GoPro Hero 4 Black heat issue update

Well been doing a fair bit of testing today and during a discussion in IRC someone suggested looking at the heat sink built into the exiting waterproof cover. 

I have never paid that much notice to it as never been used. Checking it out it I found a metal heat sink that sits around the lens and dissipates heat. 

Well managed to free it from my case and then make a quick 3D print to act as a template for cutting out. Fitted it all together and included a frame to clean it all up and hold it in place.

So having done some more testing, as long as I have a slight flow of air on the outside it has continued to function fine. 

GoPro heat issues

Looks like I'm going to have more heat issues with the GoPro hero 4 black at 2.7k 50fps. It showed up at times during testing outside the payload and it's happening all the time once mounted inside. Some of it I expected and hence additional testing. Only getting about 30 mins recording before it shuts down.. And that's with the lid off.

Might have to look at dropping down the resolution to see if that improves the run time due to heat. Not exactly worth having the hero 4 if it can't run even in a 19 degree room. 

Looking out on the web it would seem that a lot of people mount it in an metal cage, not really an option at 138g.

On a more positive front i might have managed to save 65g by removing additional batteries to power the pits. Depends a bit on how the testing goes on GoPro.

Power testing underway

Started this evening doing some power testing. With a view to reduce some weight i'm looking to see if i can run the PITS and GoPro off the same batteries.  On paper this should be fine but reality can sometimes be very different.

Does look a bit like a xmas tree with all the LEDs, might have to see what i can turn off.

Also pleased to report now issues with the GSM tracker and the rpi etc.

Changes seemed to have worked

Well the few changes to the GoPro lens hood seem to have done the job and just remains to be stuck in place.

It might not look that changed in photo but 3mm made a fair difference to fitting it.

Adjustments for GoPro lens hood

Made a few adjustments to the original design to help avoid the lens hood being in shot. Shortened the snood so its will be both wider and shorter.

openSCAD file

Lens Hood fitment

Lens hood will beed a few small changes just to make it fit better bit a few mm off each end will do

GoPro Lens hood

Decided to work on a lens hood for the GoPro to stop any issues with polystyrene coming lose around the exit hole on the payload.

When i made the hole it was no way near as good as the on for the RX100 and ended up also digging away to get a wide enough aperture so that the wide angle of the lens would not catch the outer edges of the hole. I'm a bit worried that i might get bits on the lens or coming lose during flight.

So a few minutes in OpenSCAD and i came up with

Its printing at the moment so will see what its like in about an hour.

Payload taking shape and almost compelete

Bit more work carried out on payload and started to mount camera etc within. The 3d printed parts have mad wit very easy to remove items etc while i get things ready.

Both the Sony RX100 MkIII and GoPro are mounted on 3d printed parts that allow me to remove the items as required. Also allows for easy routing of the dummy battery for the Sony. 

Links to mounts
GoPro Mount
RX100 Mount

Originals modded from thingiverse RX100 & GoPro

3D Printed Hole Saw

Been constructing my next payload and it came time to make a hole for the camera lens to see out. Don't own any hole saws and decided to give making one on the 3d printer a go. I could make it any size i wanted.


Hole Saw on Tinkered