Thermoelectric Peltier cooler TEC1-12706, consists mainly of semiconductor material sandwiched between two ceramic plates and are used in many applications from CPU coolers to other power sources. A thermoelectric cooling module (TEC) is an electronic semiconductor component that functions as a small heat pump. By applying a DC power source to a TEC, heat will be transferred from one side of the module to the other. This creates a cold and warm side. They are widely used in industrial areas, e.g. computer CPUs, CCDs, portable refrigerators, medical instruments, etc.

Thermoelectric cooling TEC1-12706 uses the Peltier effect to create a heat flow between the junction of two different types of materials. A Peltier chiller, heater or thermoelectric heat pump is an active solid-state heat pump that transfers heat from one side of the appliance to the other, with electrical energy consumption, depending on the direction of the current. Such an instrument is also called a Peltier device, Peltier heat pump, solid state refrigerator or thermoelectric cooler (TEC). They can be used either for heating or for cooling (refrigeration), although in practice the main application is cooling. It can also be used as a temperature regulator that heats or cools.

Thermoelectric coolers (TEC or Peltier) create a temperature differential on each side. One side becomes hot and the other side becomes cold. Therefore, they can be used to heat or cool something, depending on the side you use. You can also take advantage of a temperature differential to generate electricity.

Directions for use

- Max. Operating temperature: 138℃

- Do not exceed Imax or Vmax during module operation.

- Life expectancy: 200,000 hours

- Please consult HB for moisture protection options (seeling).

- Failure rate based on long-term tests: 0.2%.

Performance Specifications

TEC1-12706 Generator Applications

When coupled with a suitable heat sink and power source, TEC1 Peltier modules are suitable for the following applications.....

- Liquid component cooling - Ideal for high-performance PC applications, Peltier TEC1 modules are tested to cool CPUs and GPUs to extreme temperatures when used in conjunction with 12V power rails and CPU-optimized heat sinks.

- Food and Beverage Refrigeration - Accurate temperature management allows use in temperature sensitive food and beverage refrigeration applications requiring severe cooling (or heating).

- Commercial Portable Cooling - Approved for commercial transportation, Peltier TEC1 modules can be used to manage DTmax temperatures up to 68˚C.

- Temperature Stabilization - Stabilize volatile temperatures with ease and superior energy efficiency when combined with a precision Peltier control module.

- Precision Temperature Control - For research laboratories, universities or any other precision temperature control situation with a range up to 68˚C, TEC1 Peltiers offers unmatched control.

- Medical and Photonic Systems - Trusted in thousands of medical and photonic system applications, Peltier TEC1 modules offer first-precision temperature control - even at extreme temperature differences - few coolers can match.

How to use TEC1-12706 with Arduino?

Let's build a small cooler to keep the water cool using Arduino, This is possible thanks to the use of the thermoelectric TEC1-12706, which we will use in this article:

This pellet uses the Peltier effect to generate very low temperatures (often below 0) on one side of the pellet and very high temperatures on the other. This tablet is often used in drinking fountains, mini coolers or can be used for CPU cooling, ideal for those who like overclocks.

One of the characteristics of this tablet is to heat very quickly. In a few seconds, one side becomes very hot, and on this side, a heat sink is necessary so that the temperatures do not balance and cancel the effect of the tablet. The absence of the radiator can even damage it.

In my tests, I used a heat sink removed from a CPU, and a power source from the computer, since the tablet had better results when it was powered in 12v.

I do not recommend plugging the cooler directly into the Arduino as it will not provide the current needed to heat/cool the cooler. Check the TEC1-12706 data sheet to ensure that voltage and current levels are supported. In my tests, the tablet started cooling down from 1A (another reason not to use the Arduino 5v directly). Choose an external power supply of at least 12V and 2A.

Okay, and what if the tablet doesn't work directly with the Arduino?

We can use the Arduino as an auxiliary to switch the cooler on and off, adopting a temperature sensor that will trigger the cooler when the temperature reaches an X value, and turn off the power when the temperature drops and reaches a Y value, thus forming a cooler.

For that, I used a circuit composed by the Arduino Uno, a temperature sensor LM35 and a relay of 2 channels (using only one of the relays) :

I fixed the LM35 in a container with water and installed my cooler as shown below. I didn't really like the result with the LM35 because the type of sensor encapsulation doesn't help to monitor the temperature. The circuit may be better with a DS18B20, DHT11 or other temperature sensor.

The program below monitors the sensor temperature (analog port A0) and activates relay 1 (connected to digital port 4) if the temperature is lower than that determined in the TEMP_MAX variable. If the temperature reaches the same value as the variable TEMP_MIN, the relay is deactivated. The results are also sent to the serial monitor, showing the current temperature and status of the relay:

// Programa: Cooler TEC1-12706 int pin = A0; int pinorele = 4; int TEMP_MAX = 20; int TEMP_MIN = 10; String estadopastilha; int tempc = 0; int samples[8]; int i; void setup() { Serial.begin(9600); pinMode(pinorele, OUTPUT); } void loop() { for(i = 0;i<=7;i++) 5.0="" a="" cada="" incrementa="" o="" valor="" da="" variavel="" tempc="" divide="" por="" para="" obter="" na="" se="" temperatura="" estiver="" acima="" de="" aciona="" pastilha="">= TEMP_MAX) { digitalWrite(pinorele, LOW); estadopastilha = "Acionada"; } if(tempc <= TEMP_MIN) { digitalWrite(pinorele, HIGH); estadopastilha = "Desligada"; } Serial.print("Temperatura : "); Serial.print(tempc,DEC); Serial.print(" Cels. - Pastilha : "); Serial.println(estadopastilha); tempc = 0; delay(1000); }

Obviously, this circuit cannot be considered a "professional" cooler, it still requires many settings and some adjustments (a potentiometer to adjust the temperature range would be a good idea), but it can serve as a basis for your design using the thermoelectric cooler.