reTerminal e1001 sunlight issue

Products & Technology
1

While I’m pretty impressed with the overall build quality of the reTerminal e1001, I’m a bit worried about exposing the e-ink screen to direct sunlight. When putting the screen in direct sunlight, a pattern of dark stains starts to appear within a couple of minutes. Is this normal?

stains
stains2048×1536 198 KB

It’s gone when I refresh the screen, but it will return when the screen is in the sun again.

2

Hi there,

The issue is primarily caused by the sun’s infrared (IR) radiation, which heats the internal gel layer of the e-ink panel, making it more viscous. This affects the movement and positioning of the charged pigment particles (pixels) used to form the image, causing:

  • Darkening/Staining: Pixels can get stuck in a “black” state or form patterns due to the change in the gel’s viscosity when hot.
  • Fading/Loss of Contrast: The black pixels may fade and sink into the gel layer, making the display look washed out or illegible until it cools down.
  • Partial Refresh Issues: This effect is often more noticeable or persistent with partial screen refreshes; a full refresh usually resolves the issue once the device is in the shade.

Long-Term Concerns and Prevention

While temporary dark spots are not necessarily a sign of immediate damage, prolonged or repeated exposure to intense direct sunlight and heat can potentially lead to permanent damage over time, as UV light and heat can cause the internal components to degrade.

To protect your

[reTerminal e1001]:

  • Avoid constant exposure: Do not leave the device in direct sunlight for extended periods, especially in hot conditions.
  • Seek shade: If using it outdoors, try to find a shaded area.
  • Force a full refresh: If you notice staining, move the device out of the sun and perform a full screen refresh to clear the “ghosts” (check the Seeed Wiki for instructions specific to your device’s firmware).
  • Consider a UV protective film: Some users have reported success using a UV or IR protective film over the screen to mitigate the effect.
  • Ensure proper temperature: If it’s too hot for you to be comfortable, it’s likely too hot for the device.

HTH

GL :santa_claus: PJ :v:

I would look at the warranty language as well. :crossed_fingers:

3

Hi, thanks for the quick response. I already thought it would be something like this, but it’s good to hear it’s not a defect.

By the way, was this answer generated by AI?

4

Hi there,

The information was aggregated from support custom LLM and AI is used to format the answer. You can get similar responses from google if you pick keywords and specific Phrases. :crossed_fingers:

HTH
:+1:
GL :santa_claus: PJ :v: