to start, then keep it, internally, above that temperature. Since the nanoFlash will typically work fine, if started above freezing, and then exposed to very cold temperatures, I have a few possibilities. 1. Put the nanoFlash in Zip Lock bag with a hand warmer or add even more insulation. 2. Power up the nanoFlash, using a second battery while it is warmer than freezing. No amount of insulation will protect the nanoFlash from getting below freezing, if the nanoFlash and its thermal protection is exposed to cold whether and the nanoFlash is powered off. Eventually it will get cold. This will be a lot easier once we release the firmware with the fix. On one shoot, the nanoFlashes were powered up a normal temperatures, then flown to 99,200 feet and minus 75F (-59C). Since the units were powered on, they self heated and stayed above freezing. They were also in a very thin styrofoam case for some protection. This case had two nanoFlashes, a radio transmitter, a GPS unit, some other electronics and a battery. Please be aware that one also has to keep the CompactFlash cards warm. Unless you are using special cards, they will not work at very cold temperatures. The Delkin CombatPro CompactFlash cards are designed to work over a wider temperature range. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

November 27th, 2010, 08:18 AM	#17
David C Wright Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Appleton, ME Posts: 160	Insulation Hi Dan, Actually we did insulate the nanoFlash and had it warm until we needed to use it. Plus made a box from a thick rubber sleeping mat for use in cold temperatures. Then packed hand warmers around the nanoFlash. The unit stayed on for about 20 secs and then shut down when no longer inside my jacket. Unit fired up fine when back in the warmth of a vehicle or building. It is a 'big' ask to have gear work under these conditions as it was terribly cold but would not recommend that any one rely on any gear working at these temperatures with out doing extensive testing. I have spent extended periods working in Arctic conditions and have was not surprised this happened. My Panasonic HDX 900 also started acting strange, the record button froze etc..... Canon 5D had reduced battery life...... I would suggest a housing for the nanoFlash when using under these conditions, with a heating element. That or the low tech method of long cables and keeping the unit inside your jacket. I had to keep any batteries inside my jacket and use a long cable to power video cameras, otherwise their capacity was drastically reduced. David __________________ David http://www.planetearthpictures.com

January 4th, 2011, 08:14 PM	#18
Willard Hill Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 191	The latest beta firmware definitley stopped this problem with my unit, or at least it is working at much lower temperatures than before. It has been powering up flawlessly in weather down to 10 Fahrenheit, where it was failing to work in the upper 20s before. __________________ Willard http://pawildlifephotographer.blogspot.com/

April 17th, 2011, 10:53 PM	#19
Larry Hill Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Western, VA Posts: 26	Lba progress error Is there a direct interpretation of this message? During a worship service recording today, when a card change was forced, the second card recorded only about 25 MB before giving this message. This was clearly not a cold environment, but possibly the opposite. These cards have worked flawlessly many times before, though this is only the second time the forced switch was applied. Our firmware was updated to the latest public version a couple of weeks ago. Any help before next Sunday would be greatly appreciated.

April 18th, 2011, 06:07 AM	#20
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Re: Overheating In Cold Weather Dear Larry, This is an error message that we generate when we cannot properly communicate with a CompactFlash card. What Brand and Type of CompactFlash card were you using? Where the cards formatted in the nanoFlash? Where the cards purchased from a reputable source? Please feel free to send me a private email and I will do my best to assist. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia