Peltier Cooler Box - New Version

April-2013: Built from a watertight plastic box used in outdoor electrical wiring, this new revision is more robust, and thermally more efficient, than the previous one.

The plastic cabinet is 18x13.5x13 centimeters in size, and is manufactured by www.conextube.com in Argentina. The peltier assembly is model ATA-015-12 from www.customthermoelectric.com.

Thermal insulation is maximized by injecting polyurethane foam to each side of the box, with the camera and peltier in place (protected with kitchen plastic wrap), which shapes to tightly accommodate the camera body. As the foam grows quite a bit while it dries (needs 24 hrs), reaching every little corner of the enclosure, once dried, one has to use a cutter to remove the excess material.

Internal temperature drops 23°C in half an hour, with the camera turned on, and settles at a drop of 26°C in an hour. The camera sensor, settles to operate at 18°C below ambient, while taking 5-minute subexposures at iso1600.

To see cooler dynamics, click here

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  • Jeff on 2013-Apr-03 17:41:11 Jeff said

    Very nice looking. Are you able to provide a parts list and perhaps some assembly tips or instructions? Thanks...and again, very nice!

    Cheers
    Jeff

  • Ignacio on 2013-Apr-04 06:38:36 Ignacio said

    Thanks, Jeff. I added more details in the description above. Bear in mind, thou, that the shown plastic cabinet is manufactured in Argentina, so you will have to look for something similar in your market.

    Ignacio

  • Steve on 2013-Apr-05 01:13:04 Steve said

    Very impressive indeed - I like it a lot.

    Are you aware of any material that is like the insulation foam, but could be used to conduct the heat away? I have been thinking of something like a moulded cooler jacket around the camera to conduct the heat away from all angles.

    Cheers -
    Steve.

  • Ignacio Diaz Bobillo on 2013-Apr-05 07:04:50 Ignacio Diaz Bobillo said

    Hi Steve,

    I am afraid you cannot have it both ways, a material that is a thermal insulator in one direction, and a conductor in the other (like a diode). What one can do (haven't tried it yet), is wrap the camera body with aluminum foil before placing it in the box. In this way, heat coming from the sides and front of the camera body, that would otherwise be in contact with the foam, may find an easier way out. This could speed up the cooling process and maybe allow it to go deeper.

    best
    Ignacio

  • Rowland on 2013-May-27 14:21:42 Rowland said

    Hi Ignacio. I am also on my third cooling system and think that you have concluded much the same. I like what you have done with v3. For a cooler box it is perhaps the best that I have seen, in terms of practicality and performance and, you have not compromised the camera in the process. Enclosing the camera in foam puts all the cooling just where you want it. The box is ideal - it doesn't need to be metal.

  • Wellerson on 2013-Sep-12 12:11:06 Wellerson said

    Hi Ignacio.
    Congratulations for your APOD.
    About cooler box, how do you controls peltier temperature?
    Has the peltier assembly only button on/off or not?
    Has any circuit?
    Regards,
    Wellerson

  • Ignacio Diaz Bobillo on 2013-Sep-12 12:49:17 Ignacio Diaz Bobillo said

    Thank you, Wellerson. No, there is no active temperature control, I just turn it on and let it settle for about half an hour (while I focus and frame the object). Typically, the sensor temperature continues to drop during the first 3 or 4 5-minute subs. If the drop is significant (>2°C), y use a different master dark to calibrate this first subset.

  • Allen on 2014-Jul-19 09:00:52 Allen said

    How do you pass the TEC plate cooling through the box wall? Do you cut a hole for just the internal fan or try to match the size of the plate? I'm assembling parts now for this project. Thanks, Al

  • Ignacio Diaz Bobillo on 2014-Jul-20 09:19:48 Ignacio Diaz Bobillo said

    Hi, Allen. I cut a square hole somewhat larger than the peltier element. In the assembly I use, there is a foamy material surrounding the peltier element, that if squeezed in, seals the space to the hole borders.

  • Ross on 2015-Mar-07 11:41:36 Ross said

    Thank you for publishing this! I've been looking for a way to cool my Canon 70D for longer exposures. And I live in Phoenix so imaging during the summer is a real problem heat-wise. I just ordered the cooling unit and am on my way to Home Depot to look for an enclosure. Thanks again!

  • Nicholas Michae on 2017-Feb-28 05:59:27 Nicholas Michae said

    Hi,

    That looks very good. I'm thinking I might try and replicate what you have done on a 550D. ~Some questions.

    What is the logic of all the insulation foam? does it in effect push all the heat out the back and so help minimise condensation?
    This commercial one do not do this. http://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p4824_Geoptik-thermo-electrical-cooling-for-Canon-EOS-cameras.html

    Is all the cooling going via the camera LCD screen?

    Presumably a thermostat should be able to be incorporated?

    Good work.
    Nick