Heat Dissipation

• A power transistor is very sensitive to heat, making it prone to heat destruction. When the transistor is carrying large amounts of current, it heats up. If steps are not taken, it will self-destruct. The only way to counteract the heat is to mount the transistors on top of a heat sink. A heat sink is a ribbed aluminum plate, which dissipates heat away from the transistor and into the air. Some very high power applications may even require a cooling fan blowing on the transistor to reduce heat.