Power Supply temperature rating

[Shrek]

I found it interesting that the rated temperature varies with power (within the same series)

• The 430W model is rated for 50°C
• The 500W model is rated for 40°C
• The 600W model is not rated for temperature

 

[dirtyferret]

different OEMs? Also the 430w has 430w in the copy but is labeled as 400w in the headline.

 

[Shrek]

Yes, it is confusing, I went with 430W as that is what is on the case.

The identical case made me think it was the same platform (HEC for the 500W)

 

[dirtyferret]

Yes, it is confusing, I went with 430W as that is what is on the case.

the 430w was made by HEC and no way it was 50c rated. I highly doubt that 400w is 50c rated, in fact that spec chart is from the HEC made 430w unit which wasn't all that great. It's lazy marketing on EVGA part and too many OEMs for unit procurement that probably overwhelmed them.

*edit, @Shrek if you go to the EVGA web site so you can see the word better it says "all load and regulation testing done at 50c" not that it is "rated for 50c".

 

[Shrek]

The 500W unit (the one I have) blows up on full load; there is an ebay auction for 7 such units (all bust)

• EVGA 500W Review - Another One (PSU) Bites the Dust (youtube.com)

as you already know from the thread I made on doubling the number of bridge rectifiers.

Disclaimer: do not mess with power supplies as the main capacitors can carry a lethal charge even when the supply is not plugged in.

 

[dirtyferret]

• EVGA 500W Review - Another One (PSU) Bites the Dust (youtube.com)

I know HEC made the EVGA 500B and from your video (I had the sound off) it looked like their platform as well and some truly half assed built quality. HEC is is not the worst but their bread and butter is in making mediocre PSU. I personally would treat all three of those units as 30c rated.

 

[Shrek]

I got the supply cheap and added a second bridge rectifier (as a match pair), so will throw caution to the wind.

 

[Bill_Bright]

The 400 model is not 80 PLUS certified so it make me wonder if they really are in the same series.

 

[ShrimpBrime]

Almost all Power supplies are rated 40c to 50c max operating temperature.

If it's not listed, probably best to assume 40c max.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Almost all Power supplies

"Almost" being the key word there. I note these are budget/entry level models. There are some PSUs rated less than 40°C so I would not assume anything if not published. It is my experienced if an important spec it not published, that means the actual value achieved by that device is nothing the makers are proud of - or else they (their marketing weenies) would hype it up.

That said, it should be noted this spec if for the ambient (room or inside the CPU case) temperature. In other words, the temperature of the air at the intake of the supply. 30°C (86°C) is not what I would consider a comfortable room temp. That said, 30°C rating should not be considered as "bad" (with all else equal), with a properly cooled case in a "normal" ambient temperature room. We must also consider that spec also implies the supply is operating at maximum load 24/7 in those thermal conditions - and that is not a normal scenario for the vast majority of home, office, or TPU users.

Still, if rated at 40°C, that would certainly suggest the PSU is more capable and if rated at 50°C, more capable still.