Since I've been doing solar imaging I have noticed that my sensor temperatures in my asi 120 mm-s have risen to over 50 ° C , so I made a DIY cooler.
I'm using a 12703 TEC module @ 5v 1.25 amps 6.25 watts , running it at 12v 3.0amps was not very efficient as the 50mm square heatsink. could not disperse enough heat.
Temperature control was done with a W1209 controller.
I achieved a drop in temperature around 12 ° below ambient inside my study I'm not expecting that sort of cooling out in the sun , but I'll be happy to keep my camera within the recommended operating specifications.
In all this modification took about 3 hours and cost me around $15 AUD using parts purchased on Ebay.
Martin
asi120mm-s DIY cooling
- Martin_S
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asi120mm-s DIY cooling
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H alpha : ,Skywatcher 120mm F8 open frame refractor, a tilted 2" 7nm H-alpha filter as a sub energy rejection filter, Baader TZ4 telecentric focal extender, Player One energy rejection filter, Combo Quark Chromosphere, Naked PST etalon for double stacking, ASI74mm camera
- marktownley
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Re: asi120mm-s DIY cooling
That's a nice mod Martin, thanks for sharing.
http://brierleyhillsolar.blogspot.co.uk/
Solar images, a collection of all the most up to date live solar data on the web, imaging & processing tutorials - please take a look!
- Martin_S
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Re: asi120mm-s DIY cooling
Thanks Mark
H alpha : ,Skywatcher 120mm F8 open frame refractor, a tilted 2" 7nm H-alpha filter as a sub energy rejection filter, Baader TZ4 telecentric focal extender, Player One energy rejection filter, Combo Quark Chromosphere, Naked PST etalon for double stacking, ASI74mm camera
Re: asi120mm-s DIY cooling
that is great! I was thinking about cooling my ASI174MM from the very beginning. The first idea was to use liquid cooling from computer kits... Now I would consider Martin’s idea.
Interesting how it will work under the sun, the working temp of the camera is -5C or lower, but actually without cooling it is close to 40 or higher.
Thank you for sharing!
Interesting how it will work under the sun, the working temp of the camera is -5C or lower, but actually without cooling it is close to 40 or higher.
Thank you for sharing!
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Re: asi120mm-s DIY cooling
Cooling is important. I think it is for every 6-8c increase in temperature noise doubles in a camera. Normally my cameras run at around 40c - last week with our 'heatwave' they were running in excess of 60c and the noise was very apparent.
I strapped a couple of cool packs from the freezer on the camera with rubber bands, which tamed the temperature off; however this is not ideal (think condensation and camera internals).
My experience of the 174 chip is that it is the noisiest chip (camera) I have ever owned.
I strapped a couple of cool packs from the freezer on the camera with rubber bands, which tamed the temperature off; however this is not ideal (think condensation and camera internals).
My experience of the 174 chip is that it is the noisiest chip (camera) I have ever owned.
http://brierleyhillsolar.blogspot.co.uk/
Solar images, a collection of all the most up to date live solar data on the web, imaging & processing tutorials - please take a look!
- Martin_S
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Re: asi120mm-s DIY cooling
You could try a beer can cooler, first up as this will keep the direct sun off the camera body. see my last picture, I just cut one down to fit the camera body before the tilt adaptor.
Martin
Martin
H alpha : ,Skywatcher 120mm F8 open frame refractor, a tilted 2" 7nm H-alpha filter as a sub energy rejection filter, Baader TZ4 telecentric focal extender, Player One energy rejection filter, Combo Quark Chromosphere, Naked PST etalon for double stacking, ASI74mm camera
- Bob Yoesle
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Re: asi120mm-s DIY cooling
Did this with my Chameleon a few years back:
https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/3266 ... chameleon/
I would consider active cooling for about any camera employed during the day for solar imaging.
https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/3266 ... chameleon/
I would consider active cooling for about any camera employed during the day for solar imaging.
Diagonally parked in a parallel universe.
Curiosity is the father of knowledge; uncertainty is the mother of wisdom.
Dark-Sky Defenders
Goldendale Observatory
Curiosity is the father of knowledge; uncertainty is the mother of wisdom.
Dark-Sky Defenders
Goldendale Observatory