SSC Three-pin Rectifiers

[Jimm]

When installing the three-pin rectifiers the 7805 and the 1117 do they have to lay flat and touch the board?  When I built the first board I did not bend the legs right and it does not lay down and touch as it should. Do I need to fix this?
Thank You,
Jim

[taybrynn]

My impression was that they should touch to help dissipate the heat a little better.

I'm not sure if thats critical or not.

[RJ]

No do not worry about it. I tell everyone to bend the legs more than 90 degs to pull it down flat but they do not run hot so it is not an issue.

BTW those are Voltage Regulators just so you know.

RJ

[Jimm]

Got it.
Thanks RJ.
Jim

[jeffcoast]

Wouldn't the issue with those be, if you are using the pvc pipe, if you didn't bend them, you would have a tighter fit getting them in the pipe? I just finished all of mine today, except for the pigtails, need to finish getting the caps for the pipes, and then start drilling them. And I really need to get the lights ordered. I have been procrastinating, mainly because I need to go out and get an accurate measurement of the roofline, and it has just been too hot and humid. And I tend to melt in the heat.

[RJ]

He bent them over they just are not laying flat on the pcb for him.

RJ

[jeffcoast]

Yeah, I was just commenting on your answer about them not getting that hot.

[urthegman]

On a couple of my SSC's they actually DO run hot, any idea what might cause this?

[RJ]

Hot is a realitive term. If you can not touch them, then they are hot and you have a solder bridge likely. They can operate at tempurtures that boil water and keep going. We do not normally want them running this hot. They will be warm to the touch. They only power the SSC chips and provide the data signal to the first node which is not much current but they do drop a good amount of voltage so if there is additional current being draw that should not exist then they will start getting warmer. The power for the string bypasses them and goes directly to the string.

RJ