From: "Milton Aupperle" <milton@outcastsoft.com>

Date: September 21, 2007 2:22:18 PM MDT

To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

Subject: New Cooled Camera Images (Franken Cooler Mark 2)

Hi folks;

I've posted three images of my  "Franken Cooler" Mark 2 version of the

Peltier Thermo Electric Cooler for the Flea PGR camera in the "Other"

Folder of the "Files" section.

The original design is described here:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Astro_IIDC/files/Other/Cheap_Peltier_Camera_Cooler_MJA.pdf

and the new design is shown here:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Astro_IIDC/files/Other/Mark2Cooler_Front.jpg

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Astro_IIDC/files/Other/Mark2Cooler_Side.jpg 

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Astro_IIDC/files/Other/Mark2Cooler_Top.jpg 

The improvements include:

1) Adding bigger three section Aluminum Cooling Fins, which increases

heat dissipation. This drops the temperature by about another 3 to 5

degrees centigrade over the original one fin design. Copper cooling

fins would probably be just about as efficient (I recall that Copper

is around 30% more conductive than aluminum) as the Aluminum 3 fins

unit, but the 3 fin unit was on sale at London Drugs and the copper

one was not.

2) Added 4 screws to the heat sink and then run short springs from

them to wrap around and hold the Camera to the Heat Sink. This will

never "break" like the rubber bands could do and is still movable to

some degree. It's also very easy to take off too.

3) Wrapped the original foam insulation and exposed camera case with a

layer of Saran Wrap. This does double duty by further sealing in the

cold and also prevents condensation from saturating the foam and

reaching the camera. I can also wrap it around the FireWire cable too

to seal it off better and prevent heat loss, which is what the rubber

bands are for.

4) Ran some thin strips of Electricians tape around the FireWire

connector on the camera's case. There is a narrow gap between the case

opening and the connector and this helps seal the camera case up

preventing condensation.

Have a great weekend..

Milton Aupperle