Ipad overheating. Any solutions?

[ryoder]

My iPad Air 2 overheats when direct sunlight hits it while it is on my knee board.

I obviously can't rely on it so I also have my phone with garmin pilot somewhere cooler at all times and I try to fly vor to vor anyway. But I'd like to mitigate this overheating risk. I plan to get new uv protected windows from LP Aero and that should help a lot. But what about the ipad itself? Is there a cooling jacket? Some kind of fan? Will a screen protector with uv help?

Or should I give up with the iPad and get a Garmin portable?

[gsengle]

Get a white iPad, don't use on already warm knee and try and keep out of direct sunlight

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[Danb]

Ryan. Yep white may help, I started to put my iPad on my left knee ,my mini is my backup. Since I don't use it all the time by using my left knee the air nozzle and aim it directly on the iPad, stays quite cool, I also used to put a sheet of white paper over it and a pad between the iPad and my 98 degree leg.i did have it overheat once and never since changing position.my last trip was to Longview Tx 105*'memphis 109*+ and no problem since changing position, I also use a cheap knee strap even though I have multiple knee boards none of which I like..trial and error is your best bet and I assume it depends how much your heads down on the iPad..good luck and keep us posted on what works for you.

[Hector]

I have a white iPad mini mounted on the yoke. With over three years flying mostly around Florida it has never overheated. I do believe it gets some cooling air from the side vent and maybe that makes all the difference. If overheating is a regular occurrence on your iPad I would be suspicious there might be something else wrong. Inflight overheating I think is a fairly irregular event. Next time it's in direct sunlight might want to make sure it gets some air from one of the vents. I have never heard of any cooling jackets for iPads but a Google search might turn something up.

[Will W]

Put it on the floor & turn the screen off when not using it and fly higher so it's cooler inside.

[LANCECASPER]

I really like my iPad for a lot of things and it's a cool toy for the cockpit, but the Garmin 796 is made for aviation. Never an issue. They aren't cheap but they are worth it as a good solid backup.

[Rwsavory]

Mount it on your yoke.  Flying in all types of weather ours has never overheated.  Ram makes an excellent mounting system, and Sporty's carries it.

[midlifeflyer]

Mount it on your yoke.  Flying in all types of weather ours has never overheated.  Ram makes an excellent mounting system, and Sporty's carries it.

 

It's really about location in the cockpit. The less in direct sunlight or in warm areas of the cockpit and the more airflow around it, the less likely to overheat. I have a full-size iPad 3 that has never overheated or crapped out in flight. Same for the 1st Gen iPad I had before that. It's also about screen brightness. A bright screen is a major heat producer for both phones and tablets.

 

In my case I use a yoke mount (more for positioning than heat issues; I've used kneeboard mounts and simply sitting it down on my lap also). I also adjust the screen brightness to what I need rather than leave it to itself; and I close the iPad for substantial periods of time during en route flight (just as I did with paper), except when I feel I need information from it.

 

Best deal on RAM mounting systems seems to be through through Amazon.

[carusoam]

What works for me.

iPad on right knee.

External antenna, Sky radar.

Avoid direct sunlight.

Best regards,

-a-

[Hank]

And people wonder why I use mine for planning, and paper in flight. Never had a sectional overheat. . .

Good luck finding a solution that works. Please post it for others to see and try. Personally, I'd not yoke mount it, but that's because I use the yoke-mounted clock to change tanks and record flight time.

[gsengle]

I dislike the yoke mount I have for my mini, it's just too low. But I can't figure a better spot I wish it could float between the front seats somehow

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[ArtVandelay]

I dislike the yoke mount I have for my mini, it's just too low. But I can't figure a better spot I wish it could float between the front seats somehow

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The ram mount is pretty flexible, did you move the arm over the top of the yoke? I did this at first, but didn't like how it block the lowest instruments.

For overheating:

I direct the knee vent onto the back of the iPad and use the car shades with suction cups to block the sun

[Hank]

I saw somebody had their Mini hung from the pillar left of the yoke. I still have the old mic bracket there, but no mic. May be a good place to hang an small tablet in portrait mode.

[jnisley]

I've had three models of IPads ( 1, 2+ and 3) all black, all yoke mounted and have only had overheating issues once, perhaps twice...I can't remember, the first time it was because it was in a sleeve in direct sunlight, I removed it from the sleeve, let it cool on the floor of the plane and it was fine the rest of the trip. I believe keeping them out of direct sunlight and good air flow is the key to keeping them from overheating.

[shorrick mk2]

Another less evident trick is make sure all the apps you do not need are closed (instead of just being in the background and drawing power). Double click the home button and close all the apps (swipe up) you do not need.

Also remember that the aluminium back case is in fact a heat sink, so if you have it enclosed in a kneepad thing it sort of defeats the purpose...

[Culver LFA]

I have been using an iPad Mini over 150hr (mostly in Georgia/Florida) without overheating issues using this mount:

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/pages/ps/ipad_mounts1/ramxgrip2.php

[peevee]

My 2 has also overheated, mine gets hot on the back so I don't think it's solar gain causing it. Turning the screen brightness down as low as I can helps a lot, might be worth a shot.

[midlifeflyer]

The ram mount is pretty flexible, did you move the arm over the top of the yoke? I did this at first, but didn't like how it block the lowest instruments.

The other thing to consider is getting a second connector. That's what did the placement trick for me.

[ryoder]

I think the white iPad looks girly. I'll have to rethink the knee board. I don't want it on the yoke and there is no room on the panel.

I am considering throwing some static cling tint on the windows for now.

[Marauder]

On a side note: I learned from an FAA advisory circular or policy letter someone posted here on MS, maybe someone can post it again or find the thread?

It appears the FAA interprets any mount mounted with a suction cup or a clamping devise onto the yoke as NOT permanently mounted and "ok." Or not requiring STC approval.

A permanently attached u-bolt bracket is regarded as "unacceptable" and an "unauthorized" or "unapproved" modification to the aircraft. I am attached picture of an acceptable RAM clamp which we use on the control wheel shaft, a RAM suction cup which would be acceptable, and a unacceptable u/bolt clamp mount.

The rumor is there are some safety inspectors doing ramp checks with a lot of zeal to find and erradicate these unacceptable tablet mounting devices?

IMHO ... a permanently mounted more secure holder is less likely to fail and be a distraction during a critical phase of flight. But the FAA has to establish policy for the lowest common denominator, that would be the one numbskull out of thousands of aircraft owners/operators who clamps it in such a way as to interfere with flight control full travel and freedom of movement.

(I mounted ours in such a way as to insure they do not interfere with full travel ... seems like common sense ...)

I started off using a suction cup on the pilot's side window until the iPad fell off in flight and hit me. You're right, it is a distraction.

The definition between permanent and temporary attachment is the mechanism to attach it in such a manner that a tool is required to remove it.

Simple solution for your u-bolt, replace the nuts with wing nuts...

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[Oscar Avalle]

I have been using my min Ipad mounted on the yoke in more than 110 degree environment and it has never overheated. I disagree that a white ipad is girly...

[Hank]

I have been using my min Ipad mounted on the yoke in more than 110 degree environment and it has never overheated. I disagree that a white ipad is girly...

It may not be girly, but white is a poor color to put in an oily environment. There's a reason I don't wear white clothes, especially in the hangar.

[gsengle]

Don't know bout you but my cockpit isn't an oily environment...

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[Hank]

How clean are all of your fingers after preflight? Especially when traveling away from home. Untying ropes can be the worst, many tiedowns are sunk into the ramp and full of dirt, which is muddy after rain or heavy dew. Sometimes I have to dig them out to get my ropes through them. Add some oil, dip and sump tanks, check alternator belt and starter security . . . Stuff gets on my fingers. YMMV.

[ArtVandelay]

My plane's interior is nicer than my car's, I have wet wipes to clean up, also can use them to clean off bug splatter. I counter my girly white mini by having it a manly back leather protective case