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Short answer: There are credible reports of intermittent startup failures and premature failures in some Mean Well RSP supplies, particularly units used or received from about 2022 onward. Public evidence does not establish a series-wide defect, a recall, or a statistically proven reliability decline.
The clearest account comes from an industrial user who said three RSP models had run for roughly 10 years before new problems appeared in 2022. The report described units that failed to start intermittently, failed out of the box, made unusual component noise, or failed early; the user said Mean Well characterized the case as a “software” issue and requested recovery of more than 600 units. That is important field evidence, but it is still one organization’s account rather than a published failure-rate study. Read the All About Circuits account.
What users have actually reported
Reports cover several different symptoms, which should not be treated as one confirmed defect.
| Reported symptom | Examples and possible interpretations |
|---|---|
| No output at startup | The supply receives AC but does not produce DC. Causes can include remote-enable sequencing, a protection state, excessive inrush, or an internal control fault. |
| Starts only after removing AC power | An RSP-750-24 report described an active status indicator with no output when enabled remotely; removing AC for at least 30 seconds and restarting restored operation after months of daily cycling. See the startup-failure report. |
| Premature or catastrophic failure | Forum posts mention early failures, burned MOSFETs and red fault indicators on some RSP-2000-48 units. The electrical cause was not independently established. |
| Buzzing, whining or clicking | Noise can result from magnetics, switching behavior, overload or mechanical vibration; it is not by itself proof of a defective design. |
| Protection cycling | Overload, short-circuit, over-temperature and over-voltage protection can shut down or repeatedly restart a supply and may look like a permanent failure. |
| Fan or thermal problems | Blocked airflow, a failed fan or operation beyond the derating curve can cause shutdown even when the electronics are healthy. |
The public discussions specifically name the RSP-750-24 and RSP-2000-48, plus unspecified RSP models in the industrial account. They do not show that every model is affected. The family ranges from RSP-75 and RSP-100 through RSP-1000, RSP-1500, RSP-2000, RSP-2400 and RSP-3000, with different cooling, ratings and warranty listings. Mean Well RSP series · current RSP search.
#1 Best Overall
- Primary output voltage (vdc): 5
- Output current (a): 60
- Maximum output power (w): 300
- Family: rsp-320
- Input voltage (vac): 88 to 264
A forum suggestion that COVID-era production used inferior substitute components remains unverified speculation. Likewise, the “software” characterization is an account from the industrial user, not a public Mean Well technical bulletin.
What Mean Well’s documentation says
Mean Well documents remote on/off control, over-voltage shutdown, over-temperature shutdown and automatic recovery from certain overload conditions. It also warns that motors, lamps and high-capacitance loads can draw enough startup current to prevent an RSP from starting. Mean Well application FAQ.
That makes the application part of the diagnosis. Large electrolytic banks, DC/DC converters, LED drivers, motors, actuators and incandescent or halogen lamps can all create inrush substantially above their running current. A supply that starts unloaded but not with the machine connected points toward load interaction, although it does not prove the PSU is healthy.
Rank #2
- Primary output voltage (vdc): 48
- Output current (a): 21
- Maximum output power (w): 1008
- Family: rsp-1000
- Input voltage (vac): 90 to 264
RSP-750 specifications that matter
- The family includes approximately 500 W and 750 W variants depending on output voltage, with 90–264 VAC input and remote on/off.
- Listed models specify up to 150 mV peak-to-peak ripple/noise.
- The product-family search lists a three-year warranty.
- The RSP-750-5 specification limits external output capacitance to 5,000 µF. That limit is specific to the 5 V version and must not be generalized to every RSP-750 output voltage.
- Derating applies with low input voltage, high ambient temperature and elevated altitude.
Consult the exact model’s manual before applying any of those figures. RSP-750 specification PDF.
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| Symptom | More likely possibilities | Best confirming test |
|---|---|---|
| No output while the status light is on | Remote-enable wiring, protection state or PSU control fault | Test the remote input independently and use a known-good load. |
| Output returns after a long AC-off interval | Latched protection, control-state issue or intermittent PSU fault | Record the required off-time and repeat with no load and a controlled load. |
| Hiccuping under load | Overload, short circuit or excessive inrush | Substitute a resistive or electronic load and measure startup current. |
| Burned MOSFETs or carbonized parts | Severe electrical stress, an internal component failure or a downstream fault | Stop powering it and preserve it for qualified failure analysis. |
| Buzzing or whining | Magnetics, switching conditions, overload or vibration | Compare no-load, controlled-load and normal-load operation. |
| Works cold but fails hot | Thermal stress, inadequate airflow, fan failure or a marginal component | Log ambient and case temperatures and verify fan and ventilation. |
Suspect the PSU more strongly when it fails with a controlled resistive load, follows the unit rather than the machine, affects multiple identical units, or disappears when a known-good replacement is installed in the same wiring. Suspect the system more strongly when the problem occurs only with one load, follows a wiring or controller change, or disappears after reducing capacitance, inrush or temperature.
Safe troubleshooting procedure
Warning: RSP supplies contain hazardous mains voltages and capacitors that can remain charged after disconnection. Do not open or repeatedly power a burned, arcing or strongly burnt-smelling unit unless you are qualified to work on mains equipment.
Rank #3
- Primary output voltage (vdc): 24
- Output current (a): 40
- Maximum output power (w): 960
- Family: rsp-1000
- Input voltage (vac): 90 to 264
- Record the state before cycling power. Note AC input voltage, output voltage, LED or fault indication, remote ON/OFF state, load current, fan operation, audible noise, ambient temperature and the time since the last shutdown.
- Remove the downstream load. Test with no load, then with a known-good resistive or electronic load. Do not connect or disconnect high-energy DC wiring while energized unless the equipment and procedure are designed for it.
- Verify remote control. For the RSP-750 documentation, the supply turns on when the remote-control pin is shorted to the auxiliary 12 V pin; pin arrangements are model-specific. Check the exact manual before making a connection. If local enable works but the system controller does not, investigate polarity, reference voltage, grounding and sequencing. RSP-750 control details.
- Repeat the AC-off test. If output returns only after 30 seconds or more without AC, log that interval and whether it changes with load or temperature. This reproduces a reported symptom but does not identify its cause.
- Check installation and derating. Confirm unobstructed ventilation, functioning fans, correct terminal torque, adequately sized conductors, reasonable output-wire length and operation within the current, ambient-temperature and altitude limits.
- Use inrush control where appropriate. Stage downstream loads or add a suitable inrush limiter only after confirming compatibility with the equipment and the PSU manufacturer’s requirements.
- Stop when physical damage is visible. Preserve the unit, labels and serial number for distributor or laboratory analysis instead of continuing power tests.
Production changes do not prove a failure mechanism
Mean Well published RSP certification-label and product changes during 2023–2024, and an over-voltage-category upgrade covering selected models including RSP-75, RSP-100 and RSP-150. Those notices establish that revisions and markings changed; they do not say the changes caused startup failures or premature deaths. Product change notice · OVC III upgrade notice.
As of August 18, 2026, Mean Well’s public product pages show active RSP models, specifications, notices and warranty information, but no obvious public recall or RSP-specific corrective-action bulletin confirming the reported intermittent-startup problem. A private distributor or customer remedy could exist without appearing on those pages.
Warranty, authenticity and replacement decisions
Use the warranty channel first
For an in-warranty unit, contact the original authorized distributor before opening the enclosure or removing labels. Mean Well’s warranty statement directs customers through the point of purchase and warns that unauthorized disassembly or serial-label alteration can affect service eligibility. Mean Well warranty statement.
Rank #4
- The RSP-500-24 is a high-performance 504W single-output industrial AC/DC power supply designed for demanding applications.
- With a 24V DC output voltage and 21A rated current (maximum output power 504W), it provides stable power for industrial automation, test equipment, laser systems, and RF applications.
- The power supply has a wide input voltage range (85-264VAC/120-370VDC) and high efficiency of 89%, ensuring reliable operation in global power grids while minimizing energy consumption.
- The power supply supports natural convection cooling (ambient temperature up to 70°C) and forced air cooling via a built-in smart fan with automatic speed regulation.
- Safety features include overvoltage protection (OVP), overtemperature protection (OTP), and current limiting protection with automatic recovery.
Document the unit and installation
- Record exact model, output voltage, suffix, serial number and date code.
- Note purchase channel, whether the unit was new, refurbished or surplus, and manufacturing location if marked.
- Keep photographs of labels, fault indicators and damaged components.
- Describe load type, startup current, remote-control use, power-cycle frequency, temperature and airflow.
- Do not infer a bad revision from a 2022 date code alone.
Buy traceable replacements
Use the official product search to confirm the current model and specification, then purchase through an authorized distributor or verify the serial number through Mean Well’s after-sales process. RSP product search · Mean Well USA after-sales service.
A replacement must match output voltage, continuous and peak current, inrush behavior, dimensions, cooling, remote-control requirements, certifications and load compatibility—not merely wattage. NSP, HRP and MSP families may be alternatives, but they are not automatically drop-in replacements. Mean Well product-series catalog.
What is known—and what is not
- Known: multiple engineering users have described intermittent startup, early failure and protection-like behavior in specific RSP installations.
- Known: the RSP design includes protections and remote-control functions that can produce no-output or restart symptoms under abnormal conditions.
- Not established: a series-wide defect, a statistically significant post-2022 failure-rate increase, a confirmed affected production revision, or a public recall.
- Not established: whether reported MOSFET damage, noise or red indicators share one root cause.
- Not established: that every RSP model, factory or current production unit is affected.
Bottom line for owners and buyers
Treat the reports as credible warning signs, not proof that the entire RSP family is unreliable. First separate remote-control, load-inrush, overload and thermal behavior from a PSU that fails on a controlled load. Preserve evidence, avoid unsafe teardown, and use the authorized-distributor warranty path. For new purchases, record serial numbers and date codes, verify authenticity, and bench-test startup with the real load profile rather than relying on the nominal wattage label.
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