Glueing ideal holders to heat sinks?

George2324

Well-Known Member
is it possible to stick the holders to the heat sinks any other way instead of drilling?

Ordered all my heat sinks and had them pre drilled but now I've decided to use holders instead of soldering since I have 640 soldering joints to do and I hate it.

Hole spacing is different for the holder
I'm not using any lenses or anything so will hold no weight just the LED.

If I can use glue does anyone recommend an adhesive to use?

Cheers
 

George2324

Well-Known Member
You can use thermal adhesive on the cobs, no need for holders.
I can screw cobs in fine. Reason for holders is I'm struggling to solder the wire to them..
4awg wire is so thick that I can't seem to get the solder to melt fast enough and get the wire to stick to the holder.

I destroyed an led by leaving the iron on it too long trying to melt it
 

George2324

Well-Known Member
I'm using 600w parallel drivers trying to keep voltage drop to minimum...

I might have to just use 18awg wire and settle for 5% voltage drop
 

Rahz

Well-Known Member
Even 16g would be a better choice than 4g. I think a 45w iron and some thin solder would make it pretty quick.
 

George2324

Well-Known Member
I've ordered some 15 AWG it's the smallest I can get... well its 1.5mm2 but converts to 15AWG.

Hopefully that will make it easier.

The pad on the clu048 1212 is so small it's just really difficult to get the solder to stick...

I finally got it to stick after attempting for ages and then had to bend the wire to get it to the next cob and it pulled the solder off along with the pad and destroyed the cob.

Got any tips to help me solder?
 

Rahz

Well-Known Member
Are you using flux core solder? If not that will help but those contact points are tiny. One of the reasons I like Veros, larger pads with a layer of tin already on them.

Anyway, if you're already using flux core and not having luck you can try cleaning the contact points with a mild abrasive like paper towel and a mild acid like vinegar, just damp not soaking wet. You can also DIY solder flux. There are various recipes on the web.

Also, lead solder is easier to work with than lead free.
 

George2324

Well-Known Member
Are you using flux core solder? If not that will help but those contact points are tiny. One of the reasons I like Veros, larger pads with a layer of tin already on them.

Anyway, if you're already using flux core and not having luck you can try cleaning the contact points with a mild abrasive like paper towel and a mild acid like vinegar, just damp not soaking wet. You can also DIY solder flux. There are various recipes on the web.

Also, lead solder is easier to work with than lead free.
Ah right I was going for lead free I thought it was supposed to be better

I just ordered a new solder thinking this one might be better

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B01LSJ7FZO/ref=ya_st_dp_summary?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Am I best off buying a different one?
 

Rahz

Well-Known Member
Leaded solder is easier to work with. It's melting point is a bit lower. Melts faster and solidifies faster.

It's the flux that produces the toxic fumes so you will need to vent your space either way.
 

George2324

Well-Known Member
Right ok I'll look for a lead solder cheers.

I just don't want to ruin anymore cobs...
Got 352 cobs to solder and I ruined my first one
 

Rahz

Well-Known Member
Keep the ruined cob and practice on the other contact point when the new solder arrives. You should find it's easier but if it's still an issue clean the contact points first.
 

George2324

Well-Known Member
If I end up needing to get ideal holders can I somehow glue the ideal holders to the heat sink instead of screwing them?
 

nfhiggs

Well-Known Member
I can screw cobs in fine. Reason for holders is I'm struggling to solder the wire to them..
4awg wire is so thick that I can't seem to get the solder to melt fast enough and get the wire to stick to the holder.

I destroyed an led by leaving the iron on it too long trying to melt it
Why on earth would you be using 4 AWG? That's rated for like 100 amps.... all you need is 18 AWG.
 

Rahz

Well-Known Member

George2324

Well-Known Member
Good choice. As far as the holders, I don't think anyone has done it. If the solder doesn't work out why not just drill the holes with a 2.5mm bit and tap them with a 3mm x .5 tap -w- tap handle? The hardware wouldn't cost much more than the glue. You would need to use max of 18g wire with the holders I suspect.
I could do that. Was hoping to save myself the trouble.

My issue might have been that I was scared to go to hot on the iron I kept my iron to the 200c setting was afraid of frying the cob...

It is a 65W iron and its max temp option is 450C what temp do you recommend I set it at?

Also is it possible that trying to solder the cobs after they have been screwed into heat sink could cause the heat sink to draw all the heat from the solder pad causing issues?
 

Rahz

Well-Known Member
Well, in theory you could glue them, in which case I would use thermal adhesive as a matter of principal.
 

Rahz

Well-Known Member
Also is it possible that trying to solder the cobs after they have been screwed into heat sink could cause the heat sink to draw all the heat from the solder pad causing issues?
No I think using solder that melts at 220C with a 200C soldering tip was the problem ;)
 
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