[time-nuts] SMPS or conventional?

[Bruce Griffiths]

If the drive current ripple is too high fatigue failure from cyclic thermomechanical stress can be significant.

Bruce
> On 23 October 2020 at 10:37 ed breya <eb at telight.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> Regarding TEC life, in my experience, what wrecks them the most is 
> cooling applications where the cold side is below the dew point, and 
> water condenses out onto and into the TEC Peltier array. This eventually 
> rots the elements from corrosion and electrolysis, until something craps 
> out. If the TEC will be exposed to ambient air, and run below or even 
> near the expected dew point, the sides should be sealed up with silicone 
> goop for longer life. Even then, it's not foolproof, since it will never 
> be a perfect seal.
> 
> If the TEC is in a closed, benign environment or vacuum, then it should 
> last indefinitely, unless abused power-dissipation-wise, or mechanically 
> by thermal stress. When the temperature cycles, the whole part must be 
> allowed to change dimensions slightly, so the mounting needs to have 
> some compliance.
> 
> Ed
> 
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