[programmerGuy]

Hello,

I am not an electrical engineer, and my question may reflect my ignorance. I disassembled a 50+ pound uninterrupted power supply (model Back-UPS Pro 1400), and it contained four massive chunks (4" x 4" x 1" folded) of gold-colored aluminum. I know computers have gold plating on connectors, albeit at the micron level, to prevent corrosion while promoting conductivity. The components of which I am asking were each attached to four small black-backed and shiny-front box capacitors (or resistors, or... other PCB components). Are these aluminum slabs gold plated? If not, are they brass plated or painted? I found a partial image of them on google:

http://www.jjoseph.org/media/apc_smartups/darrell_circuit_1.jpg

Thank you

[smoothy]

THey are anodized aluminum heat sinks... no actual gold there at all. They could have just as easily done it a number of other colors, or none at all.

[ebaines]

I agree with smoothy - sounds like Al heat sinks that have had a chromate finish (not gold) applied to prevent oxidation. It's a greenish-gold color.

By the way, the URL you gave gets redirected to the Jjoseph.com home page, not a photo.