amp grease needed.

I want to take my amp apart to have the case re anodized and I would like to know what type of grease they use in-between the fets and the case in most amps I have seen a white grease or some type of dielectric grease but I don't know what it is.

It is silicone grease, or silicone heat transfer compound.  You can order it from mouser, digikey, jameco etc.

-------------
Good Luck!
-Thad

This may be way wrong, but; Could he use that stuff that's used in between PC processors and their heatsinks? I used it for the heatsink on the back of my stereo (I wiped it clean first) when I took it off to attach a ground stud. I figure it'll have better heat transfer abilities that way.

-When I first saw this topic it made me think of when a (dumb) friend of mine said he used plain 'ole grease on the rca inputs on an amp of his. He said it gives them better contact. He then asked me if i'd look at it 'cause it didn't work anymore. He just put a huge glob all over the rca inputs on the amp. Moron.

-------------
2013 Kia Rio -90a alternator
DDX470HD GTO14001 GTO1014D (x3)
Big3 in 1/0G
1/0G to GTO14001

ANY heat-sink transfer paste can be used. They are ALL PRETTY MUCH THE SAME. For that matter, go to your local Radio Shack, buy a tube of theirs for 99 cents, and have enough in that little tube to do 3 amps! You don't have to spend a bunch of money on it, really.

-------------
It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."

Thanks for the input everyone!

Thanks Haemphyst. I don't remeber seeing any at Radio Shack.

-------------
Good Luck!
-Thad

Radio Shack catalog number 276-1372... Having worked there a LONG time ago, it's sad that I remember the number...

-------------
It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."

And here I am, expecting this thread to be some sort of joke about greasing up your amp to make it bump more or something.  I was going to advise coating your amp with bacon grease.  I believe that's what Sony uses. 

-------------
Support the12volt.com

bacon grease?  I wish!!   Sony uses that horrible blue heat sink silicone that gets on everything once you've touched it... always wear a blue shirt when taking apart a Sony amp because if you happen to get any of it on your clothing at least it will blend in....

-------------
Kevin Gerry
Certified Electronics Technician
MECP First Class Installer

Owner/Installer
Classic Car Audio
since 1979

haemphyst, all that stuff works the same? That sucks because they sell some for computer processors for like $15 a tube!

Also, are there certain places we can apply this stuff on our amps to make them run cooler? If so, where? -I won't know what you're talking about so a simple pic would be nice...

-------------
2013 Kia Rio -90a alternator
DDX470HD GTO14001 GTO1014D (x3)
Big3 in 1/0G
1/0G to GTO14001

Yes I got some today at Radio Shack they call it heat sink grease.
But the bacon grease sounds good too.

It is designed as an insulator and good heat conductor that is typically between the transistors and the heat sink mounting.  You'll see it on the side wlals of that amp because that is typically where the transistors of the power rails are connected to the heat sink.

-------------
Good Luck!
-Thad

Alright. So I can just put a thin coat over the transistor? Everyone I know (doesn't amount to anything, BTW) calls them 'preamps'. Put a thin coat on these to help dissapate heat?

Thanks

-------------
2013 Kia Rio -90a alternator
DDX470HD GTO14001 GTO1014D (x3)
Big3 in 1/0G
1/0G to GTO14001

One question at a time:

1: Yes you can use it in CPU applications. I've been doing it for years, literally. There are actually some that have proven to be SLIGHTLY more effective at transferring heat - Arctic Silver is one, but the benefits are SO small, I can't personally justify the additional cost.

2: No, it is designed to go BETWEEN a heat pruducing device and a heatsink. It is specifically to fill in any (even microscopic) ridges, gaps, scratches, etc., to promote heat transfer from the hot side (the device) to the cooler side (the heatsink). You shouldn't ever just glob it on a device... It won't do anything there, except male a mess...

-------------
It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."

Awesome. You're the man.

So it, by itsself, isn't a heat-sink? It is just a 'heat-conductor' for in between the hot surface and actual heatsink and should only be used for this purpose?

Thanks, dude.

-------------
2013 Kia Rio -90a alternator
DDX470HD GTO14001 GTO1014D (x3)
Big3 in 1/0G
1/0G to GTO14001

jmelton86 wrote:

---

Awesome. You're the man.

So it, by itsself, isn't a heat-sink? It is just a 'heat-conductor' for in between the hot surface and actual heatsink and should only be used for this purpose?

Thanks, dude.

---

Note: You only need a very thin layer of the thermal 'grease' between the heatsink and whatever your attaching it to. A think layer will reduce heat transfer.

Yes, it is a transfer device. It, in and of itself, has no "heatsinking" capabilites whatsoever. In thick applications, it can actually become an insulator, INCREASING the residual heat within the device.

Generally speaking a TINY dollop to the heatsink side of the device, and a reasonable screw tension is all that is necessary. There should be a LITLLE bit squeezed out, but not vey much at all. If you JUST see it, after tightening the fastener, that is the PERFECT amount.

-------------
It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."

I get it now. It's just there to make-up for the (even microscopic) gaps, ridges, scratches along the two surfaces.

Thanks, everyone.

-------------
2013 Kia Rio -90a alternator
DDX470HD GTO14001 GTO1014D (x3)
Big3 in 1/0G
1/0G to GTO14001