Pelt questions.

[IFMU]

Ok, I have an idea in mind and am interested in going with it a bit. However, I need to get some info.
I really do not know alot about pelts, but I have read some. (read minimal. lol)
Now, I was given a Coolit USB Beverage Chiller (http://www.coolitsystems.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=43&Itemid=133) at the last CES in Vegas.
Well, I don't drink out of cans, so it does me little to no good.
I've got a few ideas on how to alter it and make it work for what I want, but was curious about a few things.
First, pelts are limited to the amount they can cool correct?
Regardless of the 'cooling' applied to the hot side, the cool side will only get so cold, right?
Second, since it is on a USB port, the amount of power it draws is also limited, to what?
Third, does anyone know the 'size/type' of pelt that is used by this 'cooler'?

I took the cooler apart earlier to mess with it and look it over. Interesting for sure. The amount of thermal paste (for lack of a better word) on there was outrageous, wow, talk about alot.
I pulled it apart and cleaned it up a bit, applied new thermal paste, some generic crap I had from when I worked for Dell.
I then put a silver plate in place of the blue metal plate that it comes with.
Just that alone and it feels so much colder to the touch.
Kinda shocked honestly, didn't think it would make any difference.
eh, anywho...
Anyone able to answer any of these questions? I imagine the 3rd I will have to contact them directly and ask, no info on their site or on the hardware itself.

[TopherTony]

I think this should be moved over to the peltier/tec forum under cooling. NOL should be able to help you. Its hard to find over here and I think you will get better answer over there.

[IFMU]

Yea know, I was starting to think that myself.
Put it here due to I was thinking of modding the cooler... been thinkin that.
Guess I should move it eh? lol

[THE JEW (RaVeN)]

The USB connector provides a single 5 volt wire from which connected USB devices may power themselves. A given segment of the bus is specified to deliver up to 500 mA

http://pinouts.ru/Slots/USB_pinout.shtml

5v and 0.5a makes for a not so impressive TEC imo for anything computer related. It says it draws 5.75W so it's cooling capacity in that situation is even less. If anything, hook it up to a 5v line and dmm how many amps it's drawing. You could get a rough idea on its wattage then. If you're a risk taker, hook it up to the 12v line and see what happens. Be aware that you may kill it, though on 12v.

[initialised]

Is there a part number printed on the TEC?

[littleowl]

Ok, I have an idea in mind and am interested in going with it a bit. However, I need to get some info.
I really do not know alot about pelts, but I have read some. (read minimal. lol)
Now, I was given a Coolit USB Beverage Chiller (http://www.coolitsystems.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=43&Itemid=133) at the last CES in Vegas.
Well, I don't drink out of cans, so it does me little to no good.
I've got a few ideas on how to alter it and make it work for what I want, but was curious about a few things.
First, pelts are limited to the amount they can cool correct?
Regardless of the 'cooling' applied to the hot side, the cool side will only get so cold, right?
Second, since it is on a USB port, the amount of power it draws is also limited, to what?
Third, does anyone know the 'size/type' of pelt that is used by this 'cooler'?

I took the cooler apart earlier to mess with it and look it over. Interesting for sure. The amount of thermal paste (for lack of a better word) on there was outrageous, wow, talk about alot.
I pulled it apart and cleaned it up a bit, applied new thermal paste, some generic crap I had from when I worked for Dell.
I then put a silver plate in place of the blue metal plate that it comes with.
Just that alone and it feels so much colder to the touch.
Kinda shocked honestly, didn't think it would make any difference.
eh, anywho...
Anyone able to answer any of these questions? I imagine the 3rd I will have to contact them directly and ask, no info on their site or on the hardware itself.

1 your correct
2 you are correct on that also
3 you will only get what the usb gives you. I would take a junk psu and put it on the 5v line just to see how much it draws
4 The tec used in that drink cooler is more and likely a 50w or less. You don't need much to cool a drink.

[STEvil]

May be a high voltage tec, or possibly there is circuit somewhere to limit how much it draws.

[littleowl]

most of the time stevil they just use cheap tecs for making these! I did some research on a hot plate my dad has and they used a max 50w tec and put it on a circuit to make it turn off and on depending on how hot the plate was.