Heatsink Importance?

[olingerjccj]

Just curious how important this really is. I am just trying to decide if I really need to build this. Thanks for the thoughts...

John

[budude]

Heatsink for? Triacs? It mostly depends on your current draw requirements. Generally you are looking at around 1A w/o a heat sink and 2A with per channel. You'll need to specify what hardware you are referring to and what you are trying to drive to give a more definitive answer...

They are so cheap to add though it's usually better to just add them regardless...

[blurp]

They are so cheap to add though it's usually better to just add them regardless...

I second this. Regardless of your current draw, the better job you do at carrying heat away from your components that generate heat, the longer those components will last, as a general rule.

It's a lot less frustrating to build and install heatsinks than it is to see your lights not working due to a hardware failure.

[olingerjccj]

Heatsink for? Triacs? It mostly depends on your current draw requirements. Generally you are looking at around 1A w/o a heat sink and 2A with per channel. You'll need to specify what hardware you are referring to and what you are trying to drive to give a more definitive answer...

They are so cheap to add though it's usually better to just add them regardless...


Yeah I probably will but I should be around .99a per channel.

Thanks
John

[budude]

Yeah I probably will but I should be around .99a per channel.

Thanks
John

The "around" part is what will get you... ;)

I think I paid about $10-20 to put heatsinks (a few 3' sections of 1/8" aluminum and some #6 screws/nuts) on my 32 SSROz modules - really cheap insurance...

[fkostyun]

Myself? I have heatsinks on two of my 14 Ren 24s - and thats the only ones that have >1000 lights per channel.

I also have large heatsinks on my 40A main power panel - as each of those 40a SSR's take near 20a of current each.

[Wayne J]

They are so cheap to add though it's usually better to just add them regardless...


I second this. Regardless of your current draw, the better job you do at carrying heat away from your components that generate heat, the longer those components will last, as a general rule.

It's a lot less frustrating to build and install heatsinks than it is to see your lights not working due to a hardware failure.

I third this.
Every SSR I have gets a heatsink.
Seriously, heat sinks are cheap and easy to do, and only add more life to the hardware you worked hard to build. Then, if you ever go to increase the amperage draw on a channel, you can without worry (with in the limits of course).

[Virtus]

I agree that any electronics will live a longer life if the heat is kept down. I use the "Live in the north, leave the electronics outside in the subzero temperatures" technique. No heat sinks on any of my SSRs, but not a lot of load on any single SSR, either.

[blurp]

I agree that any electronics will live a longer life if the heat is kept down. I use the "Live in Montana, leave the electronics outside in the subzero temperatures" technique. No heat sinks on any of my SSRs, but not a lot of load on any single SSR, either.

That's a good method, too. So, either make heatsinks, or move to Montana. :-)

[dirknerkle]

I agree that any electronics will live a longer life if the heat is kept down. I use the "Live in Montana, leave the electronics outside in the subzero temperatures" technique. No heat sinks on any of my SSRs, but not a lot of load on any single SSR, either.

You just have to watch out for the jackalopes gnawing on your cat5...

[NogginBoink]

No heatsinks here in Dallas, TX. But only running 100 mini's per channel. Works fine 2 years in a row.

[ErnieHorning]

I did some testing awhile back and found that they handle a couple of amps without a heatsink for a short while. So if you just stay under a short while, you should be fine too.:p