Peltier cooling

Keeping the 12V portable fridges cool during higher ambient temperatures while away remote camping has always been a challenge.
Received a DIY kit a few weeks back and first thoughts it maybe a winner.
Assembled the kit and a temporary trial in the shed I was very surprised.
Will make up a holder to direct the cool air onto the workings of the 39L Engel and if results are positive will purchase another for the 60L.
The ambient temp today was only in the low 20°C's but with the unit powered up the resultant airflow got down to 2°C.
If all goes well, the couple of extra amps required to power unit should be offset in shorter run times.
Time will tell.

This is the one I bought from Banggood not eBay. Simple to assemble, just have to remember the blank side of the TEC1-12706 is the "hot side" and don't forget to apply supplied thermo paste.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/TEC1-12706-DIY-Thermoelectric-Peltier-Module-Cooling-System-Kit-Cooler-Fan-L2J0/153181163889

Info here, one of many.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wymjplFynzI

Have ordered a couple of these from eBay and will wire Peltier to an independent 12V supply. The Peltier will fit neatly inside Engel case, cool end facing up and the hot end blowing out through bottom;

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Fine-50-110-C-12V-W1209-Digital-thermostat-Temperature-Control-Switch-Sensor/191732045173

Move forward a week or two and this is the set up today:

This set up was in my shed running the Engel on 240V.
Obviously the ute solar wasn't connected. You can see the Peltier was drawing 4 amps. (This gauge reads the in & out amps)
Can manually set the thermostat, (Bought two through eBay, $10.00 in my letter box) in this instance I temporarily set the cut in temperature at 22°C.
The fridge was down to -8°C, the ambient was 25°C and the Peltier cold side was 10°C.
The Engel cycled for 5 minutes on, 3 minutes off. Will be interesting to see if the cycle times alter with Peltier on & off.
In real life out prospecting I would probably set it 25°C. ie: If the ambient temperature rises to 25°C the Peltier will kick in. When the ambient drops to 23° the Peltier will shut down.
During our prospecting season once the sun drops for the night the ambient temperature drops rapidly so the Peltier would be shut down all night and not start up until the next afternoon or when it again reaches what ever temperature I set.
Maybe set up a catch can under the "cold side" about a dessert spoon of water collected in the bottom of the box. lol
If nothing else it has been an interesting project.

interesting indeed mate summer will be a test guess its like a thermo fan for the car eh??? pushing cold air into the fridge fan bloody good idea if it works

Bloody good idea!

What would happen if you ran one after the other through cambers? would you double the effect?

god's money wrote:Bloody good idea!

What would happen if you ran one after the other through cambers? would you double the effect?

Worth a try GM and it won't break the bank.
Did a little mod this arvo, I put a catch can under the "cold end" it is surprising how much condensation forms.

Hey Peter, those links don't work, tried 3 different browser with same result, eBay looked everywhere etc etc., and Youtube just opens to the youtube default page...

Ismael wrote:Hey Peter, those links don't work, tried 3 different browser with same result, eBay looked everywhere etc etc., and Youtube just opens to the youtube default page...

Very strange Ismael, was working?
Have found another couple of links, see how you go with these. Have edited them into earlier post.

Nightjar wrote:
Very strange Ismael, was working?
Have found another couple of links, see how you go with these. Have edited them into earlier post.

Thanks Pete, the ebay works but not the youtube... just tell me the search and I'll look....

Try it now Ismael, there are many videos on this subject.