HOT!TC Electronics

How to Protect Your Electronics From Heat

Executive Summary By Darrell Edward Smith

Tonysystem, - 1.0 INTRODUCTION

    * DVD Players

    * Gaming Systems (e.g., Playstation, X-Box, Nintendo, Wii, etc.)

    * Heat

    * Electrical Surge/Spike Events, and

    * Electrical Noise



    * How is Heat destructive to your electronics?

    * What can we do about heat - How to Protect Your Electronics from Heat and Extend the Operating Life of our Electronics?



2.0 HOW IS HEAT DESTRUCTIVE TO YOUR ELECTRONICS

Heat is an artifact of electronics. All electronic systems generate heat. Electronic systems accept electrical power (current and voltage) from the power line (via the electrical outlet). The remaining portion of this electrical power is converted into heat.



However, heat is also an enemy of electronic systems. Few things are more effective in reducing the operating life-time of an electronic system, than raising the operating temperature of the electronic circuitry within your electronic system. The impact of heat (in shortening the operating life) of your electronics is "huge".



3.0 WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT HEAT?

As I mentioned earlier, all electronics generates heat.

3.1. REMOVING HEAT FROM THE ELECTRONICS

Many consumer electronic systems were designed with "Heat Removal" in mind. Some of these electronic systems (like desktop computers) contain "internal fans". These fans were designed into these systems so that they could blow air through the area in which the system electronics resides. Other electronic systems contain "vents" (in their outer case) to provide an "escape path" for heat. Make sure and have your appliances (like your Central Air Conditioning system or Heat Pump) serviced.

3.2 REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF HEAT THAT THE ELECTRONICS GENERATE IN THE FIRST PLACE

Another approach to protecting your electronics from heat is to take steps to try to prevent your electronics from generating excessive heat in the first place.     * I represents the amount of current flowing through an electronic system and



    * R represents the load impedance (or resistance) within this electronic system; and



The answer to this question is "Yes", an electrical system does require a certain amount of current and voltage (electrical power) to do its job. By using the TVSS components, you are eliminating this excessive current (due to noise, glitches, etc.) from the "power line" current, flowing into your electronic system.



1. You have decreased the amount of current flowing into your electronic system, (which is the "I" in the expression "I^2 X R") - which helps a lot to reduce the amount of heat that the system generates.

2. By reducing the heat that the electrical system generates, you are now lowering the ambient (or surrounding) temperature in which your electronics operates.

3. Lowering the ambient temperature will often times also reduce the load impedance/resistance in your electronic system (e.g., the "R" in this expression) as well.



QUESTION: How can you reduce the load impedance/resistance in an electronic system? Isn't that a design feature of the electronic system?     * Using TVSS components lower the amount of current flowing through your electronic system.

    * Lowering this current reduces the amount of heat that the electronic system generates.

    * This lowers the ambient temperature for the system electronics.

    * Lowering the ambient temperature also lowers the load impedance/resistance (R) within the electronic system.



Both the reduction of current (and the resulting reduction of the load impedance) would serve to significantly reduce the amount of heat that the electronics system will generates.



    * How to Protect Your Electronics from Electrical Surge/Spike Events

    * How to Protect Your Electronics from Electrical Noise



    * Electrical Surge/Spike Events, and

    * Electrical Noise



1. Use (and do not thwart) the "Heat Removal" features of your electronic systems



2. Use TVSS (Transient Voltage Surge Suppressor) components to regulate the amount of voltage (and in turn) current that is flowing into your electronic systems: Minimizes heat generation due to resistive loss.



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