Dedicated PSU for 4x226W TECs?

[Rabbi_NZ]

I have a project in mind but it will be my first TEC attempt, so I am a complete ameteur! LOL

I'm jus wondering if there are any PSUs out there that could support 4x226watt Peltiers at full blast?

If so, what specs should I looks for?

Eg, I know what I'm looking for in a general PC PSU (12v, 5v, 3.3v rails etc).

But I have no idea even what rails a TEC PSU should have? 24v or 12v etc?

If noone can be bothered explaining it all that's cool, even some links to recommended reading material would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers in advance

rabb

[CrimeDog]

You want a 12v psu that will put out around 100amps (continuous!). That's 1200watts baby.
Good luck finding it, and even better luck affording it ;)

[Tedinde]

Outside of getting a Big car batter charger, your going to have a hard time finding something that puts out that many amps @ 12 volts.

[Rabbi_NZ]

:D
I did say I was a TEC ameteur so my ignorance is covered LOL

What about a 24v PSU? Is there such a thing as a 24v / 50amp PSU that doesnt require me to sell a kidney to afford it?

Or am I better off getting 2 PSUs to share the load?

[Karnivore]

Originally posted by Tedinde
Outside of getting a Big car batter charger, your going to have a hard time finding something that puts out that many amps @ 12 volts.


Not at all, Huge DC supplies are readily available if you know where to look and have the money to spend, although once you get over 100 amps they are typically custom built.

Not cheap though, and as Tedinde already mentioned in another thread if your going to spend that kind of money you may as well get better cooling...

[Karnivore]

Here is a 150, I've seen them up to 400 amps:eek:

[Rabbi_NZ]

Karnivore,
cheers dude... do you have a link to where I can check out some of these PSUs?
If not, do you know how much a 150amp would go for?

I know the price is a little steep, but the project I want to start may be more suited to TECs than phasechange... easier to upgrade and maybe more compact. I'm only in the early planning stages so may change my mind, but it's always good to do solid research before spending my hard earned coin.

[Berserk256]

Food for thought bud. Where I live I figured out with a 70% efficient power supply it'd cost around $40/month in electricity for a 226w tec. Just think about it.

[Tedinde]

Originally posted by Berserk256
Food for thought bud. Where I live I figured out with a 70% efficient power supply it'd cost around $40/month in electricity for a 226w tec. Just think about it.

I did the math on my 226 watt tec setup about 2 years ago after the first month of 24/7 i noticed the power bill jumped. $30-$40 is about right 24/7. Do the math and you can justify that vapo or Mach 1.

[Karnivore]

You really should consider alternatives.... These supplies are pretty much all custom built, and the price reflects that.

If you absolutely CANNOT be talked into an alternative you may want to consider building your own, the most expensive component will be the Power Transformer, you'll need custom built, and http://www.pwdahl.com/ will be the place to go... You could probably save about 30% by building yourself, more if you hit some surplus markets..


A Google search for Xforce was fairly helpfull and led me to the following links.....


http://www.xforceamps.com/shop/index.php?shop=1&cat=7


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5700630238

[Rabbi_NZ]

jus checked out those links you gave me.... hooooly sheeeeet!!

even not taking into account the monthly powerbill the PSU's cost an arm, a leg, and half a lung!!

phasechange it is :), thanks for all the advice everyone, appreciated!

[autoexec]

power must cost alot for you guys, for me its only about 10 of your dollars to run something like that for a month 24/7

[Berserk256]

Near 11 cents per Kw/hour

[Epsilon]

I you are considering 4x226w peltiers, you should DEFINATELY consider phase-change lol :)

First, what do you want with 4x 226w pelts?

2x on CPU
1x on GPU
1x on NB

Buy a waterchiller if you are going to do this.

You will need a VERY large radiator (car size) and some strong fans.

I bought a prommy because i was considering building a dual 280w peltier rig.

2x 280w peltier (€45 a piece)
2x 500w 24v psu (home made, even then they cost €75 a piece)
1x akasa copperking p4 CPU heatsink => 60x45x80mm copper fins out of 1 piece of copper (to make a large waterblock to get rid of 1100w of heat)
-A couple of very large radiators (2x triple 120mm fan radiators on top of each other)

All together: about 300 - 350 euro
And then the electric bill.....

Aim: -10 full stress

Then, i saw a prommy mach1 for 450 euro, so my choice was simple.

Peltiers are cool that for sure. But they have limitations ^_^

[Rabbi_NZ]

The "project" I have in mind will not DIRECTLY COOL any CHIP with a peltier.... ;)

But even so, I think the same thing can be done with a cascade for about the same price... I'm not familiar with Cascades tho, depends if they can hold very low temps (-40c) with no "load"...

[Epsilon]

Cascade?

cascades go to -100 with 2 stages (that's why it's called, cascades)

Normal phase-change systems (1 compressor) will to -40 liquid temp. You will never ever going to reach that with peltiers.

[The_Dark_Hacker]

you said that the peltiers will not directly cool any chips. are you using them to cool a reservior. dont bother. you will not get the results you are expecting. the admin over at liquidninjas had about a kilowatt worth of tecs cooling that water and the results were not as good as you would think. how are you going to use the peltiers