# VOXL2 running always hot - Is it safe ? Are there alternatives ?

Source: https://forum.modalai.com/topic/4531/voxl2-running-always-hot-is-it-safe-are-there-alternatives
Category: Development Drones (https://forum.modalai.com/category/44/development-drones)
Tags: starling
Posted: 2025-06-20 21:11:13 UTC by Hector Gutierrez
Replies: 1 · Views: 453

## Hector Gutierrez · 2025-06-20 21:11:13 UTC

Hello, 
Running a VOXL2 stationary (drone sitting on a desk) during software testing, configuration or development leads to the VOXL CPU heating up to temperatures near 100 Celsius in 3-5 minutes.  
The main culprit is voxl-camera-server: if this service is disabled, the VOXL2 CPU can run cold forever. But in most applications voxl-camera-server is needed and as a result the VOXL CPU is running always very hot (near 100C), which brings obvious concerns about system health:  
Can running the VOXL2 board at 95~100C for several minutes damage the board, CPU or other onboard components, sensors, etc. ?  
One solution is to turn power off every 5-10 minutes and wait until CPU cools down (which only tales 3-4 min) but this is very inefficient and a waste of time since network connection and other services need to be started all over again each time power is cut off.
Is there a recommended approach to keep the VOXL CPU temperature at reasonable levels ?  
Or alternatively, is it actually safe to run the VOXL2 CPU at 100C for extended periods of time ?
Please advise.   Thanks.

## Reply by Eric Katzfey (ModalAI staff) · 2025-06-20 22:08:27 UTC

@Hector-Gutierrez Point a small fan at the VOXL 2 while you have it on your desktop. You need to have air flow. When it is on a drone and flying you get a lot of airflow from the propellers but on the desktop you should have a small fan.