Switch mode power supplies (SMPS) are important elements used in industrial automation equipment requirements in order to run effectively and optimally. However, like any other electrical device, the SMPSs must be well maintained to work efficiently for a longer period. Businesses with industrial automation solutions cannot afford to neglect the maintenance of SMPS so as not to incur losses as well as to see their system last as long as it should. This article focuses on how to take care of your switching power supply, or rather the tips given are relevant for almost all SMPS brands.
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Regular Visual Inspections
Among all the types of maintenance, simple yet highly effective is the external visual inspection of your switching power supply. Since it detects signs of wear and tear like discoloration, corrosion or physical damage when checked often, you will get to know a problem when it has not developed or worsened into something serious.
When doing so, ensure that you examine the connectors, cables and the casing and identify any signs of deterioration. Do not allow dust to accumulate on the SMPS since this will lead to heating up of the circuits hence lowering the efficiency of your product. If one sees something wrong he or she should see to it that it is corrected as soon as possible to avoid things getting worse.
For companies that offer industrial automation solutions, you should consider adding the visual inspection into your present maintenance schedule as it will greatly increase the dependability of the SMPS reducing failure of systems that can negatively influence the efficiency of your organization.
Monitor Operating Conditions
Switching power supply is used at certain ranges of temperature, humidity and voltage. These operating conditions, however, need to be maintained and hence need to be frequently checked to ensure that they remain optimally set in order to support the performance. This might be due to factors such as…Overheating; excessive humidity; improper voltage levels; all of these and many more, can affect the working efficiency and guaranteed lifetime of any SMPS.
To conclude, make sure that the environment for placing your SMPS is aerated and its surrounding must be clean from dust and more important it should have moderate temperature. In case your industrial automation system is to be used in certain environments that are unfriendly, you should go for SMPS brands that have special protections like thermal management and compact and sturdy casing.
The important practice of the consistent monitoring and management of optimum operating condition is an effective way of preserving the lifespan of your switching power supply hence improving the reliability of your total automation system.
Perform Regular Cleaning
The dust and debris pose the threat of overheating the switching power supplies and this leads to reduced efficiency. These are some of the problems that arise in constantly used facilities and cleaning should be done often to avoid this. In this respect, this may entail blowing air to the vents and other areas to eject dust on the surface or using a dry cloth to clean the outer part of a device.
If you are in the industrial applications for the automation solutions and if the environment is dusty or dirty, then the above cleaning frequency can be scaled up. Further, if provided, the air filters should be cleaned or replaced frequently to allow the blower to deliver proper air flow and cooling effect.
That is why you need to clean your SMPS to avoid overheating since it will also affect the overall efficiency of your power supply unit that is used in automation and robotics systems.
Test Output Voltage and Performance
As we have discussed, periodic monitoring of the output voltage and efficiency of your switching power supply is important and will help you realize if your power supply is performing according to expectations. Of course, the output voltage in the SMPS can vary from time to time due to degradation of components used in SMPS because different electronic devices have varied loads that require different voltage levels to optimize their functioning.
With the help of a multimeter check the output voltage of your SMPS and then try to match it with the above given values. Depending on the readings, it is possible that there is something wrong that is required to be corrected or changes that may need to be made. There are some SMPS brands that have incorporated self-diagnostic tools that, when tested , help in monitoring the supply and giving alerts when malfunctioning is noted.
In this way, by controlling the output voltage and the performance of your industrial automation solutions on a regular basis, you will be able to predict the failures, which may occur from time to time, and prevent them from causing major problems.
Plan for Regular Maintenance and Replacement
However, it is important to know that your switching power supply, no matter how well you take care of it, has a certain lifespan. These elements should be addressed in concern with planning of periodic maintenance and ultimate replacement in order to avoid failures. Most of the brands in the SMPS market offer information about the working life expectancy and suggested service schedules to be adhered to.
This preservation schedule is to have preventive and thorough check and cleaning and testing routine, together with schedule changes consistent with the manufacturer’s notice. Through preventive replacement of old SMPS units before they fail, in industrial automation systems you save costs and time that would be issued due to failures of these units.
It is therefore imperative for businesses that offer industrial automation solutions to see to it that they have a maintenance and a replacement plan so that in the event that such parts fail the impact that this will have on customers will not be very severe.
Switching power supply is therefore important to keep in check in order to enhance the functioning of your industrial automation systems. Thus, by adhering to the best practices which include visual inspection, operating conditions, cleaning, output voltage, and proper maintenance and replacement schedules, you can be able to enhance the operational life of the SMPS and avoid costly downtimes.
Regardless if you are operating some of the best SMPS brands out in the market or if you are navigating through heaps of power supply for your automations, these tips are crucial for maintaining your rig. The regular maintenance of the switching power supplies will go a long way in enhancing the efficiency of the Industrial automation solutions hence the growth of the business.