G
Geoff Wood
- Jan 1, 1970
- 0
Geoff Wood said:One of my worst ever !
g.
Shouldn't be an issue with the voltages one would expect to see in a
transistor amp. Cheap white compound will dry out over time and lose its
effectiveness, whereas something like arctic silver shouldn't. I wouldn't
necessarily recommend silver loaded compound mind, but I see no reason not
to use it for this kind of job. It's possible in this case that the
transistor is directly mounted anyway, ie without an insulating pad.
I have a Leach audio amplifier built in the 1970s, and a few years ago
its Radio Shack or GC silicone grease hadn't dried out. So I wouldn't
worry about this,
and I don't see why Arctic Silver would be more
resistant to drying out (it may use ester instead of silicone grease).
I have a Leach audio amplifier built in the 1970s, and a few years ago
its Radio Shack or GC silicone grease hadn't dried out. So I wouldn't
worry about this, and I don't see why Arctic Silver would be more
resistant to drying out (it may use ester instead of silicone grease).
I have seen the white stuff dry out plenty of times. Its sure easy to
spot and feel. If you can't smear it then it must be removed.
If its still good, I would just even out the stuff and reapply
components.
Richard Crowley said:"GregS" wrote ...
I agree in theory. But in practice, thermal grease is so
cheap compared to what it prevents that it is foolish
economy IMHO.
Agreed.
If there is some small particle in the thermal compound, it
would separate the component from the heatsink and could
dramatically decrease cooling.
The best plan is to carefully clean both surfaces and use
new, clean compound.
GregS said:I have seen the white stuff dry out plenty of times. Its sure easy to
spot and feel. If you can't smear it then it must be removed.
If its still good, I would just even out the stuff and reapply components.
GregS said:I was building amps from STK modules. I studied the mating surfaces.
Ideally metal to metal contact is best, even the anodized surfaces
should be milled down. So I was taking the STK module and
sanding it down flat. It really wasn't very flat. I had to start out
with a flat surface for the sandpaper! After much work, I got it
to the point I felt was OK. Even a flat etched surface is worse than a
mirrored
flat surface. Very very little grease is needed if everything is smooth
and flat.
They don't suffer from thermal problem when mounted conventionally, with a
dab of heatsink compound, so why bother ?!!!
All a bit OTT consuidering the STK modules don't sound that great in the
first place.
geoff
I noticed the CPU temperature on my main computer going a bit high a few
months ago. I checked, and sure enough the heat sink grease had dried
out. Replaced it and all was well.
Disagree. Where it's needed, it's critical; it's cheap enough that
replacing it in critical places is well worth while.
"GregS" wrote ...
I agree in theory. But in practice, thermal grease is so
cheap compared to what it prevents that it is foolish
economy IMHO.
my vote for President will be a write-in for Jiang Zemin.