![]() Temperatures are displayed in Celsius and Fahrenheit. This includes the temperature of the processor, video card, mechanical hard drives and sensors on the motherboard. Once you have started it up, it will display various information about installed hardware components. The program is available as a portable version and installer. Most of the time, you can get the programs to read the temperature of the cpu, video card and hard drives. ![]() Sensors need to be available on the motherboard and in other components to get temperature readings. The effectiveness of this method depends largely on the hardware though. This provides you with details on minimum, average and maximum temperatures, and can also act as a warning signal that notifies you when components are about to overheat. You can run software on your system to monitor PC component temperatures. If you are using the default processor fan for example and notice that the cpu is overheating all the time, you may want to consider purchasing a better fan to improve its cooling. Another low-cost option is to add new system fans or replace existing ones. While that is sometimes all it takes, especially if the user is a heavy smoker, it may sometimes not be enough. My first suggestion in these cases is to open the case, clean the components and especially the fans, from dust, and make sure that air flows through the device properly. There are a couple of things that one can do to prevent overheating. If a PC component overheats, the processor or video card for example, it may shut down itself automatically, or hang or crash instead right away. The response time, accuracy and thermal gradient is determined by the way the thermistor is mounted.The core reason for that - it is not scientific but purely based on my experience - is that the rise in environmental temperature causes PCs to overheat more frequently. This is due to their low cost/performance ratio and small package sizes. The negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistors are the most commonly used in the temperature sensing and controlling the protection method in place. ![]() This is sensed by the monitoring IC which initiates a shut down process when the preset limit is exceeded.įigure 2: Typical over temperature protection circuit using NTC thermistor ![]() This will cause more voltage across the RT resistor. When high temperatures are experienced, the resistance of the NTC thermistor decreases and more current will flow. The other thermistor is connected to the over temperature protection circuit and will trigger the shut down process if the temperature exceeds the safe value.įigure 1: Power supply with two thermistors on heat sink (red arrows) Image: hardwaresecretsĪ typical power supply protection system using a monitoring and control IC is as shown in figure 2 below with one end of the thermistor connected to the IC. One of the thermistor is connected to the fan control circuit and is used to automatically adjust the fan speed based on the temperature of the heat sink. In a typical OTP system, a pair of thermistors is usually attached to the heat sink. Once the internal temperatures exceeds the preset limit, the OTP shuts down the power supply hence preventing further increase in temperature and possible damage. The sensor monitors the temperature of the hottest item on the board. The protection is implemented in various ways determined by factors such as amount space, noise requirements, regulators and other standards conformity.Įssentially, a temperature sensor such as an NTC or PTC thermistor, integrated circuits, on-chip diodes or diodes are used to protect the devices in an LED applications or even a power supply units from overheating. Increased over temperature protection prolongs the lifespan of the power supply components resulting to improved efficiency and reliability. Thermal protection is achieved through focusing on the PCB, enclosure and heat sink design. The over temperature protection (OTP) therefore ensures that the supply operates within the safe design temperature and shuts the supply down whenever this is exceeded. High temperatures may be developed within the supply due to various factors such as faulty components, overloading, over voltage at the supply, malfunctioning cooling system, blocked ventilation or other factors that stresses the components.Ĭontinuous high temperatures are undesirable and can lead to malfunctioning or more damage to the supply, connected circuits or downstream equipment. A circuit is used to monitor and generate a trigger signal that starts the shutdown process at the high temperatures. Over temperature protection in a power supply is a protection system that shuts down the power supply when the internal temperature exceeded a safe value.
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