Hello everyone! This is my first thread on here, and I'm hoping that someone has some help/opinions on my project.
I am in the process of rebuilding an older US Amps USA-100 and a 425. I've replaced all the caps and two TIP35's on the 100, and am in the works of replacing the caps and four resistors on the 425. I have yet to test the FET's on the 425, so I might end up having to replace some of those; time will tell.
At any rate, on the 100, I'm going to re-use the mica wafers between the heatsink and the FET and on the 425, I'm going to get some Kapton tape. I have to steal a few mica wafers from the 425 for the 100, so I figured I'd just use 1" Kapton tape and cover the entire heatsink.
I'm aware that I need to use some type of thermal heatsink compound, but I'm a little torn on what brand to use. I notice that a majority of the Arctic Silver comes in teeny tiny syringes and is expensive. I have found this: Super Lube® Silicone Heat Sink Compound online and on eBay for reasonable prices for what I feel is quite a bit of product.
Does anyone have any advice on this product? Has anyone used it before? Also, would the compound go between the FET and the mica wafer, or between the wafer and the heat sink, or between both?
I am in the process of rebuilding an older US Amps USA-100 and a 425. I've replaced all the caps and two TIP35's on the 100, and am in the works of replacing the caps and four resistors on the 425. I have yet to test the FET's on the 425, so I might end up having to replace some of those; time will tell.
At any rate, on the 100, I'm going to re-use the mica wafers between the heatsink and the FET and on the 425, I'm going to get some Kapton tape. I have to steal a few mica wafers from the 425 for the 100, so I figured I'd just use 1" Kapton tape and cover the entire heatsink.
I'm aware that I need to use some type of thermal heatsink compound, but I'm a little torn on what brand to use. I notice that a majority of the Arctic Silver comes in teeny tiny syringes and is expensive. I have found this: Super Lube® Silicone Heat Sink Compound online and on eBay for reasonable prices for what I feel is quite a bit of product.
Does anyone have any advice on this product? Has anyone used it before? Also, would the compound go between the FET and the mica wafer, or between the wafer and the heat sink, or between both?
The thermal compound should go onto both surfaces of the mica washer. But consider using Sil-Pad 400 by Berquist instead of the mica and compound. E
Thanks for the info! Yeah, I ended up ordering the Super Lube compound. It should be here next week. I also ordered some Kapton tape for the other amp. I might just use the Kapton tape on both, since it and the paste will be here at the same time.
good info on the sil pads. Someone else told me to look into those, but I didn't know what to look for. I'll give the compound and tape a try and see what I think. I still need to do some soldering on both boards, so it'll be a bit before they're together.
good info on the sil pads. Someone else told me to look into those, but I didn't know what to look for. I'll give the compound and tape a try and see what I think. I still need to do some soldering on both boards, so it'll be a bit before they're together.
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