These are 30 amp motor driver chips. I've been using these in projects that only require about 2-4 amp, so the chip doesn't even heat up. Would it be safe to mount these by only soldering the pins, and not the plates on the back? I ask this because to solder the plates, I leave holes in the PCB and solder thru the board with an iron, but because the chip is so big it takes considerable heat to melt solder on the plates/pcb holes. The chips always work, but I am concerned I may be compromising their lifespan by subjecting them to this?
The chips always work, but I am concerned I may be compromising their lifespan by subjecting them to this?
Yes it will, the data sheet has the maximum solder temperature / time.
If the chip is not getting hot there is no need to add an extra heat sink.
There is no need to solder this plate even if it does need a heat sink as mechanical clamping will give a great deal of thermal conductivity especially if you use a thin layer of heat sink compound or space filling thermal gel.
If you mean heat sink paste under the chip, plated through holes are still important to help carry heat to the other side of the PCB.
There appear to be three slugs on the underside, OutA, OutB, VCC.
Would need non-conductive paste and silpad, or some cahonies to try to solder that?!