Heatsinks for MKR WAN 1310

Official Hardware MKR Family MKR WAN 1310
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Have developed a programmable USB hub that enables communication between devices that cannot be directly wired together but which do have cooperating USB-oriented data streams (Scalable-Point-to-Point-LoRa-Sensor-Network/Documentation+Software at main · SoothingMist/Scalable-Point-to-Point-LoRa-Sensor-Network · GitHub).

One of the devices is the MKR WAN 1310. The volume of data can be rather high. The hub is successful but the specific MKR board now seems to no longer want to work properly. It will not even transmit simple text messages (see GrassrootsNetwork within larger project). Am wondering if I could have somehow damaged the board by overheating it. A different board does work correctly using the same cable and USB port.

If a heatsink is required, where does one purchase such a thing? I see opportunities for larger adhesive heatsinks that maybe can be cut down to size but is there a better solution?

If not overheating, what might cause a board to have this malfunction?

Many thanks for the community's insights.

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I believe you don't need heatsinks with any arduino. More probable that you have some wiring error or you are drawing (/sinking) too much current from pins.

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There is no wiring. Just a USB connection.

I discount a coding error since known-good code works on the second MKR and not the original one.

The dataflow from an Uno, through the hub, and to the MKR was numerous trials of 1020 215-byte messages over 4.54 minutes and of 4080 55-byte messages over 10.88 minutes.

Have done similar with two Unos and never had this issue. LoRa transmission back then was with the Dragino transceiver shield that they no longer manufacture.

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And previously? Already damaged board?

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hhhmmmm...... I did connect the 5v output to A1 input. Read the voltage and broadcast it. MKR WAN 1310 is a 3.3v device. Could that have done it? But, that worked very well for a long time and was done about a month ago.

Another point on your side: Also about a month ago I had connected the MKR to the USB port on a headless Rpi4B. The voltage measured at that port is somewhat above the USB standard. But, again, the device worked well for a long time afterwards and only now has failed.

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Yes. Possible.
I don't know your board, but I expect that abuse on adc pin doesn't cause rapid failure of the chip.

That's passing through voltage regulator, so I wouldn't expect problem there.

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Thank you so much for your insights kmin.

It is sad really. Back when Dragino made a LoRa shield that worked with the RadioHead library, I was using Uno and Mega to carry out this process. Never had a problem. Now that Dragino no longer makes that shield, I've switched to the MKR WAN 1310. The MKR does not seem to be physically holding up to the challenge.

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Another thought: What about static discharge? Is it possible that the MKR WAN 1310 is sensitive to that when being handled? The Uno and Mega come with plastic bottoms but the MKR does not.

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I see more chances that something bad happens when your board is touching some conductive object or laid on conductive surface (like aluminum laptop case).

1 Like
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That has not happened. I'm careful about that.

sigh. Maybe just a bad part, a manufacturing flaw.

Going to continue with the project. The next step is to add LoRa broadcast to the process by which the MKR receives data from the hub. If a new working MKR fails again.... That leads to more investigation and another decision.

I surely do appreciate this discussion kmin.

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If your MKR over heats with nothing connected, you should replace it. Otherwise you run a risk to damage something connected to it.

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The MKR devices I own have not overheated by themselves. The only one that has failed is the one I was using for large data flows. Not even sure it is due to overheating or a manufacturing flaw. Am in the process now of applying heatsinks to the processor and LoRa chip. Will see how that goes and report back.

You are right though, about not using the device if it is overheating with nothing connected but the power supply.

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Was unable to find specific heatsinks for the chips in question (MKR WAN 1310 processor and LoRa). The ones found were either too large or too small. But, somewhat small or large may still work. Meanwhile, for this first effort, purchased these: Amazon.com: Awxlumv 6pcs Small Heatsink 25x25x10mm / 0.98x0.98x0.39inch Aluminum Heat Sink Cooler Radiator with Thermal Conductive Double Sided Tape Cooling for ASUS ROG Ally GPU IC Chips (25mmx25mmx10mm, Black) : Electronics. Cut these to approximate size while paying strict attention to safety, especially for eyes and hands. Fit them over the tops of the chips of a new device without blocking the reset button.

The data flow went well and the data broadcast is confirmed. My hope is that this does the trick regarding over-heating.