156 watt peltier PSU

[Jtw0128]

Ok, I'm planning on adding a 156 watt peltier to my water cooling setup and I am a little confused about what kind of power supply I am going to need to power it. Can I just hook it up to an extra power supply I've got like a 250 watt ATX? If not will a new supply like one of the 330 watt or higher enermax's work? If not what kind of things should I look for when trying to find a good one to use? Thanks a lot in advance.

JT

[Cablepro]

http://www.globalmart.com/comm/cbradio/accessories/power_supplies/pyramid/PS26KX.htm

I like this PSU alot...i own one

[Icemanzero]

What voltage is the TEC? is it from tedist.com? If its 15-16Vs thats max values and according to the people at tedist 12V is optimal Voltage as long as you have the amps to supply it. I have a second AT -PS that I ordered from swiftech. It is 400W 24A on the 12V rail. It works great, I use it to power multible TECS

[Cablepro]

that should work fine...the peltier draws about 15-16amps immediately upon startup, but then quickly drops down to a draw of about 12.5 amps as soon as it heats up...

I personally agree that the peltier works most efficiently at 12V...but just to appease those that will flame me after I post this, the peltier WILL produce a greater deltaT at 15V...but there is only a 3 degree difference on the cold side versus a 23 degree difference on the hot side...

so in effect, yes...it is most efficient at 12V, provided you can supply the draw

these stupid little things are cool as shit, huh?...

[Freakyfrank]

Originally posted by Cablepro:
but just to appease those that will flame me after I post this, the peltier WILL produce a greater deltaT at 15V...
http://www.procooling.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.procooling.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Jtw0128]

I work for Radio Shack so I'd like to buy the power supply with my discount since it sounds like computer power supplies are a waste for peltiers, would one of the 13.8 volt 20/15 amp or 13.8 volt 25/20 amp ones work well?

[Cablepro]

I'm sure it would be perfect

[Jtw0128]

ok thanks for the help!

[sulphurlad]

I've been thinking about a dedicated 120v to 16v transformer, like this model I found @ Radio Shack online, a Hammond model 166M16. It's a 18v, 10 amp transformer for $46.65. But it's only 3.75 x 2.25 x 2.5 inches in size. Has any one messed with something like this. I think it would be a good idea if you don't have enough room for another PSU.

[schuss]

I'm quite curious on this subject too, as watercooling is calling my name (I'm already OC'd, my case is modded crazily, and I'm bored). Would an old AT PS work for it? I'm a newb, so what kind of amps at 12v would a 156 from tedist.com need? thank you in advance for dealing with my stankness in watercooling projects.

[melteye]

ok... i have a Powmax 400W (16A on 12v) and need to run a TB-127 156Watt Pelt... this would power it fine... but could i add more then one pelt? does the 16a draw on the first pelt leave no more for the rest? how many could i power. blah blah blah, etc etc. thanks :)

[hielko]

You can power just one 156 pelt with luck... 2 or more pelts are certainly out of the question...

[Cablepro]

my 156W pelt would pull 15 amps at 15V...sometimes I would lower it to 12V, and it would pull 12.5A...

your psu won't power 2 of these...

[Errorz]

I got a 431watt enermax and the 12v line is rated at 15Amps i believe. Could it handle all my junk(kt7a,2hd,gf2,duron for now, dvd and like 3 fans. I am guessing the watts remaining are about 260ish and I ram my old 1ghztbird with the same hardware on a fong kai 250watt psu.

[Joe]

a 431 should work for that, as long as you arent going to use a pelt.

[grep]

Simple formula for calculating power needed for a pelt. P = IxE, P = Watts, I = Amps, E = Voltage. Simple formula translation will calculate any of the variables.
Watts = Volts x Amps
Volts = Watts / Amps
Amps = Watts / volts

Amps = 156watts / 12volts
13 amps

Ron

[hielko]

Not exactly. The formulas you use are correct, but a 156Watt peltier doesn't use 156 Watt. That's the maxium amout of heat it can transfer at dT = 0. Besides that, the amout of energie needed at a lower voltage is lower so you can't use the number the way you do.

You can say Imax * V = Watt

[Freakyfrank]

Originally posted by grep:
Simple formula for calculating power
Amps = 156watts / 12volts
13 amps
Ron

a 156W'er will use 12.5A @ 12V...
and 16A @ 16V.. thats 250W..!

the wattage-rating isnt the VA-rating ;)