Cooling camera in easy way

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salvo lauricella
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Cooling camera in easy way

Post by salvo lauricella »

Hello everyone,
during my solar sessions I noticed how the sensor temperature of my Grasshopper3 camera becomes very high (about 45°). So I thought how to cool the sensor temperature in a easy way. I used a simple fan (costing € 1) connecting it, using simple electrician clamps, to the camera. The result is surprising! The temperature remains around 30 ° ... There are some vibrations but they do not affect the quality of the shots.
I hope it can be useful to someone.
Have a nice and sunny weekend.
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Re: Cooling camera in easy way

Post by marktownley »

That is a remarkably simple solution Salvo!


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Re: Cooling camera in easy way

Post by Montana »

Do you find that the noise levels decrease because of the lower temperature?

Alexandra


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Re: Cooling camera in easy way

Post by JochenM »

Now that's a nice and simple solution (and doesn't get any more budget friendly than that).


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Re: Cooling camera in easy way

Post by salvo lauricella »

Alexandra, actually I didn't see differences in noise levels, I even use a 12V power supply...I made this just because Point Grey (now FLIR) suggests to use their cameras between 0°to50°C.


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Re: Cooling camera in easy way

Post by PDB »

Salvo,

Good solution if you drop temp by 15°!

What is the direction of the air-flow on your solution. Did you make any test with the fan mounted in opposite direction?


(You could also add a cheap TEC element. (there are some really cheap ones, and easy to control), that should bring temp even more down. Seen it somewhere but can't remember where)

Rgrds,

Paul


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Re: Cooling camera in easy way

Post by marktownley »

Was looking earlier, the temperature on my FLIR was 55c :o


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Re: Cooling camera in easy way

Post by salvo lauricella »

PDB wrote: Fri Apr 24, 2020 10:58 am Salvo,

Good solution if you drop temp by 15°!

What is the direction of the air-flow on your solution. Did you make any test with the fan mounted in opposite direction?


(You could also add a cheap TEC element. (there are some really cheap ones, and easy to control), that should bring temp even more down. Seen it somewhere but can't remember where)

Rgrds,

Paul
Paul, the direction of the air-flow is to the camera. I din't make any test with opposite direction...but I think it will be less effective…
Thanks for your advice about TEC element...I saw it in Internet shops...they are very cheap...only € 3 :-) :-) I will try!!!


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Re: Cooling camera in easy way

Post by rsfoto »

PDB wrote: Fri Apr 24, 2020 10:58 am Salvo,

Good solution if you drop temp by 15°!

What is the direction of the air-flow on your solution. Did you make any test with the fan mounted in opposite direction?


(You could also add a cheap TEC element. (there are some really cheap ones, and easy to control), that should bring temp even more down. Seen it somewhere but can't remember where)

Rgrds,

Paul
Hi,

I agree with Paul that maybe instead of pressing the air against the camera it would be better to crate a vacuum and let the air pressure do the rest. Blowing against a surface and in this case the fan is very near to the housing could create a resistance to flow while crating a vacuum the air pressure will fill it in an easier way.

Adding a TEC could be interesting but careful with condensation inside the camera ¿?

BTW I was able to get a ZWO ASI 290MM Cool and I cool down the chip to 0°C. Unfortunately the ASI 290MM Cool has been discontinued by ZWO. I use it for the white light imaging.


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Re: Cooling camera in easy way

Post by salvo lauricella »

Hi Rainer, so better change the direction of the air-flow far from the camera?
You are right about condensation, I dindn't think about this…
I will try what you and Paul suggests.


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Re: Cooling camera in easy way

Post by salvo lauricella »

I made a simple test at home (today is raining); 1) air-flow direction far from the camera: initial temperature 37.2° after 6 minutes Temp. 37.4° (stable). 2) air-flow direction to the camera: initial temperature 40.1° after 6 minutes Temp. 35.9°.
I think there is no doubt.


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Re: Cooling camera in easy way

Post by eroel »

Salvo:
A good solution, I have been using that since many years ago when small fans came out, I mount them as you show but sucking the hot air from the camera (not blowing to it) and also have installed some small pieces of a rubber mat material that is used for mounting machinery, it makes it more silent and less vibrating and also creates a separation of the fan from the camera that ventilates better. Do not know if they still sell those types of rubber resilent mats.
Best regards and wish you a nice weekend.
Eric.


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Re: Cooling camera in easy way

Post by salvo lauricella »

Eric thanks for sharing your experience. I will try again both methods when weather will be fine.


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Re: Cooling camera in easy way

Post by marios i. »

Nice!


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Re: Cooling camera in easy way

Post by Martin_S »

Here is my solution that I posted last year. viewtopic.php?f=9&t=26285&p=236736#p236736

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Re: Cooling camera in easy way

Post by rsfoto »

salvo lauricella wrote: Fri Apr 24, 2020 4:17 pm I made a simple test at home (today is raining); 1) air-flow direction far from the camera: initial temperature 37.2° after 6 minutes Temp. 37.4° (stable). 2) air-flow direction to the camera: initial temperature 40.1° after 6 minutes Temp. 35.9°.
I think there is no doubt.
Hi Salvo,

Thanks. Good to know. So blowing air onto the camera is more effective ¿ correct ?


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Re: Cooling camera in easy way

Post by rsfoto »

Hi,

And this many years, exactly in June 2 2012 my solution was this for a DMK41.

I stripped off the metal housing and left the electronics in plain sight :lol:

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Re: Cooling camera in easy way

Post by marktownley »

Good thread, with so many solutions I think we'll pop this in the library in a week or so. Thanks everyone.


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Re: Cooling camera in easy way

Post by AndiesHandyHandies »

Hi

Interested in what filters you have in the path before the camera.

Andrew.


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Re: Cooling camera in easy way

Post by salvo lauricella »

rsfoto wrote: Fri Apr 24, 2020 8:35 pm
salvo lauricella wrote: Fri Apr 24, 2020 4:17 pm I made a simple test at home (today is raining); 1) air-flow direction far from the camera: initial temperature 37.2° after 6 minutes Temp. 37.4° (stable). 2) air-flow direction to the camera: initial temperature 40.1° after 6 minutes Temp. 35.9°.
I think there is no doubt.
Hi Salvo,

Thanks. Good to know. So blowing air onto the camera is more effective ¿ correct ?
Hi Rainer, yes, in my test, air direction to the camera is more effective.


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Re: Cooling camera in easy way

Post by Rusted »

My ASI 174MM seems to make its own heat. It just needs to be switched on to get warm.
Air temperature in the open dome is only 17C. Door and shutters wide open for five hours now.

Presently showing only 24C on the casing. 40C internally according to SharpCap but falling very slowly.
This is in the shade of the dome, rotated well away from the sun, with cloud overhead.
I haven't actively imaged for two hours because of the cloud.

I am not arguing with the Op's findings but perhaps a fan might be too remote from the internal heat source?
Particularly in the case of fully enclosed ZWO cameras. Perhaps these need a full cowl for improved cooling?
The decorative "fins" on the ZWO casing are unlikely to increase the air cooled, surface area significantly. At least, not in still air.

Perhaps cooling fans make most sense in much warmer climates than spring at 55n in Scandinavia? ;)


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Re: Cooling camera in easy way

Post by rsfoto »

AndiesHandyHandies wrote: Fri Apr 24, 2020 10:12 pm Hi

Interested in what filters you have in the path before the camera.

Andrew.
Hi Andrew,

To whom is this question directed ?

:?


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Re: Cooling camera in easy way

Post by salvo lauricella »

Today I tested during my solar session, temperature was about 35° ( I used the camera more than 2 hours).


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