Improving Heatsinks

[freo]

Hello
has anyone any ideas on how to make heatsinks more efficient, I have a class a amp that runs very hot especially here in the 100 degree Australian summer I thought about sticking the fins of another heatsink into the existing one, or mabeye running some copper wire from the existing heatsinks any ideas would be welcome
Regards Roger

 

[AndrewT]

Hi,
move to the UK.
They will run a lot cooler here.
Particularly in the Scottish Borders where some more snow fell overnight. It's all white again.

 

[Sangram]

Hello
has anyone any ideas on how to make heatsinks more efficient,

Hi

A 12 Volt fan run at 6 volts (or two connected in series) could halve the heatsink temperature.

Sangram

 

[Sangram]

... some more snow fell overnight. It's all white again.

I'm jealous!! We're approaching a summer which is supposed to be one of the worst in the subcontinent, with 40 degree temperatures.

 

[Greg Erskine]

hi freo,

Ensure fins are vertical.
Make sure the fins have good air flow.
Make them bigger.
Add a fan or two.
Black heatsinks are better.

regards

 

[AndrewT]

Hi,
ensure the bottom entry of the sink is clear of the floor/support shelf.

The cold (38degC) air needs to get in efficiently before it can get out.

Are the sinks clean - no dust/grime?

Would you consider the fan cooling just mentioned by Snagram & Greg?
Only for summer use.
Build a support frame with a bottom feed fan and an exist slot directly under your sink. Although not in the best location it will reduce your Tc.

 

[AndrewT]

Hi,
he did not understand the subtlety of my offer to take his amp off his hands.

Just an update on the weather.

I can't get to work today (Monday). Still snowed in from Saturday morning's snowfall/drifting.

 

[darkfenriz]

If you have plastic can devices you can use some thin copper blocks, of reasonably greater area than to247, each for every group of devices with the same potential at collector/drain. The trick is to use washer not between device and copper block, but between copper block and aluminium heatsink.
However I bet your heatsink is colder than you'd think. You know, water of 160F won't make you harm, freon of 130F will, and so will aluminium.