The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Is putting modem in a small cabinet a fire hazzard?

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by JWBlue, Nov 19, 2014.

  1. JWBlue

    JWBlue Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    85
    Messages:
    844
    Likes Received:
    9
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Our modem can only be put in a room where someone sleeps.

    The lights on our Cisco phone/internet modem are too bright. The lights are seeping out the vents. There is no other solution but to put the modem in a smaller cabinet.

    The cabinet is made out of wood and is an octagon. It is about 2' x 2' x 3'.

    If we were to leave the cabinet door open about 3 inches would putting the modem in there be a fire hazzard?

    Cisco DPC 3212.

    I was told the operating temperature of the modem is 32˚ to 104˚F (0˚ to 40˚C)
     
    JWBlue, Nov 19, 2014
    #1
  2. downloads

    downloads No, Dee Dee, no! Super Moderator

    Reputations:
    7,729
    Messages:
    8,722
    Likes Received:
    2,230
    Trophy Points:
    331
    It wouldn't be a fire hazard but it could and probably would lead to either straight up overheating of the modem or to shortening its life. Networking hardware doesn't like working in high temperatures especially that it lacks active cooling.

    No way of taping over the LEDs and/or putting some king of barrier between it and thus persons bed?
     
    downloads, Nov 19, 2014
    #2
    katalin_2003 likes this.
  3. alexhawker

    alexhawker Spent Gladiator

    Reputations:
    500
    Messages:
    2,540
    Likes Received:
    792
    Trophy Points:
    131
    Second the tape idea - get a roll of black gaffer's tape for a few bucks, problem solved.
     
    alexhawker, Nov 19, 2014
    #3
  4. JWBlue

    JWBlue Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    85
    Messages:
    844
    Likes Received:
    9
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Will this tape block more light than electrical tape?

    Has anyone tried Light Dums?

    The LIGHTDIMS Store
     
    JWBlue, Nov 20, 2014
    #4
  5. tijo

    tijo Sacred Blame

    Reputations:
    7,588
    Messages:
    10,023
    Likes Received:
    1,077
    Trophy Points:
    581
    Cabinet with enough airflow + tape might also be a solution.
     
    tijo, Nov 20, 2014
    #5
  6. alexhawker

    alexhawker Spent Gladiator

    Reputations:
    500
    Messages:
    2,540
    Likes Received:
    792
    Trophy Points:
    131
    Never tried anything like that. I'd say that if you find the tape doesn't block the light, you can just put a second layer of it, and that should do the trick.
     
    alexhawker, Nov 21, 2014
    #6
  7. Tinderbox (UK)

    Tinderbox (UK) BAKED BEAN KING

    Reputations:
    4,740
    Messages:
    8,513
    Likes Received:
    3,823
    Trophy Points:
    431
    My Asus router has a switch to turn off all the led`s , but tape is the best idea in your case, make a flap with a piece of card so you can lift it up to see the led`s when you need too.

    John.
     
    Tinderbox (UK), Nov 22, 2014
    #7
    John Ratsey likes this.