Paste is better, pads are easier.... Bada boom, bada bing!
Lighting Thermal pads vs grease
- Thread starter Tanglefoot
- Start date
@Tanglefoot if your going to upgrade your driver at a later date I would use the grease it takes a little more time but I think its worth it
Thanks Nudd. Im a little wary of it as no one seems to have chipped in to answer my earlier question as to how the spreading method holds up in the long run, i guess no ones actually got there yet ? I've just been on another forum & seen that spreading the grease did in fact cause air pockets & which in time caused the cobs to fail. Taking all this into account i think I may go against the grain on this forum & use pads - unless of course someone has in fact used their cobs for more than a couple of months without failure after using the spreading method ?? Thanks
When I place the cob on heatsink, make sure to apply pressure and rotate it back and forth a bit, maybe 1/8 turn, 3-4 times to get it seated well.
I'm about to apply the paste, but I'm having second thoughts... My hands are not steady and delicate enough for this job.
So I was wondering about taking a 0.1mm plastic(or stell sheet) and making a "mask" to apply the paste on the heatsink. I'm using mechatronix, clu048 and holders...
I think there's a bridgelux video on YouTube that shows this technique
Any inputs?
using Tapatalk
So I was wondering about taking a 0.1mm plastic(or stell sheet) and making a "mask" to apply the paste on the heatsink. I'm using mechatronix, clu048 and holders...
I think there's a bridgelux video on YouTube that shows this technique
Any inputs?
using Tapatalk
Dont apply the paste to the heatsink, apply it to the cob. Its not rocket science really. It sounds like people are making it more complicated than it is or needs to be.
I just spread Arctic Silver [HASHTAG]#5[/HASHTAG] using my finger and put it kinda thin...very simple and it really gets the heat off.. mine run around 105F at 80% power
MedGrower
That hydrodude again
Like @BigSm0 said: Just use a little bit to the center of the COB and put it in place against the cooler. You don't have to worry about spreading it as it spreads evenly when you press it flat against the surface of the cooler.
I find this video comparing some thermal paste application styles really informative and it seems that a little drop at the middle really is the most clean and effective method as long as you add enough
Arctic MX4 sure is good and I really like it is non-conductive and non-capacitive.
I find this video comparing some thermal paste application styles really informative and it seems that a little drop at the middle really is the most clean and effective method as long as you add enough
Arctic MX4 sure is good and I really like it is non-conductive and non-capacitive.
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How about considering "Thermally Conductive Epoxies," good up to 450-600˚F constant service temperature? Seems ideal, if thermally conductive enough. They certainly would be both form conforming (easy seating/joining without bubbles forming) and would be truly permanent -- solid adhesives, not grease.
For example, see http://www.cotronics.com/vo/cotr/ea_thermallyconductive.htm Looking at the spec sheet, http://www.cotronics.com/vo/cotr/pdf/thermcond.pdf, [HASHTAG]#132[/HASHTAG] and [HASHTAG]#133[/HASHTAG] are high thermal conductivity adhesives, with [HASHTAG]#132[/HASHTAG] essentially curing at room temp; and [HASHTAG]#135[/HASHTAG] is a high thermal conductivity grease. If electrical resistance is a high priority, some other formulations offer that without much loss in heat conduction. The reference to 2-parts means you mix 2 components (like normal epoxy) and 1-part mean it cures on its own, in the no. of hours cited at room temperature, otherwise one product requires heating for curing.
I've used Cotronics castable ceramic foam and other products in making my own vaporizers. Products work as claimed, but minimal orders tend to be high (particularly, if you haven't even tested/sampled the products), and may be out of reach of most DIY projects.
For example, see http://www.cotronics.com/vo/cotr/ea_thermallyconductive.htm Looking at the spec sheet, http://www.cotronics.com/vo/cotr/pdf/thermcond.pdf, [HASHTAG]#132[/HASHTAG] and [HASHTAG]#133[/HASHTAG] are high thermal conductivity adhesives, with [HASHTAG]#132[/HASHTAG] essentially curing at room temp; and [HASHTAG]#135[/HASHTAG] is a high thermal conductivity grease. If electrical resistance is a high priority, some other formulations offer that without much loss in heat conduction. The reference to 2-parts means you mix 2 components (like normal epoxy) and 1-part mean it cures on its own, in the no. of hours cited at room temperature, otherwise one product requires heating for curing.
I've used Cotronics castable ceramic foam and other products in making my own vaporizers. Products work as claimed, but minimal orders tend to be high (particularly, if you haven't even tested/sampled the products), and may be out of reach of most DIY projects.
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