LM3886 thermal pads/insulators

Mark Allen · 4th October 2009, 10:10 PM

I did a search on this but came up more or less empty handed.... I prefer to use thermal pads on my projects and have searched high and low for thermal pads to fit these. They are TO-220-11 size. Although I realize I can go with the completely insulated version of the 3886 I still feel I prefer to use the metal tab version for a number of thermal reasons. What have all you chip amp builders been using for insulators or thermal pads???

Thanks!
Mark

sangram · 5th October 2009, 02:34 AM

Mica. We get it cheap locally, and I cut a TO3 pad to size and separate the layers. One TO3 pad usually yields enough insulation for three chips

Mark Allen · 02:52 AM

Well, I don't kow where to get Mica around here locally although I know where there are a cople of abandoned Mica Mines out in the West Desert. I was thinking of Kapton insulation or Kapton tape... I know where to get both of those but I'm not sure of it's thermal characteristics... although it's an excellent insulator and very heat resistant. I wish Bergquist made thermal pads for these.... perhapos I'll call them tommrrow and inquire...

Mark

sivan_and · 5th October 2009, 04:40 AM

http://www.bergquistcompany.com/
SIL Pad 400 (7 mils & 9 mils)
have to cut a hole in the PAD..I've used successfully for LM3876

jaycee · 5th October 2009, 05:40 AM

Kapton tape is very good for semiconductor insulator use, in fact the only usual problem is its price. To cover an LM3886 you would need something like TO-264 sized pads.

sivan_and · 5th October 2009, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaycee

To cover an LM3886 you would need something like TO-264 sized pads.

NO !!!! the LM3886 is larger than To247

peranders · 5th October 2009, 08:26 AM

Why don't you use the insulated LM3886TF? This package will work for most people.

ratza · 5th October 2009, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sivan_and

NO !!!! the LM3886 is larger than To247

jaycee reffered to TO264, which is actually bigger LM's package.

sivan_and · 5th October 2009, 01:48 PM

misquoted !! Sorry !!!

Mark Allen · 5th October 2009, 04:42 PM

I thought about just using the insulated version but I don't think the thermal transfer ability of plastic is all that good. I will just go the route of the Kapton since it is easily available... even WW Grainger stocks it. You can also get Kapton tape at just about any Powder Coating facility. Since it is extremely heat resistant they use it for masking off things to be powder coated.

Mark

4th October 2009, 10:10 PM	#1
Mark Allen diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Bountiful, You-Taw	LM3886 thermal pads/insulators I did a search on this but came up more or less empty handed.... I prefer to use thermal pads on my projects and have searched high and low for thermal pads to fit these. They are TO-220-11 size. Although I realize I can go with the completely insulated version of the 3886 I still feel I prefer to use the metal tab version for a number of thermal reasons. What have all you chip amp builders been using for insulators or thermal pads??? Thanks! Mark

5th October 2009, 02:44 AM	#3
Mark Allen diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Bountiful, You-Taw	Well, I don't kow where to get Mica around here locally although I know where there are a cople of abandoned Mica Mines out in the West Desert. I was thinking of Kapton insulation or Kapton tape... I know where to get both of those but I'm not sure of it's thermal characteristics... although it's an excellent insulator and very heat resistant. I wish Bergquist made thermal pads for these.... perhapos I'll call them tommrrow and inquire... Mark Last edited by Mark Allen; 5th October 2009 at 02:52 AM.

5th October 2009, 04:40 AM	#4
sivan_and diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Dxb / India	http://www.bergquistcompany.com/ SIL Pad 400 (7 mils & 9 mils) have to cut a hole in the PAD..I've used successfully for LM3876 __________________ SivanandBalan

5th October 2009, 08:26 AM	#7
peranders Electrons are yellow and more is better! diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Göteborg, Sweden Blog Entries: 4	Why don't you use the insulated LM3886TF? This package will work for most people. __________________ /Per-Anders (my first name) or P-A as my friends call me

5th October 2009, 01:48 PM	#9
sivan_and diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Dxb / India	misquoted !! Sorry !!! __________________ SivanandBalan


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5th October 2009, 02:34 AM	#2
sangram diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: India	Mica. We get it cheap locally, and I cut a TO3 pad to size and separate the layers. One TO3 pad usually yields enough insulation for three chips

5th October 2009, 05:40 AM	#5
jaycee diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Norwich, UK	Kapton tape is very good for semiconductor insulator use, in fact the only usual problem is its price. To cover an LM3886 you would need something like TO-264 sized pads.

5th October 2009, 04:42 PM	#10
Mark Allen diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Bountiful, You-Taw	I thought about just using the insulated version but I don't think the thermal transfer ability of plastic is all that good. I will just go the route of the Kapton since it is easily available... even WW Grainger stocks it. You can also get Kapton tape at just about any Powder Coating facility. Since it is extremely heat resistant they use it for masking off things to be powder coated. Mark

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