soldering heatsinks

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analog97

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soldering heatsinks
« on: 19 Sep 2005, 11:28 pm »
I am having trouble soldering heatsinks to a Cornet2 circuit board.  I am using a 30 watt gun and 63/37 solder.  I have never soldered a heatsink.  Do these dissipate heat that quickly?  I did not want to heat up the circuit board too much.  Thanks for any help.

jules

soldering heatsinks
« Reply #1 on: 20 Sep 2005, 12:34 am »
I don't know the design of the cornet but soldering to the heat sink sounds most unusual as well as being almost a definition of the impossible. Is this part of the instructions?

jules

analog97

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heatsinks
« Reply #2 on: 20 Sep 2005, 12:57 am »
Yes, there are metal tabs on the bottom and are designed to be pushed into the circuit board.  The tabs are supposed to be soldered.

jules

soldering heatsinks
« Reply #3 on: 20 Sep 2005, 01:11 am »
so is their primary purpose to make an electrical connection, to provide physical support or to transfer heat to the sink?

jules

jules

soldering heatsinks
« Reply #4 on: 20 Sep 2005, 01:27 am »
sorry ... was thinking you were talking large sinks but you mean something relatively small and presumably copper so all I can say is that they can be very good at getting rid of heat faster than you put it in. Depending on the design, you might be able to suppress them a bit by immersing their fins in a bit of cork but this could damage something they are supposed to be protecting so I strongly suggest you find someone who knows the design.

jules

analog97

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soldering heatsinks
« Reply #5 on: 21 Sep 2005, 01:12 am »
I solved the problem.  There is a technique called forming a "solder bridge", which uses the solder to surround the part to be soldered and improves the heat transfer.   That is a tremendous technique!

jules

soldering heatsinks
« Reply #6 on: 21 Sep 2005, 02:45 am »
nice work and congratulations on mastering the skill

I hope you'll give us a report of the results when you're finished.

jules

analog97

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heatsink follow-up
« Reply #7 on: 21 Sep 2005, 12:40 pm »
I have been very careful and very slow.  The Cornet2 is my first project.  I am following all instructions and doing no modifications, except as recommended by Hagtech, i.e. the upgraded capacitors.  The circuit board is completed.  Now I need to do some testing.  The DMM should be here tomorrow.  Never used one.  I don't have an oscilliscope.  I am just going to check the voltages and all the connections I can.  I hope this is sufficient.  Should have a report by the weekend.  Thanks for all replies.  Do you have a Cornet2?  What do you think of it?   Larry

JoshK

soldering heatsinks
« Reply #8 on: 21 Sep 2005, 01:50 pm »
you should be fine with a DMM.  Most of us DIYers don't have o-scopes.  Usually you only use an o-scope when you are designing a circuit yourself.  Even then you don't always need one.

Dan Banquer

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Soldering heatsinks
« Reply #9 on: 21 Sep 2005, 02:18 pm »
I'll take a guess that the heatsink may be aluminum. If that is the case then you will find impossible to solder it, and you will need to make a mechanical connection. If the heatsink is copper then you should have no problem other than a greater amount of heat from your soldering iron because that heatsink is doing exactly that when you apply the heat of the soldering iron. If this is the case then you may need a larger soldering iron and a bit of added flux.
   Hope this helps;
              d.b.