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Thread: TEC project

  1. #1
    Join Date
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    Question TEC project

    I thought it would be a nice touch if someone , or a group, here on the forum would be willing to work towards creating a simple, yet effective TEC control as a project. There are a couple of really nice diode drivers available from members.....hat's off to you! I have tested and like all of them . It seems a LM317 based regulator and a TIP120 could be set up as a thrifty TEC device with a 10K thermistor. Maybe an op-amp to switch it on and off? Many possible ways....just trying to get a nice project in the works that I know lots of people can use....even for other than laser applications......shudder the thought. Anyway what do you think? Any takers....cohorts on a device of the like? Willing to donate parts,time when I can, and funding help. Any takers? Maybe call it "The PL-Cooler"? Tired of the balky PID units that need to be fed 120VAC
    You are the only one that can make your dreams come true....and the only one that can stop them...A.M. Dietrich

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
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    Default

    A while ago I programmed a PIC for this purpose. It has programmable PID control , with a few external components such as a thermistor it can achieve a very stable result:
    Have a look at the datasheet

  3. #3
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    Default

    I'd be willing to look into this

  4. #4
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    I have designed a unipolar TEC driver (cooling only) for keeping laser diodes at a fixed temperature. It is not PID but achieves a low enough temperature ripple for most applications. It has synchronous rectification and outputs an adjustable constant current. This means you can use any voltage rating peltier (or series combination of peltiers) as long as the total peltier voltage is less than the 12V supply. It will even run into a short circuit for setting the output current.

    Schematic - http://www.die4laser.com/D4Chill/D4Chill_Sch.pdf
    Set-up info - http://www.die4laser.com/D4Chill/D4Chill.txt

    I have a few suitable 15mm x 15mm peltiers handy as well if anyone is interested.

    BRs
    Robin
    Lasers and beer don't mix. After 2 beers I lose coherence.

  5. #5
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    Apr 2008
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    Amsterdam, NL
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    Does it makes sense to TEC cool a 200mW red laser diode to gain more power?

    My 200 mW is allready cooled by a big alu base.

  6. #6
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    You don't gain power by cooling your diode (not much anyway)
    The point is to improve stability and lifetime

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by mccarrot View Post
    Does it makes sense to TEC cool a 200mW red laser diode to gain more power?
    Nope, a second 200mW diode would be cheaper than cooling a single to get marginally more power, and the temperature wavelength shift of 658nm diodes is only about half that of the 808nm IRs. (you might be able to drop a couple of nm by moderate cooling)
    But it does make sense to cool an array of 16 200mW red diodes to ensure mechanical stability and alignment ... and for high power 808s to temperature tune them....
    Lasers and beer don't mix. After 2 beers I lose coherence.

  8. #8
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    Ill vouch for Robins TEC drivers. They are the goods
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  9. #9
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
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    I tried out a prototype of Robins Die4Chill, and they did the job really well.
    The rev 1.0's are approx 45x56mm -
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails TEC1.JPG  


  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
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    Quote Originally Posted by p1t8ull View Post
    I tried out a prototype of Robins Die4Chill, and they did the job really well.
    The rev 1.0's are approx 45x56mm -
    Are these all kits?
    Can you get these pre-built?

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