iPad Cooler for DJI Phantom 3 and Inspire 1 users

Last crawled date: 1 year, 10 months ago

The newest generation of DJI quadcopter products have been enormously successful, but the advanced digital video downlink feature has a tendency to cause iPads to overheat, especially when it is being operated in hot sunny desert weather like southern California. This modular design cools the iPad down using a 40mm USB powered fan blowing through a manifold that quietly and efficiently distributes the air flow over the entire back of the iPad so it never gets hotter than ambient air temperature.

The design consists of 3 main parts - the fan manifold base, and adapters for the iPad and DJI remote controller. You need to print two of each of the adapter types. They snap onto the manifold base. The 40x10mm fan is a standard size unit. It attaches with 3mm fasteners. Get a 5V type that can be powered off the DJI transmitter's USB port. See for example Digikey part no. 259-1565-ND. Put a JST power disconnect on the power wires from the USB cable to the fan. Be careful when splicing in the 5V tap on the USB cable to leave the signal wires (white and green) shielded.

Note: The cooler is designed so that the whole unit with iPad attached can fit inside the iPad recess in the hardshell carry case for the Phantom 3 pro.