John Curl's Blowtorch preamplifier part II

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Exactly.

The data sheet specifies a maximum junction temp of 150°C, but the derating curve is for case temp, and the ST data sheet give a delta T between junction and case of 10°C/W. In the current setup, each device is having to dissipate just under 4 watts, and from the derating curve, case temp can be just a bit over 100°C, but I'm setting the limit right at 100°C.

se

Add .5 degrees C per watt to accommodate the package to sink interface. That puts the junction 42 degrees above the sink.

I would try for junction at 130 to 140 C, or sink at 90C to be safe.

John
 
Either it has an audible effect or it doesn't.
Otherwise why does it matter?

Determin8ng if something definitely can have an audible effect is very difficult and can only be certain for the cases where the result is "yes", and even then can be very tricky. Lots of things Ive done seem to have audible effect for me, but it would be foolish to neglect that it might be only becaus it was me who DID those things. So how can you expect an answer to question#1?

For question#2, because it MIGHT be audible, and we're technogeeks and might not want to worry whether something is hurting the sound experience. And because its a hobby.
 
If one wants to examine the internal metal workings of a plastic enclosed device, I recommend DMSO as a solvent, it will strip off the plastic without mechanical intervention.

Handle appropriately, it will go thru anything except glass and some plastics, smells kinda awful, is readily available at the feed and seed store as people use it on animals.

Other solvents?

Cheers
Alan
 
Really? The ones I have (ok, 20yrs old) do have a metallic back.

The ON Semi devices have a metal back, but I'm using Fairchild devices that are completely encased. I'm sure it's very thin on the back of the device. With the metal back you need to put an insulator between the back and the heatsink so don't think a little bit of plastic is going to be much worse than a mica or silicone pad. Just grease up the back and cinch it down. Easy peasy.

se
 
Have you actually done it on an IC it's not plastic?

Fuming nitric acid.

DMSO is a nice solvent (read: nasty) for certain plastics, but Scott is right here that these are quite chemically resistant epoxies. Fuming nitric is certainly one way to get there, although I would worry what that would do to the bondwires. Of course, my natural solution to any organic problem tends to be piranha (3:1 concentrated H2SO4 to 30% H2O2, generally heated to boot). :D

Edit: just read up, dilute nitric dissolves aluminum, but concentrated nitric passivates the aluminum surface. Learn something new!
 
And now for something completely different.

Want to do some case temperature monitoring on some plastic cased transistors (BD139 to be specific). I have some low mass Type K thermocouple probes (the ball at the end is a bit under 1mm).

Can I get a reasonably accurate reading by just touching the ball to the case, or do I need to try and drill into the case and glue it in? The devices are already installed so it would be a bit of a pain to try and drill into them now.

se

A thermocouple pyrometer might work better for that.
 
SE,
I understand your trepidation with ruining one of only two prototype boards but what are the chances that you would actually damage the boards even if you over-temp a device? As far as someone leaving the unit on in a room and locking up the house and seeing anything like 50 degrees C is rather slim chance I would think. 50C is 122F, that is damned hot for a closed house, I don't think I have ever experienced that in a house, now a closed truck or car yes, but a room in a house! Just glue on the therm o-couple and slowly increase the temperature while monitoring the case temp. if you get close to the limit you know you have a problem, if not your safe in 99.9% of all cases. Production units are going to be a different story, you can't control for every variable, if someone lives in the Mojave desert and leaves the unit on when the ambient temp goes to 120F and the windows are all closed the unit may just be toast but who's going to do that? In that case a fan that switches in at a high set point would be the only solution.

Me think you over thinkin this!
 
SE,
I understand your trepidation with ruining one of only two prototype boards but what are the chances that you would actually damage the boards even if you over-temp a device? As far as someone leaving the unit on in a room and locking up the house and seeing anything like 50 degrees C is rather slim chance I would think. 50C is 122F, that is damned hot for a closed house, I don't think I have ever experienced that in a house, now a closed truck or car yes, but a room in a house! Just glue on the therm o-couple and slowly increase the temperature while monitoring the case temp. if you get close to the limit you know you have a problem, if not your safe in 99.9% of all cases. Production units are going to be a different story, you can't control for every variable, if someone lives in the Mojave desert and leaves the unit on when the ambient temp goes to 120F and the windows are all closed the unit may just be toast but who's going to do that? In that case a fan that switches in at a high set point would be the only solution.

Me think you over thinkin this!

Yes, I know it's a rather slim chance. I'd just like to know if it would survive it or not. And it may not destroy a board if one of the output devices pops, but I can't be sure.

I think I've finally decided to just not worry about it right now. The pre-production units will be going to select people. I'll wait until we have production boards and I'll just build one up, put it in the oven and see what happens.

se
 
diyAudio Member RIP
Joined 2005
If one wants to examine the internal metal workings of a plastic enclosed device, I recommend DMSO as a solvent, it will strip off the plastic without mechanical intervention.

Handle appropriately, it will go thru anything except glass and some plastics, smells kinda awful, is readily available at the feed and seed store as people use it on animals.

Other solvents?

Cheers
Alan
I would be very careful with DMSO. I had some spilled on my pants, and it carried the green dye into my system. I got quite ill.
 
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