Re: Possible TEC Failure Mechanism

["Gamble family" <dgamble1@bigpond.net.au>]

Hi Tom,
I presume you are aware that Melcor sell sealed TECs? See
http://www.melcor.com/sealing.htm for details


----- Original Message -----
From: Tom Droege <tdroege2@earthlink.net>
To: <tass@listserv.wwa.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2002 4:09 AM
Subject: Possible TEC Failure Mechanism


> Melcor sent me a new catalog and I have been reading it.  There may be a
> failure mechanism for the TECs that I have not considered.
>
> Suppose you run it cool with wet air.  Water will condense on the TEC.  It
> can now soak into the TEC elements.  Now if you run it really cold, the
> water will freeze and fracture the delicate crystalline material.  This is
> about what I usually see.  A slow decrease in cooling capacity.
>
> The solution:   Keep the inside of the camera dry.  Run the dry air an
hour
> or two *before* turning on the camera.
>
> For those of you that have ill cameras, I am slowly getting to the point
> where I can trade out cameras.  I have a bunch of parts coming soon from
> Cary Chleborad that will allow me to complete the batch of cameras that I
> have been making.  I think I will order some more TECs so that I can make
> repairs.  This time I may seal them up to keep moisture out.
>
> Tom Droege
>
>
>