I have seen a LOT of posts (or is it in the NP articles) that say for a heat sink, if you are able to hold your finger on it for a second or 2 or 3 and then pull off due to high heat/ pain, its probably about 60 degrees C, which is as hot as you want to get a heat sink given saftey considerations and the operating temp of the semiconductor, which is going to be a few degrees hotter.
Ok. Makes sense.
Today I measured a Class A amp's heat sinks. I believe that this 'finger' test gives you a heat sink at about 50C, not 60C. So good news, the devices are operating a lot cooler than I thought.
I don't think I am wussy but who knows. I used a thermocouple on a DMM and gave it time to settle in. Damn things get fric***in hot!!
Ok. Makes sense.
Today I measured a Class A amp's heat sinks. I believe that this 'finger' test gives you a heat sink at about 50C, not 60C. So good news, the devices are operating a lot cooler than I thought.
I don't think I am wussy but who knows. I used a thermocouple on a DMM and gave it time to settle in. Damn things get fric***in hot!!
After being a line cook for several years, I'm fairly certain that there's no universal "finger test" that will correlate to an actual temperature. I've seen guys take things out of a 350F oven barehanded and not blink twice and other people who can't even pick up something that barely feels luke warm to me.
I propose a less subjective test: try to cook an egg over easy on your heatsink!
I propose a less subjective test: try to cook an egg over easy on your heatsink!
hot or not?
Yeah I was surprised to measure this; I thought it was so hot that it would be about 65-70C but turned out to be in the 50's.
Nothing like learning by doing. Hell's Kitchen?
Yeah I was surprised to measure this; I thought it was so hot that it would be about 65-70C but turned out to be in the 50's.
Nothing like learning by doing. Hell's Kitchen?
Maybe we should be testing our heatsinks with a steak? 60C is 140F.. which is a perfect medium rare. 😎
I gotta stop, I'm making myself hungry here..
I gotta stop, I'm making myself hungry here..
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