Heat Sink Questions

[hondatech739]

I have read many of the different posts about how to select a heat sink based on power supply rating, chip specs, enclosures, etc. What I have not been able to find out is if there is a way to determine the thermal dissipation of a heat sink I already have. I have LOTS of them, actually. So I don't really want to have to purchase one if one that I have will perform as I need it to. Would it be as easy as looking up the chip that the heat sink came with and comparing the needed dissipation to the chip that I am using(LM4780)?

If anyone has any secret codes or great wisdom to figure this out besides trial and error, I would greatly appreciate the sharing of your accumulated knowledge.

This is my first amp project, so please formulate your answers accordingly. I am in school now, and still trying to learn how to use all the information my brain is soaking up.

Thanks

 

[KatieandDad]

Have a read of:-

DIY Heatsink

All you need to estimate is the surface area of the heatsink in question.

A calculator is available at:-

http://sound.westhost.com/download.htm#hsink

 

[hondatech739]

Have a read of:-

DIY Heatsink

All you need to estimate is the surface area of the heatsink in question.

A calculator is available at:-

ESP Download Page

Thanks, I have seen the ESP website before, but never ran across the heat sink info.
I'll check these out.

 

[bobodioulasso]

If you have lots of heatsinks select three of them. One small, one medium, one large.
Run the music loud or use a dummy load on each one and use your fingers to monitor the temperature rise..
You'll fast find out which one suits.
Though you'll learn nothing i fear.