which heatsink is more efficient?

endia · 9th October 2012, 05:53 PM

hi,
while i was searching adequate heatsinks for symasym i found these two types. i want to use them on two sides of the chassis.. which one is more efficient? which one do you prefer? thanks..

Mooly · 9th October 2012, 06:11 PM

Vertical fins are the best for heat dissipation because the hot air rises freely between the fins.

Strange to say that horizontal fins are used on the Sugden A21a Class A amp and that amp runs really hot. Obviously they (and the case) dissipate the energy sufficiently but it would run cooler with vertical. Maybe a rare case of form over function from Sugden.

I think the horizontal look better though

endia · 9th October 2012, 06:25 PM

Hi Mooly, thanks..
just looked forum's gallery pages and this explains why most builders choose vertical ones.. besides horizontal look better me too

Wavebourn · 9th October 2012, 06:37 PM

Heatsinks with pins instead of flat fins are the most effective.

If you orient fins horizontally they are useless for free convention. However you may see horizontally oriented fins when forced air is used, also forced air allows to use densier heatsinks. For free convection optimal distance between fins (width of gaps) is 8 milimeters.

endia · 9th October 2012, 07:07 PM

thank you Wavebourn,
i will use heatsinks outside of the chassis with free air, so i'm sticking to vertical placement with no doubt..

forr · 9th October 2012, 09:34 PM

The lower figure with its vertical fins looks like the front of the Quad 405.
To me, it's the best place to fit heatsinks but few manufacturers do it his way (Quad, DB systems, some old H&K and JVC, I think ).
Note that horizontal are not only less efficient, they will accumulate more dust.

endia · 9th October 2012, 09:54 PM

Quote:

they will accumulate more dust.

thanks forr.. indeed, that also makes sense..

tinitus · 9th October 2012, 10:27 PM

good to have 'adequate' heatsinks
but to achieve best cooling its equally important to ensure optimal heatspread by mounting the transistors in the right place
sometimes completely neglected
but then optimal cooling may not be necessary

9th October 2012, 06:11 PM	#2
Mooly diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Sep 2007	Vertical fins are the best for heat dissipation because the hot air rises freely between the fins. Strange to say that horizontal fins are used on the Sugden A21a Class A amp and that amp runs really hot. Obviously they (and the case) dissipate the energy sufficiently but it would run cooler with vertical. Maybe a rare case of form over function from Sugden. I think the horizontal look better though __________________ ------------------------------------------------------- *A simulation free zone.* *Design it, build it, test it.*

9th October 2012, 06:37 PM	#4
Wavebourn diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Pleasant Hill, CA	Heatsinks with pins instead of flat fins are the most effective. If you orient fins horizontally they are useless for free convention. However you may see horizontally oriented fins when forced air is used, also forced air allows to use densier heatsinks. For free convection optimal distance between fins (width of gaps) is 8 milimeters. __________________ If I disappear suddenly, that means I finally created a time machine and pushed wrong button that brought me to Stalin's Russia. In any experiment any result is the result. Even if it is negative.

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9th October 2012, 06:25 PM	#3
endia diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: istanbul	Hi Mooly, thanks.. just looked forum's gallery pages and this explains why most builders choose vertical ones.. besides horizontal look better me too

9th October 2012, 07:07 PM	#5
endia diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: istanbul	thank you Wavebourn, i will use heatsinks outside of the chassis with free air, so i'm sticking to vertical placement with no doubt..

9th October 2012, 09:34 PM	#6
forr diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Next door	The lower figure with its vertical fins looks like the front of the Quad 405. To me, it's the best place to fit heatsinks but few manufacturers do it his way (Quad, DB systems, some old H&K and JVC, I think ). Note that horizontal are not only less efficient, they will accumulate more dust.

9th October 2012, 10:27 PM	#8
tinitus diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005	good to have 'adequate' heatsinks but to achieve best cooling its equally important to ensure optimal heatspread by mounting the transistors in the right place sometimes completely neglected but then optimal cooling may not be necessary