Ignition amplifier failure

Ignition amplifier failure

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Loubaruch

Original Poster:

1,275 posts

205 months

Saturday 18th June 2022
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A kind poster on here identified Some original Lucas ( made in UK) ignition amps on sale:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133318230946?ssPageName...

I bought one to keep as a spare but thought it prudent to test it first.
On dissasembling the original amp ( now 26 years old) I found that the Heat transfer paste to ensure a good heat seal between the amp and the aluminium support heat sink was non existent. It must have evapourated or broken down over the years.

Electronics can fail in many ways, through ageing, a voltage surge e.g. at switch on and through excessive overheating etc. so without the heat transfer paste there is the possibility of overheating. Heat transfer paste or thermal grease is widely available. This is possibly one reason why some ignition amps have failed.


Zener

19,109 posts

228 months

Sunday 19th June 2022
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Use PC processor thermal heat transfer paste its far superior than the crap silicone grease often shipped with these modules , e.g https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cooler-Master-MasterGel-C...

Loubaruch

Original Poster:

1,275 posts

205 months

Sunday 19th June 2022
quotequote all
Yes that is what I used from RS I believe. Intended for mounting power transistors and high powered ICs.