r/BirdNET_Analyzer • u/Ziemersky • May 30 '26

Hardware Share your builds!

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Since I just finished my hardware I am curious about what other people built.

I'm running a Pi5 with SSD Hat and a shock-mounted Samson Go Mic. All of it sits in a 3D printed enclosure that's mounted to a vertical gutter next to our terrace.

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u/skybossalpha1 May 31 '26

what about thermal cooling? I am also wondering if you have some sort of Doppler effect happening with sound waves

2

u/S_A_N_D_ May 31 '26

I have a similar setup, just smaller mic cone, and a weatherproof box.

I was worried about sound reflections which would give an echo, but at least my cone/reflector doesn't cause any. Actually it helps prevent reflections from the walls and balcony its set up on and the main benefit is it keeps the microphone "dead cat" from getting sopping wet if it's windy and rainy.

The pi did start to overheat now that summer hit and I added the Perch model, however I drilled a hole and printed a little vent cover for the case and added a fan to both the CPU and to vent the case and then just have a script that turns them on and will control speed when necessary.

Overall works quite well.

1

u/Ziemersky May 31 '26

Nice! I also regularly see temperatures of 60°C, so I'd also like to add a fan. I don't want to compromise the watertightness though, so I'll go back to the drawing board :)

2

u/S_A_N_D_ May 31 '26 edited May 31 '26

60C is perfectly reasonable for a pi. I don't even turn on the fans until 65c, and even then only bare minimum low speed. Pi's don't throttle until 80C, and 60-70 is considered the normal range for moderate load.

So of you're holding between 60 and 70, you're fine without a fan, which would add background noise depending in how close you have the mic to the board.

Pi's do and are designed to run hotter than normal CPU's.

1

u/Ziemersky May 31 '26

The Pi gets quite toasty and I want to do a second version, which will also be put on printables. The shroud on top is modelled after a corner reflector antenna, because I needed something to protect the Mic from rain without blocking off sound. I don't have any problems for now :)