Engineers Tackle PSU Fan Noise: Custom PSU Enables Accurate Measurements
Engineers have been studying the noise emissions of a power supply unit (PSU) fan, using a non-intrusive laser tachometer to monitor its revolutions per minute (RPM). The team noted coil whine subjectively during live load tests, employing a microphone or specialized sound analyzer. However, accurate noise measurements were only possible when the fan was powered by a custom-built, fanless adjustable DC PSU, due to background noise from electronic loads and equipment.
The research team used an Extech HD600 sound level meter to measure noise levels across the fan's RPM range. Unfortunately, these measurements couldn't be taken during load testing due to the high background noise from the electronic loads and equipment, which became noticeable above 33.5 dB(A). The testing environment had a background noise floor of ~30.4 dB(A).
To mitigate this, the team developed a custom-built, fanless adjustable DC PSU to power the fan. This setup allowed for accurate measurement of the fan's noise emissions, but it did not capture the coil whine, which was only audible during live load tests.
In conclusion, the study found that while coil whine could be subjectively noted during live load tests, accurate noise measurements of the PSU fan were only possible when powered by a custom-built, fanless adjustable DC PSU. The testing environment's background noise floor of ~30.4 dB(A) and equipment noise above 33.5 dB(A) made it challenging to measure noise levels during load testing.
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