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Tempus · 12-09-2003, 08:13 AM

There is a hell of alot more to this discusion than "TEC good phase bad."

Personally, I've never seen a mini-fridge using a TEC for cooling. I have seen a single or dual beer cooler using TECs but not a fridge.

Why?

Simple, TECs have a hot and cold side. If you stick a TEC in the fridge cool it then you have to move the heat somewhere. Its kinda hard to insulate it properly to prevent hot side thermal migration. TECs are just not suitable for something the is 1 cu ft or larger.

I *assume* you are talking about getting a reasonably large mini-fridge and sticking a computer in it.

If you are talking about the other option -- that is, pulling the refridgeration system off of the mini-fridge and mounting it on the computer as a cpu cool -- then thats a whole different issue.

Thats basically what a prometia does. You need 4 pieces: a compressor, a condensor, an expansion valve, and an evaporator. If you want to take a mini-fridge and adapt it for this, then you need to replace the evaporator with something thats more like a standard heatsink / waterblock so that you can mount it on the cpu.

Thats all a huge pain and I don't recommend it. Working with refridge tubing SUCKS. And you need special tools to play correctly. All and all its better to not delve unless you have plenty of time and money -- of you know a bunch of HVAC technicians. =)

One nice thing about using refidgeration is that the heat from the whole system exits the condensor coil. With a TEC you have local heat still and it will require fans (or a water system) to move it all away.

Theres alot of other issues but thats a good start.

12-09-2003, 08:13 AM	#12
Tempus Cooling Savant Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 456	There is a hell of alot more to this discusion than "TEC good phase bad." Personally, I've never seen a mini-fridge using a TEC for cooling. I have seen a single or dual beer cooler using TECs but not a fridge. Why? Simple, TECs have a hot and cold side. If you stick a TEC in the fridge cool it then you have to move the heat somewhere. Its kinda hard to insulate it properly to prevent hot side thermal migration. TECs are just not suitable for something the is 1 cu ft or larger. I assume you are talking about getting a reasonably large mini-fridge and sticking a computer in it. If you are talking about the other option -- that is, pulling the refridgeration system off of the mini-fridge and mounting it on the computer as a cpu cool -- then thats a whole different issue. Thats basically what a prometia does. You need 4 pieces: a compressor, a condensor, an expansion valve, and an evaporator. If you want to take a mini-fridge and adapt it for this, then you need to replace the evaporator with something thats more like a standard heatsink / waterblock so that you can mount it on the cpu. Thats all a huge pain and I don't recommend it. Working with refridge tubing SUCKS. And you need special tools to play correctly. All and all its better to not delve unless you have plenty of time and money -- of you know a bunch of HVAC technicians. =) One nice thing about using refidgeration is that the heat from the whole system exits the condensor coil. With a TEC you have local heat still and it will require fans (or a water system) to move it all away. Theres alot of other issues but thats a good start. __________________ Thou art God.