Specifications

• Melcor type: CP1.0-127-06L
• I max.: 3A
• delta T max.: 149°F
• voltage: 15.4V
• Q max.: 25.7W
• number of couples: 127
• dimensions: 1.2" x 1.2" x 0.14"
• weight: 0.42oz

Thermoelectric coolers; thermoelectric heaters; heat pumps; thermoelectric effect devices - these all refer to the Peltier Effect.
In 1834 Jean Peltier discovered that the passage of an electric current through the junction of two dissimilar conductors cools or heats the junction depending on the direction of the current.
The modern Peltier junction is made out of semiconductor material.
In the Peltier Module supplied in this kit, 127 p-n junctions are connected electrically in series but thermally in parallel.
The p- & n- doped elements are soldered to copper connecting strips.
Ceramic faceplates electrically insulate these connecting strips from external surfaces.
Bismuth telluride is the semiconductor material used.

When a current is passed through the module a water drop placed on one side will boil or freeze depending on the direction of the current.
The effect is fully reversible; pass the current the other way and the opposite surfaces will heat and cool.

It is important to understand that a Peltier Module is not a heat sponge which absorbs heat.
It is a heat pump. Heat which is pumped out of the cold surface is deposited on the hot side of the module where it must be dissipated in some way.
If not, the hot side will heat up to the point where it will stop functioning as a cooling device and actually begin to heat the cold surface.

A heat sink must be considered as an integral part of any Peltier cooling system.
All performance characteristics of Peltier devices vary as a function of the heat sink temperature.
An ideal heatsink would be capable of absorbing an infinite amount of heat without rising in temperature.
In practice we must choose a heatsink which will absorb the total waste heat from the module and not rise in temperature above a tolerable level.
In general, a heat sink temperature rise in the range 5 to 15ºC above ambient is reasonable.

Heatsinks are rated in °C/Watt.
This is a measure of how many degrees the heatsink will rise above ambient when 1 watt of heat is pumped onto its surface.
For example, a heatsink rated at 0.17ºC/Watt will rise 17ºC above ambient when 100 watts of heat is pumped into the sink.

Natural conduction heatsinks (0.5 to 5ºC/W) may only just be suitable for some uses of Peltier modules.
Forced convection (0.02 to 0.5° C/W) and liquid cooled (0.005 to 0.15°C/W) must be used to obtain the maximum efficiency from a module.