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In Reply to: RE: damping heatsink fins posted by Lew on February 16, 2016 at 13:09:17
I've read a number of posts on various sites were people have recommended damping heatsinks as well as the chassis.
Initially I was think of putting something on the bottom of the fins since heat rises. Now I'm thinking of putting something along the outer edges of the fins so airflow is not impeded. Maybe a strip of some type of rubber, on each side, running from the first to last fin and held against the outer edges of the fins with two sided tape.
Regarding chassis damping, I have a gut feeling that is what the spike on the bottom of mccormack amps is for. Just a guess. Maybe Steve Mccormack will kindly shed some light or recommendations.
Follow Ups:
No offense intended at all, but the fact that other persons who post on websites have recommended dampening on heat sink fins does not by itself encourage me that it is necessarily a good idea to do so, or even beneficial to do so. At least, if it's done in a way so as not to impede air flow over the fins, it is unlikely to be harmful.
I'd try Mortite if you don't overdo it and if it is rated to take the heat. Tweaker
I think you are correct about the spike on the bottom of the McCormack chassis. If I recall correctly, that was said to mechanically ground it, if pegged into a wood shelf, for example.
On the heat sinks, after posting I was thinking that I have not usually noticed much vibration of heat sink fins, and/or that if they are vibrating, they must be picking up some mechanical energy from something either within the chassis or the chassis itself. If the latter, then damping the chassis per se might eliminate heat sink vibration without at all impeding the job of the heat sink, which is to dissipate heat. If the mechanical energy is coming from within, most likely the transformer, then one might check the bolts that hold the transformer laminations in place to see whether they are loose and could benefit from being tightened. However, one must be careful not to over-tighten them. Or else, check the bolts that hold the transformer to the floor of the chassis. Typically they use rubber grommets to isolate the mechanical vibration of the transformer from the chassis.
Everything vibrates, even if the transformers were tightened it would still be a very possible improvement to dampen heatsinks, even the transistors directly with high temp silicon would be a great idea. There are silicons that go up to 700 degrees. If sinks are only warm Mortite should do it. Tweaker
Within limits, you should learn to love the vibrations. Dig them, like the Beach Boys did.
I think my system with the mccormack sounds very good. It's just that I've read a number posts about subtle improvements realized after damping heatsink fins, and parts of the chassis, so thought I would give it a try.
While the amp is in a cabinet, there are 1/4" gaps around the door that covers the equipement area and, the back is completely open.
Even after listening for hours, to jazz CDs played at a realistically loud level, the heatsinks are only very slightly warm to the touch.
I don't know if it is an A/AB amp or just AB, or if the bias is such that it transitions from A to AB at a wattage that is below the listening level I like.
At the same listening level in my other system, with the Aragon 8008BB, the heatsinks run very hot...I think of it as an electric space heater... because it is biased to run in class A to, I think, 18 watts before switching to AB. The speakers in that system are very efficient so it probably is not getting into AB territory.
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