Love the TC, but mine died in 18 months, like many others. Apple has an extended warranty on some serial #s, but not on mine. Someday there will as the problem is obviously the same....
The problem is that while Apple used first-class components, they made the decision to severely limit the fan's operation, probably to cut down on noise.
Google Apple Time Capsule repair type 2. You will get lots of links and photos. There were some real questions about the parts needed, but I waded through all that and now it is fixed!
The fix involves replacing four capacitors, remounting the fan, drilling a hole so the fan can get fresh air, putting a resister in the power line and cutting a line so that the fan runs all the time, but at half-speed. It is not an easy repair and real care has to be taken!
Plugging in a repaired electronic device is always a bit tense, what with the possibility of flames and nasty electrical smells, but the light came back on, the internet connection was restored (mine is on the path to a dsl modem), the back-up commenced and it is just warm now, not hot as it obviously was before. I can barely hear the fan, even though the unit is now propped up on legs so that it can get air.
As for Apple's original design, it seems they made a decision to cut the fan noise by turning it off, mostly, and putting a rubber pad over the air intake holes. Maybe they thought that the components would withstand the higher heat.
The repair not only fixes the broken parts, but makes it run cooler, more like the original design in fact.
If your TC is still working, maybe just out of warranty, you might consider just the fan mod. It might prevent the other problems.
As for later models, like the dual band design, I don't know. Others have said it looks the same inside. Some contend that the newer hard drives run cooler, but others say that is a fractional improvement and the heat from the hard drive isn't that high anyway. I sure don't know. We will see in about 18 months of use.
The problem is that while Apple used first-class components, they made the decision to severely limit the fan's operation, probably to cut down on noise.
Google Apple Time Capsule repair type 2. You will get lots of links and photos. There were some real questions about the parts needed, but I waded through all that and now it is fixed!
The fix involves replacing four capacitors, remounting the fan, drilling a hole so the fan can get fresh air, putting a resister in the power line and cutting a line so that the fan runs all the time, but at half-speed. It is not an easy repair and real care has to be taken!
Plugging in a repaired electronic device is always a bit tense, what with the possibility of flames and nasty electrical smells, but the light came back on, the internet connection was restored (mine is on the path to a dsl modem), the back-up commenced and it is just warm now, not hot as it obviously was before. I can barely hear the fan, even though the unit is now propped up on legs so that it can get air.
As for Apple's original design, it seems they made a decision to cut the fan noise by turning it off, mostly, and putting a rubber pad over the air intake holes. Maybe they thought that the components would withstand the higher heat.
The repair not only fixes the broken parts, but makes it run cooler, more like the original design in fact.
If your TC is still working, maybe just out of warranty, you might consider just the fan mod. It might prevent the other problems.
As for later models, like the dual band design, I don't know. Others have said it looks the same inside. Some contend that the newer hard drives run cooler, but others say that is a fractional improvement and the heat from the hard drive isn't that high anyway. I sure don't know. We will see in about 18 months of use.