APPLICATION

The TC-24-10 provides cool-only or heat-only temperature control for thermoelectric devices. A jumper on the printed circuit board selects cooling or heating control. The controller uses single solid-state MOSFET device to modulate the thermoelectric device current based on the temperature set point. This methodology does not induce thermal cycling and so will not affect the thermoelectric module reliability as can on-off controllers.

Adjustments for set-point, proportional gain, and integral gain are made via variable resistors (potentiometers) located on the printed circuit board. These adjustment values can be pre-programmed into the controller for large volume applications thus negating the need to adjust each controller individually.

Mechanically, the controller’s printed circuit board is mounted to a metal bracket that is suitable for either horizontal or vertical orientation. The controller can operate in ambient temperatures from 0 C up to 50 C without generally requiring additional heat sinking.

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION

• Low voltage TE device control capability. The TC-24-10 requires an input voltage anywhere from 9 V up to 26 V. That voltage powers the microprocessor and can also be modulated and sent to the thermoelectric device. However, if the thermoelectric (Peltier) cooler operates on a voltage lower than 9 V or higher than 26 V, a second power supply can be connected. The controller can then modulate power from the second supply, and the second input voltage can range anywhere from 0 V up to 50 V.
• General purpose resolution and stability. The output signal to the thermoelectric cooler is pulse-width modulated (PWM) at 1000 Hz. The PWM control scheme affords temperature resolution of 0.15 C and controller stability typically as good as 0.50 C. The controller is best suited for applications where there is a general need for temperature control but where high precision and control are not needed.
• Accepts TE Technology’s standard 15 K thermistors. The controller comes with a standard lug-mount 15k thermistor which provides a control temperature range of -20 C to 100 C. TE Technology offers other 15 K thermistors in different mechanical packages, and these can also be used in place of the standard thermistor.
• Protected output stage. The output transistor (MOSFET) is thermally protected in case of inadvertent overheating. The transistor will switch the output off and then continually try to restart itself until it can operate at a safe temperature.The TC-24-10 comes with one MP-3238 thermistor, which is slightly different than the one pictured above. It is a 15K thermistor mounted in an aluminum block–essentially an MP-3193 thermistor (shown on the thermistors page) but with quick connects on the wires for attachment to the TC-24-10.SPECIFICATIONS
  • RoHS Compliant
  • Single-direction control mode—cool only or heat only (selectable via jumper)
  • Solid-state output stage with thermal protection
  • Input voltage: 9 to 26 VDC in single power supply mode, or 9 to 26 VDC (for microprocessor) and 0 up to 50 VDC (for thermoelectric load) when using two power supplies
  • Self-contained, 0 A to 10 A load rating (no additional heat sink required)
  • Control temperature of -20C to 100C
  • Proportional (P) and Integral (I) control; proportional (P) bandwidth adjustment 0.5C to 5C, integral (I) rate adjustment 0 to 2.55 repeats per minute
  • Temperature resolution of 0.15C; typical control stability of up to +/-0.5 C
  • Pulse-width modulation frequency at 1000 Hz
  • 15K ohm thermistor capability
  • Proportional and Integral control action, adjustments made via potentiometers
  • Operating temperature range of 0 C to 50C
  • Physical dimensions: 7.0 cm x 5.1 cm x 3.8 cm
  • External power supply(s) required