Hey guys,
I just had a few questions about this stuff, mostly with regards to safety.
Okay, presently when i need to put a heatsink on a TO-220 vreg or whatever, i have simply used some mylar washers for electrical isolation. I was always a bit weary about this practice from a safety standpoint, however. For example, say i have a high voltage regulator and i am using a heatsink with mylar washers. What is to prevent the heatsink mounting screw from touching the inside of the mounting holes of both the heatsink and the reg??? Then, you have high voltage sitting on the heatsink! Not good. What if i am then mounting the heatsink to the case? REALLY not good. But this seems to be standard practice! What am i missing!?
Also, how does thermal compund factor in? I've never had the need to use any up till now. According to wiki, it can be electrically conductive...
Help me not shock myself haha!
I just had a few questions about this stuff, mostly with regards to safety.
Okay, presently when i need to put a heatsink on a TO-220 vreg or whatever, i have simply used some mylar washers for electrical isolation. I was always a bit weary about this practice from a safety standpoint, however. For example, say i have a high voltage regulator and i am using a heatsink with mylar washers. What is to prevent the heatsink mounting screw from touching the inside of the mounting holes of both the heatsink and the reg??? Then, you have high voltage sitting on the heatsink! Not good. What if i am then mounting the heatsink to the case? REALLY not good. But this seems to be standard practice! What am i missing!?
Also, how does thermal compund factor in? I've never had the need to use any up till now. According to wiki, it can be electrically conductive...
Help me not shock myself haha!