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- Sep 10, 2011
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Hey guys (and gals), I did search first, but I didn't find anything that actually addressed my question.
I'm wondering about how to best remove heat from a diode, while using the minimum of material.
To be more specific, I know that both aluminium and copper are good conductors of heat, but which one is better for conducting from physical contact, and which one is better for shedding heat via the air (like as in a finned heatsink with a fan)?
I'm asking because I was thinking about building a high-current 445 (of course) labby with the best heat sinking I can come up with. I don't know if I should make the diode a press-fit into a copper slug, and then have an aluminium heat sink with fan, or put the diode in aluminium with a copper finned heat sink with fan, or maybe all I need is just one metal and not a combination?
See what I mean? I dunno, maybe I'm just over-thinking it. I just want the smallest way to remove as much heat as possible. The issue is that I don't know if I need to do all this multi-material acrobatics to achieve it.
I'm also thinking about TEC, but I don't want to complicate the issue with that right now.
Any input is greatly appreciated. Thanks all.
I'm wondering about how to best remove heat from a diode, while using the minimum of material.
To be more specific, I know that both aluminium and copper are good conductors of heat, but which one is better for conducting from physical contact, and which one is better for shedding heat via the air (like as in a finned heatsink with a fan)?
I'm asking because I was thinking about building a high-current 445 (of course) labby with the best heat sinking I can come up with. I don't know if I should make the diode a press-fit into a copper slug, and then have an aluminium heat sink with fan, or put the diode in aluminium with a copper finned heat sink with fan, or maybe all I need is just one metal and not a combination?
See what I mean? I dunno, maybe I'm just over-thinking it. I just want the smallest way to remove as much heat as possible. The issue is that I don't know if I need to do all this multi-material acrobatics to achieve it.
I'm also thinking about TEC, but I don't want to complicate the issue with that right now.
Any input is greatly appreciated. Thanks all.