trinityamps.com

Hi,

Searched for the answer, but no joy - perhaps its too obvious!

I have the trinity VRM to go in Deluxe. I've read that the mica washer (I assume this is the clear acetate like strip) goes between MOSFET and the chassis, with the heatsink compound. Ok, silly question time... Does the heatsink go between the the MOSFET and the mica washer, or between the washer and the chassis?

Thanks, Rich

The purpose of thermal compound is to maximize heat transfer between surfaces by filling in the tiny surface irregularities in metals and ceramics (or whatever). That being said, I used it on both sides of the mica since I wanted the heat to transfer thru the mica to be dissipated by the chassis. Use as thin a layer of compound as you can....more is NOT better.

Yes, a thin layer on both sides. The mica washer goes between the MOSFET & chassis

Great, thanks for the clarification! I'm getting there...very slowly, but getting there!

Rich

The chassis over the mosfet gets pretty HOT - I take it that this is normal? Can it stay this hot for long duration?

Sure can as long as that level is within the mosfet operating temp range. It means you are getting good heat transfer. As long as the heat is being disapated and the mosfet doesn't get to hot its ok. The chassis has become a heatsink and disapates heat quite well. If you trace with your finger from outside in it should go from normal chassis temp to quite hot above the mosfet. How hot that is depends on the operation of the mosfet.

I am going to be putting my VRM in over the week-end, and am stealing from the tramp design. I am removing the pilot light to put the VRM pot in and drilling into the front panel for an led between the on and where the new power level label and numbers will be going. Getting a decal made for that. This way I keep my on and stanby switches in place and the power level can become set and forget.

We havent experienced too much heat in a 18 watt, or Tramp forthat matter so not sure why yours is getting that hot??

IMO, removing the standby and replacing with a 1M pot does it all for you. In the Tramp, we just use a 1M / On-Off switch to do it all.

FYI the MOSFET will get hottest when the VRM/VVR is running at medium power. At near max or min level, it dissipates less power.

Anyone ever tried Arctic Silver heatsink compound? It is not electrically conductive. This dropped CPU temperature level by 10 degrees in my PC. Glad I still have a tube for my VRM install, cause it works. http://www.arcticsilver.com/

Haven't tried it but the VRM does not get hot so this is not a big concern. As long as it is not electrically conductive it wont hurt to use it.

I use it , but the silpad is superior, in my opinion, for this use. But what you use is your own choice.

Looking for VRM / Tweed feedback here: viewtopic.php?f=11&t=2161