Re: PCB's in liquid nitrogen

On Sat, 30 May 2009 22:11:55 -0700 (PDT), ggherold@xxxxxxxxx wrote:

On May 30, 11:26 pm, "JosephKK"<quiettechb...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Fri, 29 May 2009 13:01:35 -0700 (PDT), ggher...@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
On May 29, 3:34 pm, Okkim Atnarivik
<Okkim.Atnari...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
John Larkin kirjoitti:

On Fri, 29 May 2009 08:42:16 -0700 (PDT), ggher...@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
Does anyone have experience using printed circuit boards at liquid
nitrogen temperatures?  

I don't think you'll have any problems with the board. Wide range temp
cycling can stress surfmount solder joints, so thru-hole parts are
probably safer.

   Large sized SMD components crack sometimes if the card gets thermally
recycled several times. But typically SMDs are no problem at all in
non-commercial experimental-type work. I'd say they are even OK in
commercial work if your circuit is typically just cooled once and
then stays at 77K or 4K for long periods of time. But for commercial
work must experiment with your particular devices because you
are likely to operate them outside the specs anyway. My colleagues
once hung a small circuit from the seconds arm of a wall clock so
that it got dipped into LN dewar and retracted from it a one-minute
cycle time.

   More often there are problems because the frost and condensed
moisture may spoil some components if you just lift the circuit from
LN and let it warm up in open air.

   Regards,
            Mikko

The circuit board will be go through lots of thermal cycling.  It will
be used by students to measure the Johnson noise from resistors as a
function of temperature.  So I expect maximum thermal stress from the
students.

I thought I might try some small surface mount diodes as temperature
sensors, but I can use the glass encapsulated variety if these won?t
work.

Since I have your attention I also need a robust heater that will
survive repeated trips to 77K.  I?m going to try some of the 5 or 10
Watt aluminum housed power resistors made by Dale, Ohmite.  Do you
have any advice?  I?d rather not have to wrap my own out of resistance
wire, much cheaper to buy something commercial.

George Herold

Try RNR series wirewounds.  They may be pricey but may be space
qualified.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Price is important, We can always make our own from resistance
wire.

George H.

I haven't bought any resistance wire recently. It got to be more
expensive than completed resistors for me some time ago, and that was
materials cost only.
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: PCBs in liquid nitrogen
    ... cycling can stress surfmount solder joints, ... once hung a small circuit from the seconds arm of a wall clock so ... Watt aluminum housed power resistors made by Dale, ...
    (sci.electronics.design)
  • Re: PCBs in liquid nitrogen
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    (sci.electronics.design)
  • Re: PCBs in liquid nitrogen
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    (sci.electronics.design)
  • Re: PCBs in liquid nitrogen
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    (sci.electronics.design)
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