# Help With Raspberry Pi Zero W **URL:** \ **Category:** Support\ **Created:** [3 May 2021 09:30 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/help-with-raspberry-pi-zero-w/10047 "2021-05-03T09:30:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rhys107340](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85e7bf/32.png) [@rhys107340](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/rhys107340)\ **Post date:** [3 May 2021 09:30 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/help-with-raspberry-pi-zero-w/10047/1 "2021-05-03T09:30:56Z")
When I got home today my raspberry pi zero stopped working. it was hot as hell. Please help :\> ORDER DATE: 1 JANUARY 2020 ---
**Author:** ![Oliver33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9adbd/32.png) [@Oliver33](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Oliver33)\ **Post date:** [3 May 2021 11:05 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/help-with-raspberry-pi-zero-w/10047/2 "2021-05-03T11:05:17Z")
Hey Rhys, what was it doing while you were away from home? Do you have any photos of how it was set up? When you stay stopped working - what precisely do you mean? ---
**Author:** ![rhys107340](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85e7bf/32.png) [@rhys107340](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/rhys107340)\ **Post date:** [3 May 2021 11:23 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/help-with-raspberry-pi-zero-w/10047/3 "2021-05-03T11:23:29Z")
it was just my VPN server, there’s no photos on it at all ---
**Author:** ![Oliver33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9adbd/32.png) [@Oliver33](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Oliver33)\ **Post date:** [3 May 2021 11:37 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/help-with-raspberry-pi-zero-w/10047/4 "2021-05-03T11:37:21Z")
Ah I said photos _ **of** _ it. ---
**Author:** ![rhys107340](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85e7bf/32.png) [@rhys107340](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/rhys107340)\ **Post date:** [3 May 2021 22:07 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/help-with-raspberry-pi-zero-w/10047/5 "2021-05-03T22:07:09Z")
I will need to wait until I’m home ---
**Author:** ![Bryce](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forum.core-electronics.com.au/bryce/32/3631_2.png) [@Bryce](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Bryce)\ **Post date:** [4 May 2021 00:41 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/help-with-raspberry-pi-zero-w/10047/6 "2021-05-04T00:41:33Z")
> [@rhys107340](#): > > it was hot as hell. > Please help :\> Hey Rhys, Sounds like your Pi either has some kind of short or is being loaded for an extended period of time with insufficient cooling. Does the Pi have plenty of space around it and any active cooling? Also, if you’ve got an IR thermometer, I find that they’re very useful for checking the rough temperature of IC to determine exactly where the board is heating from. ---
**Author:** ![rhys107340](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85e7bf/32.png) [@rhys107340](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/rhys107340)\ **Post date:** [4 May 2021 01:09 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/help-with-raspberry-pi-zero-w/10047/7 "2021-05-04T01:09:20Z")
it had heaps of space around it but no active cooling. the part that is getting hot is the CPU I think it’s called. ---
**Author:** ![Bryce](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forum.core-electronics.com.au/bryce/32/3631_2.png) [@Bryce](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Bryce)\ **Post date:** [4 May 2021 04:30 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/help-with-raspberry-pi-zero-w/10047/8 "2021-05-04T04:30:45Z")
If you’re running a Zero for a long time under heavy load (such as running OpenVPN or similar constantly with ‘high’ network traffic) then I would recommend at least having some passive cooling such as an aluminium case or similar. If you’re able to, can you send through some pictures of the setup? I’m curious to see why it’s heating up so much. > **[FLIRC Raspberry Pi Zero Case](https://core-electronics.com.au/flirc-raspberry-pi-zero-case.html)** > > A companion to the best selling raspberry pi case. FLIRC is introducing a portable, passively cooled, raspberry pi zero case that matches the aesthetic of it's big sister. ---
**Author:** ![rhys107340](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85e7bf/32.png) [@rhys107340](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/rhys107340)\ **Post date:** [4 May 2021 09:39 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/help-with-raspberry-pi-zero-w/10047/9 "2021-05-04T09:39:35Z")
The OTG cable was used for a slideshow but used rarely. also, the green led no longer turns on when powered on ![IMG_20210504_212900](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/uploads/core_electronics/original/2X/6/6a247de4bce0253484f53ece5f58138e803e30bf.jpeg)