TEC Cooling Condensation Concerns

Gazoo · Aug 27, 2007

Condensation will happen when a module is cooled below the ambient air's dew point. I have cooled my module well below the ambient temperature and there has been no condensation. Following is a calculator that will help you determine how much you can cool your module and not have to worry about condensation:

http://www.decatur.de/javascript/dew/index.html

Things · Aug 27, 2007

you musn't live in a very humid place??

Gazoo · Aug 27, 2007

I am running the air conditioning. The humidity is 60%. But it doesn't matter. If you use the calculator you will find you can keep the module cooler than the ambient air temperature even under very bad conditions, and it will not condensate.

Things · Aug 27, 2007

oh ok! thanks for the calculator

Gazoo · Aug 27, 2007

No problem. In fact I thank you for bringing it up. It made me wonder why the module wasn't condensating, so I did a little research on google and found the calculator..

Hemlock_Mike · Aug 28, 2007

I use the backwoods method -- If it's cool to the touch, that's about right. Dewpoint is the "critical" temp where you can start getting water but that's usually well below the needed heatsink temp.
Don't push the TEC too hard or you will need to get rid of that excess heat too.

Mike

Daedal · Aug 29, 2007

Exactly.

I cool mine to the point where they are just cool enough. You don't really need to get them to freeze. A good measure is to hook up the TEC and try it out with some water droplets before you put on the module. Simply get the water to be cold, but not freezing.

I managed to push one of SenKat's diodes up to 600mA with that kind of cooling.

--DDL

Hemlock_Mike · Aug 29, 2007

DDL --

My initial testing of the GB diodes indicates that 400 mA is about the knee of the output curve. I didn't read any more power at 500 ma. - at least not enough to blow up the earth ;D

Mike

Plug · Sep 15, 2007

Personally I am a total laser noob :

but i have dealt with TECs and some more advanced forms of computer cooling and a great way to control condensation is by using liquid electrical tape

Trust me, it easily seals up areas and is easy to peel off

Cyparagon · Sep 17, 2007

So if TEC is thermo electric cooling, what is TEC cooling? Is it anything like an ATM machine or a PIN number?

Archane · Sep 17, 2007

I found a site with a ton of pelts on it, different shapes and designs. maybe some of you will find one you like, i'm going to order one just not sure which one yet

http://www.tetech.com/modules/catalog.shtml

they even do bulk discounts(do I see another GB comming...)

Gazoo · Sep 17, 2007

Those are way overpriced...keep an eye on ebay for small peltiers...they often show up.

Archane · Sep 17, 2007

one question since i've had very little exp with pelts, on a few sites they refer to potted and unpotted peltiers, it sounds like they come with a way to control the current already, or am I way off?

Gazoo · Sep 17, 2007

Archane,
I am using Daedal's circuit to regulate the current going to my peltier. The max voltage of mine is 5 volts, but I only need about 1 volt to keep the diode cool. I keep it a little cooler than room temp. This prevents condensation and keeps the diode happy.

Archane · Sep 17, 2007

yeah my goal is to use DDL's circuit also. I have it built on a breadboard right now(will be starting my own post about that today with pics)

You may have answered my question already then, the circuit powered by 2 cr123 batteries has enough power to drive the LD and a pelt?

Gazoo · Sep 17, 2007

Archane said:
yeah my goal is to use DDL's circuit also. I have it built on a breadboard right now(will be starting my own post about that today with pics)

You may have answered my question already then, the circuit powered by 2 cr123 batteries has enough power to drive the LD and a pelt?

Once the circuit receives less than 6 volts the current will begin to drop. The better solution is to find a regulator with a lower drop out voltage. I will need to check how much current my peltier is drawing, but I think it would be possible using a small peltier...like one with a rating of 4 watts.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Melcor-CP-0-8-3...oryZ4660QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

TEC Cooling Condensation Concerns

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