TEC power supplies

[polishedball]

Anyone had success with using a switching supply on a TEC? I just hate the weight / size of the linear supplies that are recommended.

Looking for something in the 12V range 6~10A.

[Badpip]

Where did you read that?

I have never had any problems with switchers and peltiers. Should make absolutely no difference

/Thomas

[SrS]

linear supplies that are recommended.

Maybe you’re mixing 2 things up. Its fine to use a regulated switching power supply. But its better to drive the TEC using a current source if you want to do it precise. What you don’t want is to use (for example) is a LED driver that turns the TEC completly on/off at 400Hz.

[macona]

I have a couple commercial TEC controllers and they are switchers.

[Xytrell]

^Does that mean they are most efficient when driven at max current, or is switching just more convenient?

[macona]

TEC are semiconductors, and like a lot of other semis, they are constant current devices. If you use a constant current supply the heat transferred is proportional to the current. If you use a switched mode constant current power supply you can get a whole better analog control and more efficiency and less electrical noise.

[LaNeK779]

i think we are getting mixed up between switch mode power supplies and pwm drivers here
a switcher's output is the same as any linear power supply's (in terms of how it looks on a scope screen).

the pwm driver outputs a pulse, fast one, but still a pulse

i am not trying to play clever, i just have a feeling that some people are getting it mixed up (or i have ot upside down in my head and i am not phrasing it correctly)

[Badpip]

i think we are getting mixed up between switch mode power supplies and pwm drivers here
a switcher's output is the same as any linear power supply's (in terms of how it looks on a scope screen).

Correct

the pwm driver outputs a pulse, fast one, but still a pulse

That depends on the pwm driver used - LED drivers and motor drivers usually output pulses.
A proper TEC driver has output filters to convert the pulses to a more or less constant voltage/current.

/Thomas

[planters]

TEC are semiconductors, and like a lot of other semis, they are constant current devices. If you use a constant current supply the heat transferred is proportional to the current. If you use a switched mode constant current power supply you can get a whole better analog control and more efficiency and less electrical noise.

I do not think this is true. These act like simple resistors. There is a significant delta R with temperature. I have never used a current limiting P.S., rather I control the current by controlling the voltage. I always use switching P.S. with these. TE technology and Custom Thermoelectric both recommend this type of P.S. for their TEC devices.

[macona]

Both Thorlabs and Newport use constant current sources in their controllers. Supposedly it helps with aging and manufacturing differences between TECs.