[OBF]

So this is surely a dumb question but I'm curious anyway..... I think I almost made a really stupid mistake, but didn't actually do so, and now I'm wondering what would have happened.....

Say I have an amplifier heat sink with approx 125v on it (actually the heat sink for a power conditioner that uses an internal amp to generate a correction signal, which is inside the case with plastic seperators) and I used a different screw that was too long for the top cover so that the screw made contact with the heat sink.  So my question is whether I created a short and something would have blown up?  That's my assumption since the chassi is obviously not hot but the heat sink is.

Thanks

[Levi]

That's a good question.

Here is a dumb answer:  It is better to get the correct fasteners.  It gives you peace of mind.

[ctviggen]

When you say "hot" do you mean as in "has 120V on it" or "is 100 degrees F"?  Why would a heat sink have 120V on it in the first place?  Do you mean that if you take a voltmeter to the heat sink and to ground, you get 120V?  If that's the case, that should never happen.  The heat sink should be a passive device connected to whatever it's supposed to draw heat from.

[OBF]

When you say "hot" do you mean as in "has 120V on it" or "is 100 degrees F"?

Yes, but actually 128v.  I don't understand the circuit enough to answer your question, but there are transistors bolted onto the heat sink.  This is inside the chassi with an induction fan for cooling, not outside like a normal power amp.  I have two of these conditioners and they are both the same so I know it's not a malfunction.  I have the service manual as a PDF but for some reason it locks up IE whenever I try and open it or I'd investigate more for my own curiosity.