Heatsinks for transistors

[Discotech]

Is thermal paste needed for these or is just the heatsink screwed raw to the tranny enough for heat transference or does it need the extra contact provided by TP to dissipate the heat ?

[mdszy]

You should definitely use thermal paste or a thermal pad if you're dissipating enough power to need a heatsink in the first place.

[Discotech]

You should definitely use thermal paste or a thermal pad if you're dissipating enough power to need a heatsink in the first place.

Will this stuff do ?

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10PCS-New-Original-Thermal-Grease-Paste-Compound-Silicon-CPU-Heat-Sink-CPU-Processor-Cooling-paste-silicone/32506142564.html?spm=2114.search0604.3.1.64bc60b5Ibu2cI&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_3_10152_10151_10065_10344_10068_10130_10324_10342_10547_10325_10343_5012915_10340_10548_10341_10696_5013115_10192_10190_10084_10083_10618_5013015_10307_10820_10301_10821_10303_10059_100031_5013215_10103_10624_10623_10622_10621_10620,searchweb201603_51,ppcSwitch_5&algo_expid=5590c5c6-83d7-4148-9e40-a3952f940e33-0&algo_pvid=5590c5c6-83d7-4148-9e40-a3952f940e33&transAbTest=ae803_2&priceBeautifyAB=0

I really only know about PC Thermal paste for CPU's and the stuff I normally use is too expensive for a transistor or 10

[mdszy]

You should definitely use thermal paste or a thermal pad if you're dissipating enough power to need a heatsink in the first place.

Will this stuff do ?

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10PCS-New-Original-Thermal-Grease-Paste-Compound-Silicon-CPU-Heat-Sink-CPU-Processor-Cooling-paste-silicone/32506142564.html?spm=2114.search0604.3.1.64bc60b5Ibu2cI&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_3_10152_10151_10065_10344_10068_10130_10324_10342_10547_10325_10343_5012915_10340_10548_10341_10696_5013115_10192_10190_10084_10083_10618_5013015_10307_10820_10301_10821_10303_10059_100031_5013215_10103_10624_10623_10622_10621_10620,searchweb201603_51,ppcSwitch_5&algo_expid=5590c5c6-83d7-4148-9e40-a3952f940e33-0&algo_pvid=5590c5c6-83d7-4148-9e40-a3952f940e33&transAbTest=ae803_2&priceBeautifyAB=0

I really only know about PC Thermal paste for CPU's and the stuff I normally use is too expensive for a transistor or 10

I definitely think it will. You don't need anything fancy. The entire point is just to make the contact between the transistor and heatsink have as much surface area as possible, and putting a liquid between those surfaces is what achieves this.

[Discotech]

Ok thanks

[james_s]

It really depends. In a lot of cases thermal paste is not absolutely necessary, however given it's cheap and readily available it's rarely a bad idea to use it. Just don't use too much, a little goes a long way and if you smear it on thick like toothpaste it can actually impede heat transfer.