1. Overview
The power supply is a heat-generating component, yet it is often installed in a confined space due to the demand for smaller products. To ensure proper operating conditions, temperature measurement of the power supply has become increasingly important. However, we have experienced cases where temperature measurements were not performed correctly due to improper measurement methods. Therefore, we would like to introduce our recommended temperature measurement techniques.
2. Temperature measuring method
Table 2.1 shows the Advantages and Disadvantages of each temperature-measurement method. Cosel typically uses thermocouples.
Table 2.1 Advantage/Disadvantage of temperature measurement methods
| No. | Method | Advantage | Disadvantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thermocouples | ・Wide measurement range | ・Heat is dissipated through the thermocouple |
| ・No additional space required | |||
| ・Low cost | ・temperature measurement may take longe | ||
| ・Able to measure internal component temperature ・Able to measure air temperature |
・Requires proper connection of the reference point to the object | ||
| 2 | Infrared radiation thermometer | ・Non-contact measurement | ・Cannot measure internal component temperature. ・Cannot measure air temperature |
| ・Measurement results vary depending on the emissivity of the object | |||
| ・Influenced by environmental conditions | |||
| 3 | Thermography | ・Non-contact measurement | ・Cannot measure internal component temperature. ・Cannot measure air temperature |
| ・Measurement results vary depending on the emissivity of the object | |||
| ・Able to measure the entire field of view | ・Influenced by environmental conditions | ||
| ・High cost |
3. How to select the appropriate type of thermocouple?
There are many types of thermocouples that differ in material and wire thickness. To minimize heat dissipation from the target device, it is necessary to select a thin type. We use the following thermocouples, which have relatively low thermal conductivity and thin wires.
1）Type：Type K (Base metal +:Ni/Cr, -:Ni alloy)
2）Diameter：0.1 mm
4. How to secure the tip of a thermocouple?
To obtain accurate measurement results, the reference contact point must be firmly fixed to the target device. Common fixing methods include adhesives, heat-resistan tape, and metal tape. We recommend using adhesives because they provide better adhesion under high-temperature conditions.
