[Amps] High voltage rectifier / capacitor board material?

[Gary K9GS]

G10 FR4 is the material used in circuit boards.  One source of 
properties is:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FR-4

If you Google "FR4" you'll find a LOT more.  For higher temperature 
applications you want something with a high Tg.  This is the type of FR4 
laminate used for RoHS (lead-free) compliant PC boards.  A higher Tg is 
necessary for RoHS compliant boards because of the slightly higher 
processing temperatures.

Since the original poster is from the UK I would imagine that most of 
the laminate available there is higher Tg anyway.

Where to get some?  I'd make a call to one of the larger PCB fabricators 
in your area and tell them what you want.  I'd bet they will have some 
scrap to give you and/or would be able to help you find some.  Just make 
sure you tell them you're looking for UNCLAD material...otherwise you'll 
have to remove the copper on one or both sides.  Here in the US it's 
readily available from numerous non-PCB fabricators as well.

There are other more exotic PC board substrates available (Polyamide, 
Teflon, Ceramic/Alumina, etc) but it's REALLY expensive and scrap is 
tough to find.  FR4 will likely do the job for you.


On 9/6/2012 7:06 PM, Bill, W6WRT wrote:
> ORIGINAL MESSAGE:
> On Thu, 6 Sep 2012 21:35:02 +0100, Chris wrote:
>
>> What is a readily available plain (unclad) board material to use to
>> build an electrolytic capacitor array supporting a 5kV supply for a
>> 3CX1000A7 tubed linear please? I am in the UK, so something available
>> in Europe or here would be ideal. Thanks.
> REPLY:
> In my homebrew 3kV power supply, I used a high density polyethylene cutting
> board I bought in WalMart's kitchen department for a couple dollars. Works fine,
> but I don't know about it's temp rating. In my design, I used a fan to cool
> things down and I placed the capacitor bank right in the outflow of the fan, so
> temp is not a problem. Be careful if you place it somewhere else.
>
> 73, Bill W6WRT
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-- 


73,

Gary K9GS

Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org
Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com
CW Ops #1032   http://www.cwops.org

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