Heat sinks, TO-3 sockets

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I've completed a preliminary design for a specialized power supply that is essentially a DC audio amp (output voltage +-50, output current +-5A). Now I'm trying to figure out what hardware I'll need.


I figure that the output transistors going at full tilt could dissipate as much as 150W, so I'm guessing that a heat sink good for about 300W should be a conservative choice. Where might I find such an animal? Any other comments?


Related: I want to use TO-3 sockets, since I'm using 2n3773 and 2n6609 output transistors. Newark Electronics has one for $1.22 in quantity that seems OK (https://www.newark.com/keystone/4602/transistor-socket-3-position-through/dp/35F1178). I also found a batch of bakelite sockets on Ebay that appear OK. Any suggestions?
 
Well, I just thought that that's the proper way to mount the power transistors. I hadn't thought about soldering directly to the pins.


I have a Dynaco Stereo 400 amp I built nearly 50 years ago, which used sockets. I guess I'm remembering that.



As for replacing the devices, I'm hoping that I'll never have to do that.
 
I have a Dynaco Stereo 400 amp I built nearly 50 years ago, which used sockets. I guess I'm remembering that.
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Manufacturers found over the decades that sockets lost contact with the base pin, due to oxidation. Oxygen never sleeps. They also limit heat transfer to a sink above the phenolic, which can't be very big.
Heatsinksusa sells sinks, operates down in the vendor section. I buy at newark some, and while their list prices on heat sinks are as bad as digikey & mouser, they do have sales. Look for the asterisk. If you use upper & lower limit function of selector table you can find something that is not quite what you planned but at 1/3 the price.
Best bargain in heat sinks is a blown up PA or guitar amp within 100 miles of your location. Freight is a killer on used equipment, but I got a blown PV-4c once for $28 on ebay. Took $80 to reactivate & improve it. (lower temp thermal cutout, more heat sink fins). I bought a blown PV-1.3k for $55 and brought it home on the city bus for $3 shipping.
 
what happens to the power dissipation if you accidently short the outputs of the power supply? It will happen.


When you're trying to regulate at +-50V, power per TO-3 device hits 80W when you short the output to GND. I'm using 5 devices in parallel top and bottom, hence about 400W total to the heat sink. The devices are always within the Safe Operating Area. That's 5 each, 2N3773 and 2N6609.


Under anticipated maximum load (say, 10 ohms and +-27V) PD per device peaks at about 16W.



I'm trying to avoid implementing current foldback, which would add a lot of probably unnecessary complication.
 
Manufacturers found over the decades that sockets lost contact with the base pin, due to oxidation. Oxygen never sleeps. They also limit heat transfer to a sink above the phenolic, which can't be very big.
Indinanajo,
your 1st sentence is right. It covers exactly what I meant before. Anyway, the 2nd one doesn't apply, 'cause the sockets are mount at the heatsink's other side.
Best regards!
 
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