I am planning on switching over from my Garmin 796 to an ipad with floorflight. The 1st problem I have run into is trying to keep the ipad cool enough down here in Az.

Does anyone have any recommendations for what they feel is the best way to keep it cool?

I have heard there is a dock that has fans???

Thought of buying a fan or 2 to put behind it, blowing on it, which brings up another question. Do I need to use outside air to cool, or is moving the air behind the panel sufficient? I have minimal avionics, so most of the heat behind the panel is probly there by way of the firewall.

I have limited space to put a dock, so the more compact the better.

Any other issues that may show up?

Thanks Gary

I just point the air from the pilot’s Cessna air can at the ipad when it’s an issue.

shortfielder wrote:I am planning on switching over from my Garmin 796 to an ipad with floorflight. The 1st problem I have run into is trying to keep the ipad cool enough down here in Az.

Does anyone have any recommendations for what they feel is the best way to keep it cool?

I have heard there is a dock that has fans???

Thought of buying a fan or 2 to put behind it, blowing on it, which brings up another question. Do I need to use outside air to cool, or is moving the air behind the panel sufficient? I have minimal avionics, so most of the heat behind the panel is probly there by way of the firewall.

I have limited space to put a dock, so the more compact the better.

Any other issues that may show up?

Thanks Gary

Gary,

Do a search for cooling dock on google. There are several out there.

I get away with keeping the air vent pointed at mine, but this ain’t AZ.

MTV

Gary I've been using an Ipad since the early days and never had a problem in the Skywagon. Mine is a mini yoke mounted in front of me. the only time I've had a heat related failure is when I've left it like on a seat in direct sunlight.

Don’t know if you are plugging it in, but one tip I have heard and use, is to start with it at 100%. It will run cooler if it isn’t trying to charge and run off the ship power.

YMMV...

Rod

Mine is panel mounted, which makes it tougher for the air from the vents to get to it. And has shut down in this heat.

i think a fan(s) will be needed, and am curious which are better than others. And whether to use outside air or just stir up the air behind the panel. I suspect outside air would be better??

I have seen some of the docks, thought some probly worked better than others, so was hoping for some feedback from those with experience.

Thanks for your thoughts.

I've had a Mini 4 panel mounted in my SQ2 for 6 years and have never had it overheat, even flying in the Texas summer heat (105+). I use an AirGizmo mount which does have a provision for avionic fans, but instead I took a unibit and drilled a bunch of "cooling holes" in the back so air could get to the back of the iPad. That was sufficient.

My 185's firewall is very well insulated so the heat I have between the firewall and panel is mostly generated by the avionics, which only consist of two radios and a transponder so it doesn't get very hot in that area. But I've been in wagons that are loaded with avionics and probably have poor insulation and that area is downright hot. I'm thinking that is the first thing you'll need to determine- how hot is it behind the panel and where is that heat coming from.

Then, based on those results, figure out the best way to cool it.

1. Maybe "cooling holes" in the mount will suffice- you can always cover them with duct tape if they don't.
2. Maybe an avionics cooling fan will suffice.
3. Maybe rerouting the vent air from the outside vent on the cowling will be what you need.

Please share with us the solution that ultimately works for you.

Glidergeek wrote:…. the only time I've had a heat related failure is when I've left it like on a seat in direct sunlight.

Ditto for my Samsung tablet.

I’m planning on either panel mounting a 796 or iPad mini this fall. I keep going back and forth between the 2, heat being one concern as well as other pros/cons.

I’m curious...why are you switching to the iPad? Something you don’t like about the 796?

BlindPilot wrote:I’m planning on either panel mounting a 796 or iPad mini this fall. I keep going back and forth between the 2, heat being one concern as well as other pros/cons.

I’m curious...why are you switching to the iPad? Something you don’t like about the 796?

Garmin quit making the 796 it appears. I would imagine support for it will be around for awhile.

I’m planning on either panel mounting a 796 or iPad mini this fall. I keep going back and forth between the 2, heat being one concern as well as other pros/cons.

Bigger screen, has more functions, cheaper to operate. Has some features the Garmin doesn't have that I like.

I like blast air from inside the cowl.
One for the magnetos, another for the iPad, and a third one for my stick-hand.

I mounted my iPad mini in the radio stack of my 182. It took a little moving stuff around to get it where I thought it would be functional. Immediately after the install, I took a month long test flight trip to the Bahamas. Upon returning from my trip, I removed the thing from my panel, and found a good yoke mount, where it now lives. Although the panel idea seemed great, I found myself constantly touching the touch screen everywhere but where it needed to be touched to perform any given function, especially in a little turbulence. Also, I was always trying to lean closer to it to read the fine print of which there is plenty with Foreflight.
I haven't really heard any one else say they had the same problem, although seems like a lot of pilots like the iPad in their lap.
Ron