LARGE Heatsinks, What would you do with them?? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: PartialDischarge
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2016, 05:38:49 pm
content: Hi,In my company I've come across a huge pile of nice heatsinks that will probably end up in the trash. So I've started thinking about any possible uses for them, be itelectronics related (a massive LED heatsink...) or even artistic uses (a futuristic table top...).Selling them is not easy since weight makes shipping priceyWhat would you do with those ? any creative ideas?Cheers!

author: Augustus
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2016, 05:46:36 pm
content: Quote from: MasterTech on May 14, 2016, 05:38:49 pmTake them to hamfests, these make nice heatsinks for homemade transistor rf power amplifiers...

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2016, 05:50:35 pm
content: I really wouldn't mind buying a couple of those if the price is right... I have a few projects in mind for which I really could use such heatsinks.

author: mav_iqdirect
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2016, 05:53:02 pm
content: Cool stuffFormerly I saw up similar ones to smaller pieces to use in my hobby projects.

author: Johnny10
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2016, 06:11:34 pm
content: I would put 200 watt 8 ohm resistors on them and use for audio Load.Very Cool!Pick them all up.Lots of uses.Too bad you are so far away...

author: German_EE
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2016, 06:25:43 pm
content: DC dummy load, aREALLY BIGDC dummy load.Selling them to radio hams is a better idea though.

author: iampoor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2016, 07:51:36 pm
content: Dummy load all the way!I wish I could find a nice pile of heatsinks like that!

author: stmdude
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2016, 07:55:41 pm
content: Mount _lots_ of power-LEDs on them to make a spotlight bright enough to light up the moon.

author: M4trix
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2016, 08:35:00 pm
content: Mastertech, the question is, what is your field of interest ? Personally, I would build powerful dummy loads for testing high power audio amplifiers and sell them.

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2016, 08:39:18 pm
content: Big power supplies, like motor drives / VFDs, industrial heating, etc.Tim

author: AF6LJ
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 14, 2016, 08:42:19 pm
content: Great heaatsinks for 8560 based power amplifier.Just have to get the beryllium oxide thermal link welded to them.Here is an 8560 datasheet.https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiuuN-sttrMAhVJ02MKHQq8B0kQFggjMAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tubecollectors.org%2Feimac%2Farchives%2F8560as.pdf&usg=AFQjCNFh5D19RlApJz9X5Ki8-eUYGH8jIA&sig2=XUsvmZ5_VMXvZR5VFWNRBg&bvm=bv.122129774,d.cGc]https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiuuN-sttrMAhVJ02MKHQq8B0kQFggjMAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tubecollectors.org%2Feimac%2Farchives%2F8560as.pdf&usg=AFQjCNFh5D19RlApJz9X5Ki8-eUYGH8jIA&sig2=XUsvmZ5_VMXvZR5VFWNRBg&bvm=bv.122129774,d.cGc] https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiuuN-sttrMAhVJ02MKHQq8B0kQFggjMAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tubecollectors.org%2Feimac%2Farchives%2F8560as.pdf&usg=AFQjCNFh5D19RlApJz9X5Ki8-eUYGH8jIA&sig2=XUsvmZ5_VMXvZR5VFWNRBg&bvm=bv.122129774,d.cGcI only mention this because I have a half dozen of these tubes.

author: 10101
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2016, 08:44:24 pm
content: 1000A electronic load just for the lols xD

author: wkb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2016, 09:00:56 pm
content: HAM PAs & dummy loads! Not something I would 'thrash' ever

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2016, 09:23:44 pm
content: Holy crap, I've got some pretty long ones, but those are probably way more metal, and will definitely dissipate heat better. I'll take some pics of them later.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2016, 10:12:59 pm
content: Time to buy 20x 100W LEDs from aliexpress

author: AF6LJ
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 14, 2016, 11:05:52 pm
content: Quote from: Psi on May 14, 2016, 10:12:59 pmJust what everyone needs a ceiling light that is brighter than the Sun.

author: M4trix
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2016, 11:18:22 pm
content: Btw, how much does one heat sink weigh ? Since Spain is not far from here, I'm curious how much would shipping cost from Spain to Croatia.

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 14, 2016, 11:26:40 pm
content: Quote from: MasterTech on May 14, 2016, 05:38:49 pmWow. If you can arrange to take them, rather than the company trashing them, then you definitely should take them all.Because despite the shipping cost I think they would sell well via the usual channels.Also, think recycling metal value. If the company doesn't want to bother taking them to recycling, why don't you?Another use: small optical table for DIY laser projectors and such. It looks like the back surface is machined flat, already has lots of tapped holes. and it's also going to be a good heatsink oddly enough.

author: sarepairman2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2016, 12:10:16 am
content: you can also smelt them or just sell them for cash on ebay or just scrap them. Kind of a waste to throw out aluminum metal... its recyclable. Not the mot pricey metal but if you got alot of it you can buy yourself a few sandwiches.There are a few cool youtube videos with people making ridiclous LED flashlights too..I would save one or two and scrap/sell the rest unless you got free space or a serious liking of power electronics. You can probobly finance your project with that sale. Maybe sell them on the forum lol

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2016, 12:36:30 am
content: Here are thirty really stupid uses for them1. Grating cheese2. Use as a pet deterrent to keep cats and other pets off surfaces (Cats hate those kinds of surfaces)3. Make it into a frying pan with REALLY good heat transfer4. If you have enough of them, mount them on you wall, heck they might make good echo canceling surfaces5. Use it for a really big space heater6. Use it for a really big pool warmer7. Cut them up and save them for DIY projects (Or just plop a bunch off at a makerspace, they will take it)8. Stare at them9. Use them a chair for people who you really don't like to sit on.10. Use it to separate cheese curd from whey.11. Glue it to a stick and use it as a meat tenderizer.12. Use it as catapult ammo13. Put a trapdoor in your front porch with these at the bottom so you can mildly irritate and entrap troublesome door to door sales people.14. Spend way too much money and send it to the EEVBlog in one massive package just so Dave can wonder why you wasted money and time to send them over15. Get a nice torch and forge them into metal tools16. Make a footrest17. Cast them into slightly larger heatsinks18. Use them to shave your pubic regions19. If you have a LOT of them put brick to mortar and make a heatsink wall/house.20. Use them for computers21. Make a bed out of them22. Walk up to people in the supermarket and put one into their carts.23. Use it to crush fruit and veg.24. Keep boiling until soft, then eat them.25. Powderize them and make sparklers.26. Absolutely nothing27. Take a potato and push it through the waves to make fries/chips28. Use it to decorate your car29. Hide them under the floorboards to really confuse someone whenever it is found30. Make the ultimate water cooling system for a computer.

author: M4trix
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2016, 12:42:47 am
content: Quote from: AF6LJ on May 14, 2016, 11:05:52 pm

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 15, 2016, 02:22:54 am
content: Just how many of thesearethere?There is a lot of metal there - they are huge... I love them!!You could cut them down for a number of smaller ones ... I would hate to see any scrapped. If I couldn't sell them, I would rather give them away to people who could use them, rather than have them melted down.I'd hate to have paid the bill for their original purchase......

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2016, 02:54:11 am
content: You guys are way low-balling the dissipation capabilities of those heatsinks. Those are around 1500W heatsinks with proper airflow. Think Bigger!

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 15, 2016, 03:01:07 am
content: Three Mile Island...? Fukushima.....? Chernobyl........?

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2016, 03:06:55 am
content: Passively cooled, multi-channel, high-current, linear power supply and electronic load. One heatsink per channel.One should be pretty good for passively cooling a CPU and GPU, too.Fans? We don't need no stinkin' fans!

author: radar_macgyver
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2016, 03:47:50 am
content: Sandwich some peltier elements between two, add some fans and you have a solid-state air conditioner. Suitable for cooling enclosures and such. Enough of them would act as a room cooler, but won't be very efficient. Run in reverse, they'd be good for heat pumps.

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2016, 08:28:38 am
content: Quote from: radar_macgyver on May 15, 2016, 03:47:50 amWorld's lowest SEER!Tim

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2016, 10:13:31 am
content: Yeah, mine aren't nearly as impressive.

author: continuo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2016, 01:31:18 pm
content: Wow... What would be a reasonable selling price for one of these huge heatsinks? 30...50€? And how many of them do they stock there? Grab them... Grab all of them...

author: Jeroen3
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2016, 02:55:32 pm
content: €50? You are kidding?These go around for more than €100. They arehigh performance cooling aggregates.You have to ask the price, that's how expensive they are. You don't just scrap those, you return or resell then.Looking at how much you have over there, you are taking about 5 digit prices. And multiple digit shipping...Looks like you've scrapped the project to build your own VFD or super rectifier.There is one price lowering factor... they are pre-drilled.

author: apis
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2016, 03:00:32 pm
content: Yeah, sell them if you don't need them!Or give them to people who do, they will be grateful!

author: Nuno_pt
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2016, 03:11:51 pm
content: I would need 3 or 4 if the price is right, since Spain is on the corner.I'm thinking 144, 432 and 1296 RF amplifiers, and 1 HF 5kW dummy load.

author: radar_macgyver
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2016, 03:35:20 pm
content: Quote from: T3sl4co1l on May 15, 2016, 08:28:38 amSEER is not everything. We usethese guys'products at work to good effect. Perfect for enclosures where heat loads are variable, and you can't get variable capacity compressors small enough to avoid short-cycling. Also good for enclosures that operate off-vertical.

author: PartialDischarge
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2016, 06:13:03 pm
content: Some good ideas out there... the DC load definitively takes the lead! and actually there are also a lot of igbt modules here (>1000V >1000A) that fit those heatsinks andcould serve that purpose...And yes, those are highly efficient heatsinks given the proper airflow. There are actually 2 sizes in the pictures, the bigger one weights like 13kg if I remember well !!!...

author: sarepairman2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2016, 06:23:50 pm
content: thermoelectrics are great when you need them.

author: German_EE
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2016, 07:12:54 pm
content: Please could someone explain what SEER is? I can find plenty of information athttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seerbut none of it is to do with electronics.

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2016, 08:39:41 pm
content: Quote from: German_EE on May 15, 2016, 07:12:54 pmI was referring to the "room cooler" part. That definition is,https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasonal_energy_efficiency_ratioTECs are okay when you need the teeniest amount of heat flow to get a regulated temperature difference (usually cooler, and sometimes stacked to achieve much lower temperatures... at the cost of exponential power consumption..!). I can't imagine a case where you'd actually want to put in a room-sized one.Ed: or more to the point... that you'd want to put in, and pay for the installation and operating costs of...Tim

author: CatalinaWOW
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2016, 11:44:53 pm
content: Active loads for battery characterization. Big batteries like those used in giant scale RC airplane flight or electric drag racing and so on.

author: iXod
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2016, 04:48:35 am
content: Make these:1800 watts (162,000 lumens).Cheers.

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2016, 05:12:42 am
content: Quote from: MasterTech on May 15, 2016, 06:13:03 pmWait, you have huge pre-drilled heatsinks AND giant igbts that fit them? Are the igbt's 'surplus to requirements' too?OK, seriously, can you find some specs for the heatinks and igbts? Either post or PM them, or even URLs for them?I'd definitely be interested in buying some sets if cheap. Though I'd probably have to save up for the shipping.For some experiments related to a power independence project idea.Though, I suspect ">1000A IGBTs" are probably overkill. By more than an order of magnitude.

author: DimitriP
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2016, 05:39:27 am
content: Hmmmm .....

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2016, 06:15:10 am
content: Sweet!Doubles as a drink warmer.

author: Raj
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2016, 09:03:54 am
content: if you can't decide what to do with them... melt them and cast them into something usefulor cut them for use in smaller devices

author: ZeTeX
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2016, 12:44:22 pm
content: Quote from: TwoOfFive on May 15, 2016, 12:36:30 amoh my"24. Keep boiling until soft, then eat them."only in russia.