Do power supplies need to be housed outside?

Power supplies need to be housed outdoors, where the extreme heat of the summer and the extreme cold of the winter will both be present. Power supplies heat themselves up at different rates and intensities, and environmental influences will impact how quickly a power supply is exposed to high temperatures.

Why should a power supply have a wide operating temperature range?

Depending on the application, a power supply with a wide operating temperature range may provide better reliability and a longer operating lifetime, prevent the need for a cooling fan or other special design consideration for thermal management, and reduce the overall cost of your system.

What temperature should a commercial power supply be rated?

Typical commercial power supplies are specified to support their full rated load over an ambient temperature range from zero or minus 25 degrees Celsius to around 50 degrees Celsius, and they may derate to 50% load at 70 degrees Celsius.

How does temperature affect a power supply?

Chemical processes accelerate, and mechanical connections can even loosen. The longer a component is operated at high heat, the more elevated temperatures can reduce its lifespan. Reduce the power supply load: Power supplies typically have specified loads according to an ambient temperature range.

What happens if a power supply temperature drops too low?

Electronics generally like the cold, but if the temperature drops too low, it can still cause problems. Low temperatures are more likely to affect performance than a power supply’s lifespan. Low power supply temperatures can:

Should a power supply be sealed?

The device’s operating environment will also determine whether the power supply will need to be sealed, such as preventing water and dust ingress, or if it can be vented to improve airflow. Some applications must withstand a wide range of operating temperatures, particularly outdoors. Take traffic control, for instance.