A method of controlling a cooling device for the lifetime increase waste heat generating components and cooling device

A method of controlling a cooling device (4) limited power (KL) for cooling a device which generates about each of a plurality of operating periods of time variable extent waste heat, comprising the steps of: - setting a maximum temperature of the device, - detecting an actual temperature (10, ISTT) of the device and to limit controlling the power (KL) of the cooling device (4) to the actual temperature (10, ISTT) to the maximum temperature, characterized in that the maximum temperature is set individually for different operation periods so that one (in controlling the power KL - occurring) of the cooling device (4) during the respective period of operation maximum power of the cooling device (4) complies with a predetermined power of the cooling device such that the predetermined power of the cooling device (4) on the one hand not exceeded, and the predetermined power of the cooling device (4) on the other hand actually wherein the predetermined power of the cooling device (4) is specified as a single value or as a power interval is achieved.