Somewhat off topic but still TEC related application, need some suggestions.

[Benefit14snake]

At work and school I am known to do "crazy" stuff with computers (which most of the people here think are completly normal.) One of the "crazy" things was making a homemade waterchiller. (Just to find out my opty has a HARSH cold bug. Wouldnt allow anything under like 14C) Well today at school one of my good friends approached me and said "Dude, if I give you like $100 do you think you could make a cooler for like soda and stuff in the center console of my truck?!" and of course I ageed as this would be a way to learn a little more about cooling applications outside of computers, and an extra few bucks for replacing the hardware that I've broken from overclocking....(7800GTX/Opteron165/DFISLIDR-EXpert to name a few.) So Im thinking since im severly limited in space that the best route to go would be a low powered TEC - powered by ciggerette lighter socket. I was thinking either insulating some aluminum and applying the TEC to that, or putting a good heatsink on the cold side and having a VERY quiet fan blow the cold air (through a duct of somesort) into a cooler. The only problem arises in the hot side. Im not entirley sure what to do with that yet, but will get some ideas once I survey the area im doing this in. The final option I could think would be VERY small individual tecs to just place a single can in, but that would ONLY be if I cant find another solution. Im finding it kind of hard to choose what kind of tec i will need (ive never used tecs before, but understand the concept of them pretty well, and have read many guides on them.) Would a low 40W be fine for this? Or just any general suggestions would be great. Thanks!

[n00b 0f l337]

40watt should do fine for a soda can. After all its not adding heat, just losing heat. 40watts hooked to a cigarette liter... Hmmm, hot plate should be fine with a small fan...

[IYP]

tear up some of those mugs they make to cool yer drinks....you oculd probably for 20$ a piece...they would do ya well

[littleowl]

I think a cold mug would do very well and be a lot easier but I would like to see it done with a tec and you post a lot of pics!

[ls7corvete]

Heck man you got a ton of 12v power there if you dont run it too long. I would get a couple, maybe 3x 320s, on a some nice copper HSFs you arent using anymore(everyone has a couple laying around right?) and get a 6 pack of bud down to drinking temp in a few secs.

Practical no, but fun heck ya.

[[XC] Lead Head]

most car cigarette lights are only rated for ~120 watts

[ls7corvete]

Yea but the battery can supply up to 1000 cranking amps so I am sure this guy can figure something out.

[XDVD]

But, how much heat can be removed by the air cooled HSF effectively?

I'm planning a similar application using a stock amd HSF or this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835106606

I'm thinking the maximum TEC it could cool by air (before getting too hot) is about 120W.

Anyone else have any input on this dillema? (Remember there is no CPU adding heat, just an insulated box and drinks.)

[[XC] MarioMaster]

I've worked with TECs and I currently have 3 ~90 watt units. 40 watts should be fine for a small cooler, I don't think the one in my thermoelectric fridge is more powerful than 40 watts. Cooling it shouldn't be a big problem, as long as you have an appropriate heat sink for it. A cpu heatsink from a 1ghz+ computer should be fine for a 40 watt. I use a heatsink from a Xeon server to cool my 90 watt peltier.

[ls7corvete]

But, how much heat can be removed by the air cooled HSF effectively?

I'm planning a similar application using a stock amd HSF or this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835106606

I'm thinking the maximum TEC it could cool by air (before getting too hot) is about 120W.

Anyone else have any input on this dillema? (Remember there is no CPU adding heat, just an insulated box and drinks.)
Best bet is to do what I said but undervolted, maybe not the 320s as they are 15v tecs, use a 24v and run it off the 12v line, ideal situation would be to get the TECs to max out just above freezing so you dont freeze the drinks.

cryotherm says a 172 on the 12v with a air cooled sink should put you right around there.

[Holst]

I dont think you need anything too fancy on the TEC front.

Any 40watt+ 12v TEC will be fine.
I think any more than 40 and it might get too cold if you leave it on for too long.

If you wanted more of a challenge you could build a temperature contoller to keep the can at a set temperature.

[XDVD]

Best bet is to do what I said but undervolted, maybe not the 320s as they are 15v tecs, use a 24v and run it off the 12v line, ideal situation would be to get the TECs to max out just above freezing so you dont freeze the drinks.

What I'm planning to chill won't freeze that easily, though I'm sure Jager get's quite viscous at lower temperatures. I'm planning on soldering the copper tubing from different bottles to the cold plate side and then put it in a styrofoam box and add more insulation and then fill the styrofoam box. (I think that should help with the capacity when the taps get opened). I'm thinking of getting 3 ~80-100 Watt Pelts. I have built a linear PSU capable of about 25 Amps at 10V. I might just end up using an old switching PSU for better power efficiency.

I was considering going with a traditional phase change system, however fitting it in my size requirements would be much more difficult I think.

[FrozenPC4Brain]

I'd get a 12 VDC cooler
They are about 40-60watt range
and use a heatsink fan cooled about size of cpu heatsink
take the stuff from it and install to consol
Would have better $ left over also