Tiny Tech Tip

[rube]

Aluminum (copper too I would think) anti-seize make an acceptable substitute for thermal compound when replacing an ignition module.

[Pyrthian]

hmpf...makes sense.
obviously NOT acceptable for actual electronics - due to shorts caused by ooozing alum.....

[p8ntman442]

any data to back this up, like a thermal conductivity test? Or atleast the manufacturers data sheet giving the thermal resistance? I mean I know you can slob it on, but that dosent mean its aceptable. as a substitute. You will really have to prove this claim for me to NOT SPEND the 1.25 for the heat sink compound tube at Radio Shack.

[whipped]

You will really have to prove this claim for me to NOT SPEND the 1.25 for the heat sink compound tube at Radio Shack.

$6.99 thank you very much...

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index ... Id=2216880

:la:

[The Dark Side of Will]

I just bought an ignition module and it came with a single serving package of heat sink compound...

[p8ntman442]

dielectric silicone grease you mean. All the moduals come with that, its the wrong stuff though. Good for sales though.

[p8ntman442]

You will really have to prove this claim for me to NOT SPEND the 1.25 for the heat sink compound tube at Radio Shack.

$6.99 thank you very much...

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index ... Id=2216880

:la:

hey your a baller but the rest of us buy this.

for 1.99 now (its gone up).

[The Dark Side of Will]

dielectric silicone grease you mean. All the moduals come with that, its the wrong stuff though. Good for sales though.

Way to @$$ume.

Are any flavors of dielectric grease opaque white?

[p8ntman442]

I diddnt ASSume, I checked at napa, and all the modules thay sold for the fiero and other cars came with the clear silicone stuff. If you know of a suplier that sells the modules with heat sink compound please share the name and manufacturer.

[The Dark Side of Will]

You assumed that just because what NAPA carried was a certain way, everyone else's would be the same way.

I got the cheap brand from CarQuest for $35ish.
They also have a more expensive one for $65ish.

[BigRedDeckSpoiler]

I diddnt ASSume, I checked at napa, and all the modules thay sold for the fiero and other cars came with the clear silicone stuff. If you know of a suplier that sells the modules with heat sink compound please share the name and manufacturer.

The clear stuff can work. It's used in lots of electronics. I think it may actually have different properties from the clear dielectric grease.

Having said that, I still prefer the white stuff. I knew it under the name of Wakefield compound. We used it in high power radio transmitters to heat sink metal-bodied transmitter tubes to the transmitter chassis. Good stuff. :thumbup:

[rube]

any data to back this up, like a thermal conductivity test?

Uh, no.

It is aluminum after all and we don't have to worry about electrical conductivity. The purpose of the goo is to fill any air pockets between whatever device you have and the heat sink. Lemme see. Aluminum baseplate on the module. Aluminum body on the dist. Aluminum paste interface. Fuckin A!

You will really have to prove this claim for me to NOT SPEND the 1.25 for the heat sink compound tube at Radio Shack.

Do what you feel.
Unless Radio Shack is closed, it's 3AM, you're out of heatsink goo and would desperately like to drive your car after installing your backup ignition module.

[Pyrthian]

love it. we want tests! no unsubstantiated claims!

we will take 3 ice cubes, put them in metals bowls of never seize, heat sink compound, and the stuff that comes with the modules. then, one at a time, put the bowls on the stove, set on medium, and time it. see which cube melts quickest, and which melts slowest.

[teamlseep13]

LOL, thats a test if I have ever heard of one.

[Kohburn]

love it. we want tests! no unsubstantiated claims!

we will take 3 ice cubes, put them in metals bowls of never seize, heat sink compound, and the stuff that comes with the modules. then, one at a time, put the bowls on the stove, set on medium, and time it. see which cube melts quickest, and which melts slowest.

or just smear each on a peice of aluminum, and compare the temp of the back that gets heated by a torche to the temp of the past using an infrared thermometer (i have one)

[p8ntman442]

Too bad Im not at school, we had a thermal conductivity testing machine, basically some metal rod encased in derlin and sliced in several places. The type of metal varied, and so did the length on pieces of the same material. It had a heater at one end, and thermocouples in each slice. I could have put the heat sink compond between the slices to see how they affected it.

[Ironova]

Aluminum (copper too I would think) anti-seize make an acceptable substitute for thermal compound when replacing an ignition module.

Isn't the heat sheilds made of aluminum? I would think that it might help block some heat.

Josh

[rube]

love it. we want tests! no unsubstantiated claims!

OK fine. I'll rig a test in the near future. Similar to the rod method mentioned above if you'll accept the measurement with a non-contact pyrometer. I'll start out with one rod at 150°F and the other at 100°F and graph time vs. temp for heatsink compounds.

Isn't the heat sheilds made of aluminum? I would think that it might help block some heat.

Radiant heat shield.