Raspberry Pi

What is the Temperature Limit of Raspberry Pi

Raspberry Pi is one of the most popular single-board computers that has gained popularity over the years due to its versatility in applications ranging from personal hobbies to business use. Nonetheless, as with any computer, there is a thermal threshold that it can withstand.

The temperature of Raspberry Pi is an important thing users should know. When the temperature exceeds the limit, the device begins to limit its performance, which affects its overall operation. To prevent damage from overheating, it is important to understand the factors that can cause overheating, such as work, temperature, and air conditioning.

In this article, we will take a deep dive into the Raspberry Pi’s temperature limit.

What is the Temperature Limit of Raspberry Pi?

Raspberry Pi’s temperature limit depends on the model and manufacturer’s recommendations. For example, Raspberry Pi 4 Model B, one of the newest and most powerful models, has a recommended operating temperature of 85°C. Apart from this, the device may become unstable or even stop functioning altogether. However, it is better to keep the temperature below 60°C because if the device temperature reached the recommended temperature limit, it will cause thermal throttling, which means the device will reduce its performance to prevent overheating.

Why Does Temperature Matter for Raspberry Pi?

Temperature is important to the Raspberry Pi for several reasons. First, overheating can damage the product and shorten its life. Second, the temperature can cause the machine to slow down or crash, resulting in data loss or corruption. Third, the temperature can affect the accuracy and stability of sensors or other peripheral devices connected to the Raspberry Pi.

Additionally, some applications may require the Raspberry Pi to operate in harsh environments such as outdoors or in offices where the temperature can fluctuate greatly.

In this case, it is important to monitor and control the temperature to ensure the reliability and safety of the system.

Monitor and Manage Raspberry Pi Temperature

You can use various tools and commands such as vcgencmd, Psensor, or rpiz depending on the operating system and configuration to monitoring the temperature of Raspberry Pi. An article to monitor Raspberry Pi temperature is already published here. You can also add a temperature display to your desktop from here to constantly monitor your Raspberry Pi temperature. Further, you can monitor temperature remotely or log data for analysis using third-party software or web tools. For Third party tools, you can follow the guide here, while for web tools, you can visit here.

If your device overheats too much, you can follow the guide here to prevent it from overheating. The following table shows the typical temperature values for Raspberry Pi devices.

Temperature State
0-45°C Normal Operation
45-60°C Running a Task
60-80°C Heavy Use
80-85°C Throttling
85°C CPU Throttled

Final Thoughts

Raspberry Pi’s temperature limit is an important part of its function. By knowing the recommended operating temperature range, maximum temperature, and ways to monitor and control temperature, you can ensure your Raspberry Pi works efficiently and reliably. Whether you are using it for your projects, educational or commercial applications, temperature control is essential to get the most out of your equipment.

About the author

Awais Khan

I'm an Engineer and an academic researcher by profession. My interest for Raspberry Pi, embedded systems and blogging has brought me here to share my knowledge with others.