is it bad when a heatsink touches a capacitor?

[Gulzakar]

Just curious... my ax-7 is fitting snug against one capacitor...does it affect anything?

 

[sohcrates]

well, as long as it's not touching the leads on the bottom of the cap, it should be fine

the upper part of the cap is insulated

 

[Peter]

Yes it does. Heatsinks vibrate because they have a fan mounted to them, thus wear off the insulation on the capacitor over time. BZZZT...

 

[Gulzakar]

crud

 

[KF]

People bend the capacitors over a little so they don't touch. Don't push too hard. You don't want to pull the leads off.

Heat sinks can be shifted a little under their clips. That may be enough to clear. But be careful not to shift it onto the plastic socket step so it lifts the HS off the CPU.

You can file a bit of the HS away where it touches. I know people don't like to mess up their $40 HS/fans.

What I see on some circuit boards is that manufacturers immobilize parts that touch by squirting some silicone rubber or foam from a tube between. Even caulk ought to work. Maybe a double sided mirror mounting pad.

 

[Peter]

Bending capacitors doesn't work well. What you might feel as bending oftentimes is actually damaging the capacitor.
When shifting the heatsink a bit to the other side doesn't work, filing a bit off the HS is the best way, actually.

 

[ericlp]

You could always put a little bit of electrical tape on the cap. I am sure that would stop buzzing and help any grouding issues... 🙂

I agree I wouldn't bend any caps. Even tho I've gotten boards with bent caps and I have actually bent back into place just a bit. Tho if you bend them slitly I don't think it would hurt it but I also don't think it's a good idea.