Where to get heatsink with flat bottom?

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ChrisM91

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Joined 2014
#1
Excuse the basic thread/tittle but I have never really had to shop for a speciifc heat sink before!


I need a heat sink for two TO-220 devices that are currently bolted to the top of a tube amp's top panel, the 4-40 bolts are 38mm apart. See attached pic.

Where can I find flat heat sinks from Mouser that I could drill and tap for 4-40 hardware?

Thanks!
 

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#2
Obviously, those TO220's are bolted to the underside of the (aluminum?) top plate.
That top plate should be sufficient to use as a heatsink, with a smear of heatsink grease.
Even if the tabs are insulated with mica and nylon shoulder washers, it's plenty good enough.
Plastic tab devices won't even need insulators.
 
#3
Yep the TO-220s are bolted right to the underside of the 2.5mm aluminum top plate (no isolation washers, mica pads, etc.).

I notice other builders do add a heatsink, and from my brief experience testing the amp it does get quite warm between the tubes and TO-220 devices.
 
#5
ChrisM91 said:
Yep the TO-220s are bolted right to the underside of the 2.5mm aluminum top plate (no isolation washers, mica pads, etc.).

I notice other builders do add a heatsink, and from my brief experience testing the amp it does get quite warm between the tubes and TO-220 devices.
Click to expand...
Radiated tube heat will naturally add to the plates temp increase.
But if the TO220 devices are staying within their heat range, I wouldn't go nuts over it.
Make sure that some thermal grease is used to bolt them down.
 
#10
Either of those two heatsinks pictured should work fine...but take into consideration you would be layering two hopefully flat structures on top of each other, some additional screws might be in order...& use lots of heatsink grease between the two.
I'm a firm believer in heatsinking everything it sight, two & three pin devices devoid of heatsinks really rubs me the wrong way, even when they are within derated values. I'm going to be opening up my Carver TFM-15CB amp soon for an intermittent....& I'm betting I'll find some tabs with holes, screaming for heatsinks, & I will accommodate those failings.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Rick...
 
#14
YES, that would be so cool !! I'm guessing the "fins" as pictured are only some 13mm high & not that efficient at removing heat...as such, using more "area" to compensate will work fine.


--------------------------------------------------------------------Rick...
 
#15
Lots of heat sinks are designed for forced air cooling, including the blue ones shown above. If you're just looking for a little bit extra heat sinking they'll work well even with convection cooling (and likely horizontal fins in OP's application).

Some may geek out over the colour and point out that black would be better. It would ... but not significantly better than other colours. The most important thing is that the heat sinks are anodized rather than raw aluminum. Anodization increases the surface roughness (-> area) which results in much higher emissivity than raw aluminum.

Tom
 
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#20
My rudimentary knowledge of Physics not withstanding, I'm betting some particle acceleration is in play here...considering my intellectual vacuum on the actual nature of heat...Do tell?, are we moving about bits of matter?
Lemme get some Dihydrogen Oxide in a glass & maybe I'll learn something new from some of you out there....so the OP can indeed say it IS a particle accelerator.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Rick...
 
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