Heat Sink Grease?

[TZOLK]

Im sure someone out there in Airhead Land knows the answer to this. Ok, It is recommended that you put a heat sink grease or compound between the "ECU" and the frame to help expedite the heat dissipation, so the "ECU" wont burn out.( Now I think it is the ECU, the electronic module in the gas tank area on late model Airheads) Ok, now the ?. Is Dielectric Grease, which we use for other things, the same thing as the Heat Sink Grease that they are talking about?

[howvood]

Dielectric grease is usually used to seal electrical components from water and does not conduct electricity.

Heat sink grease is used to help conduct heat from an electronic component to a heat sink.

I don't know of one that serves both functions.

[kioolt]

Heat sink grease and di-electric grease are not the same thing. Heat sink grease is available at Radio Shack.

[widebmw]

Silicone-Base "HEAT SINK COMPOUND" for heat transfer from semiconductors to heat sink. Radio Shack 276-1372

[TZOLK]

Bought some. Radio-shack $1.99 Thanks :) Found out that they also have that hard to find 3M DualLock for mounting stuff onto the bike.

[username]

if you'd like something a little higher performance, i'd recommend the shin-etsu x-23-7783D grease.

oh, and while we're at it, keep these things in mind when 'greasing' your electronics.

- less is more - the role of the grease is to fill small (so small you cant see them) air gaps (air is a lousy conductor) and allow heat to flow from the hot part to the heat sink. so you only want to apply a VERY thin film of this stuff - like 0.010" thick. if you are anal like me about this, and i have good reason to be, you put a small dab on the part, and then spread it thin with the edge of a credit card. really thin. you should have excess on the card.

- good clamping force is important. you want to squeeze the parts together really well for maximum heat transfer.

- good surface finish. the mating surfaces should feel reasonably smooth to the touch. most chips have really good surface properties. some heat sinks dont.

- planarity and flatness - you want the surfaces to line up. put your hands up in front of you, palm to palm, like you are praying. thats good planarity and flatness. now hold the heels and fingertips touching, but cup one hand. thats bad flatness. now flatten both hands again, and hold only the fingertips together. move your wrist away from each other, making a little a-frame house shape with your hands. thats bad planarity.

most of what ive said is likely overkill for this application, but if youre mindful of these things, you can rest assured that whatever problems youre having arent because you reassembled stuff with thermal grease improperly.

DISCLAIMER: i receive free samples of omega thermocouples occasionally, and this swag may bias my understanding of physics and heat transfer. ;)