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Electronics => Repair => Topic started by: skyhawk on July 13, 2018, 03:40:56 am

Title: A few general questions about thermal pads and copper tarnish
Post by: skyhawk on July 13, 2018, 03:40:56 am

This (https://imgur.com/a/aOrdSlj) is the controller board for a 2 year old hard disk drive.

The drive started displaying odd behavior and failing self-tests, so I was about to throw it in the garbage when I figured "let's take a look at the controller board for shits and giggles"

2 "repairs" later using a boxcutter and a white eraser, and the drive is now back in service, and appears to be operating fine  :-\

I've got four other drives of the same make and model, and I have now performed the same "maintenance" on them as a preventative measure. Am I being paranoid or are thermal pads supposed to have the plastic cover removed before they're pressed onto something?

Title: Re: A few general questions about thermal pads and copper tarnish
Post by: helius on July 13, 2018, 05:22:46 am

It's a little hard to tell, but that might be a Sil-Pad: a heat conductive silicone spacer.

Title: Re: A few general questions about thermal pads and copper tarnish
Post by: T3sl4co1l on July 13, 2018, 01:45:39 pm

Yes, the plastic cover is supposed to be removed.

Tim

Title: Re: A few general questions about thermal pads and copper tarnish
Post by: skyhawk on July 13, 2018, 10:09:57 pm

Quote from: T3sl4co1l on July 13, 2018, 01:45:39 pm

Yes, the plastic cover is supposed to be removed.

Tim

Should I be concerned about the fact a shiny new drive (made probably about 2 years later) has the exact same plastic on the thermal pad?

Title: Re: A few general questions about thermal pads and copper tarnish
Post by: T3sl4co1l on July 14, 2018, 08:30:26 am

Probably not. It's been working for them so far...  :popcorn: :-DD

Tim