Via Flickr:
The new configuration is complete.
The cooler is assembled with a trimmed finger in place. There's a new peltier device, a 40 Watt unit from Tellurex. Testing during assembly required several stops and starts. I found that I couldn't rely on the thermal gel material at all to help with heat or cold sinking the device. Instead, I had to use some thermal compound that I had lying about. I may upgrade this in the future.
I've also done away with the old sock for insulation, I'm using thick weatherstripping that is placed directly at the edge of the device and fills the gap nicely.
I reused the power control and thermal probe from the previous setup. I put the thermal probe just inside the camera body up against the finger. This should give some idea of the internal temperature.
Cooling seems to be a little faster than before the change. I'll need to run a full set of tests like I did before to determine if it really is doing the job.
Once I get it out into the field it will be the real test of what it can do.
Lastly, I will probably tear into the base of the camera again and apply some thermal gel pad near the back of the CCD. I'm nearly at the point of no return where I would never use this camera body for anything other than astronomy.
With further testing today inside the house at ambient temperatures of 20C, I was less than impressed. I think that much of the challenge is that there is a lot of thermal energy leakage. I've been using a closed cell foam thermal strip to enclose the area near the heatsink. The thick nature of this foam keeps me from being able to see what's going on at the junction. I tested without the obscuring foam and I could see that the copper plate near the TEC gets frosty. I'm hoping that the foam keeps this from happening.
A few more things to consider for optimizing the setup:
I've been considering getting some cheap heat pipes as well. If I used those to help move heat out of the camera, it could get better results. Would have to use ones that can handle temps below freezing.
The new configuration is complete.
The cooler is assembled with a trimmed finger in place. There's a new peltier device, a 40 Watt unit from Tellurex. Testing during assembly required several stops and starts. I found that I couldn't rely on the thermal gel material at all to help with heat or cold sinking the device. Instead, I had to use some thermal compound that I had lying about. I may upgrade this in the future.
I've also done away with the old sock for insulation, I'm using thick weatherstripping that is placed directly at the edge of the device and fills the gap nicely.
I reused the power control and thermal probe from the previous setup. I put the thermal probe just inside the camera body up against the finger. This should give some idea of the internal temperature.
Cooling seems to be a little faster than before the change. I'll need to run a full set of tests like I did before to determine if it really is doing the job.
Once I get it out into the field it will be the real test of what it can do.
Lastly, I will probably tear into the base of the camera again and apply some thermal gel pad near the back of the CCD. I'm nearly at the point of no return where I would never use this camera body for anything other than astronomy.
With further testing today inside the house at ambient temperatures of 20C, I was less than impressed. I think that much of the challenge is that there is a lot of thermal energy leakage. I've been using a closed cell foam thermal strip to enclose the area near the heatsink. The thick nature of this foam keeps me from being able to see what's going on at the junction. I tested without the obscuring foam and I could see that the copper plate near the TEC gets frosty. I'm hoping that the foam keeps this from happening.
A few more things to consider for optimizing the setup:
- Seal the edges of the TEC with a good quality silicone? Tellurex says no.
- Cut the size of the finger to the same size as the TEC. This will reduce the incidence of frosting and since there will be less metal to try to cool, more energy will come from inside the camera.
- Get better thermal compound! I've been down this route before: cheap thermal compound as supplied with these heat sinks is awful.
- Attach the thermal probe to the copper plate more securely. This ensures a better reading.
- Get back inside the camera and put some gel pad on more components and put that better compound inside it, too.
- Maybe cut away the copper near the tripod socket to avoid heat loss there.
- Get nylon washer/bolt for the tripod socket to prevent heat loss.
- Consider a full reconfig with a smaller, shorter finger and go water cooled.
I've been considering getting some cheap heat pipes as well. If I used those to help move heat out of the camera, it could get better results. Would have to use ones that can handle temps below freezing.
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