Hi
In APC2200, we can monitor three temperature MTCX, RAM and CFAst card
But I cannot find the limits in any documentation.
What are these limits?
Thanks
I think these values represent the maximum reportable temperatures rather than acceptable operating temperatures.
95°C seems far too high for a CFast card, especially if the sensor is only located somewhere in the general “CFast area”.
The screenshot below is from the datasheet of the B&R / Swissbit cards. Transcend cards seem to have similar temperature limits.
The same concern applies to both RAM and CPU temperatures.
A reported board temperature of 95°C would already be very high. Since the actual temperature of the silicon is typically higher than the temperature measured somewhere on the surrounding board, there will be a thermal gradient between the component and the sensor location.
Depending on the exact sensor position, this difference could easily be several degrees. So if a board sensor already reports 95°C, the actual component temperature would likely be even higher. Even if this may still be within the absolute limits of some components, it would at least be a very(!) high operating temperature.
My gut feeling — and this is not based on an exact specification — is that these reported board temperatures should not exceed approximately 65 to 75°C.
Maybe someone from B&R could review the documentation and clarify exactly what these values represent.
Thanks
I get some pick at more 65 degC and the APC is really warm, I could barely hold it with my fingers.
I hope to get better limits from B&R
//Edith
Please measure temperature using sensor or external measurement devices. As you can see range and limit is quite huge/high.
We have a temperature sensor in the electrical cabinet, but it is not near the APC.
So that is why I was asking about the limits on the APC temp sensors
Br
Edith Lesage
yes, clear. But this is answered or?
I wanted to have the allowed limits on the three temp sensors on APC2200.
But it seems that I cannot get them.
I want to be sure the APC is working as good as it should be and is not derated
Br
Edith Lesage
Hi,
that’s really not easy to answer.
From my understanding, as long as the ambient temperature is below the specified maximum ambient temperature and the mounting of the APC fulfills all documented conditions (for example regarding distance to other devices / to walls and so on), a safe operation is guaranteed, as the complete system is tested under worst-case conditions against this ambient temperatures.
I also don’t have any additional temperature data available unfortunately.
As Patrick wrote, the maximum operation temperature of the CFAST is 70° C as defined in the CFAST data sheet.
I haven’t tried it, but I think that the CFAST “inside temperature” can be read via S.M.A.R.T data.
For FPGA’s (MTCX is an FPGA) and DRAM, as far as I know typical max. temperatures for consumer electronics are up to 85°C (for industrial grade maybe more).
But that’s also just some general info: I don’t think that the’re really official binding max. temperatures available, as I can’t imagine that these thermal sensors are calibrated ones.
You could reach out to your local support team, if they can ask internally about sensor values that were reached while burn-in tests, when then max. ambient temperatures were tested in the climate laboratory. I don’t know if such values are available, but if I think the local support has to be involved.
Some years ago, I did a test on my own (but unfortunately not for APC) by putting the device in a small closed chamber with a temperature sensor inside (a normal hand-held thermometer), “stressed” the device (in my use-case it was a ARembedded device, so I used a project that brought the CPU to near 100% computing power), and checked the temperature profile over time… I don’t know if this would be possible for you also, but for me it was not really much effort but gave me a good impression.
Best regards!