12 Vdc heater / cooler assembly utilizes a Peltier device to create heat on one side and cold on the other. Driven by a 40 mm square Peltier thermoelectric heat pump, it operates on 13 Vdc @ 5 Amps. Operating at 13 Vdc, we measured the hot side at 190 Deg. F and the cold side at 55 Deg F.
The hot side of the Peltier device is connected directly to a 4.0" x 4.5" x 1.5" heatsink. The cool side connects via an aluminum block to another heatsink that is 5.0" x 5.0" x 1.25". The overall thickness of the unit is 3.8". The Peltier device and the aluminum spacer are between the heatsinks, embedded within an insulating block 1.1" thick. See online "Spec Sheet" section for a disassembled picture. 8" wire leads. Weight: 2.6 lb.
Spec sheet available in PDF format.
Customer Comments
A customer from PITTSBURGH, PA USA
Drop in replacement for Igloo Koolmate40
This unit fit right in my old Igloo Koolmate 40. It even has the right connector attached. All you need to do after removing the old unit is slide the two metal "wings" off, slide the new unit in (it can only fit one way), and lightly tap the "wings" back into place. Then just screw the connector on, slide the fan's wire's into place and replace the covers. You don't even need a soldering iron! Now the old Koolmate is back like new. Woo-hoo. Thanks all electronics!
A customer from Phila, PA
amazing little cooler
Don't forget the "cooler" is 30'F colder than whatever the HOT side is. IF you don't use a fan and the hot side gets to 140'F, the COLD side is 110'F. I made a sample cooler to knock moisture out of a sample line before going to a flue gas analyzer. It worked awesome.
A customer from Huntington Beach, CA
design info
I've been doing some research for a cooler considering both TECs and standard refrigerators. Basically it takes about 4 of these to equal a normal sized mini-fridge, but 1 or 2 may work if you keep the door closed. Those of you putting a fan on the hot side for better cooling should ideally put one on the cold side too. What good is it if the heatsink is really cold but your fridge isn't??
Another consideration is that these can run all day while a mini fridge motor will burn out if they're on more than half the time. So for continuous applications (rather than the occasional warm item being added) about 2 of these equals a mini fridge compressor.
A customer from Ohio
Great Cooler
Hooked up an 80mm PC fan on the hot side and let it run in my portable kegerator. After 4 hours, the hot side was only 70*F while the cold side was a nice 9*F. Very good!
A customer from RTP North Carolina
Getting the heat out
A really good way to cool off the hot side is to attach one of the high performance CPU coolers. They have lots of surface area and include a fan - low cost and they work great!