[Ironbird (Terri)]

OK ... the fully-automated, coolant consumption-optimized configuration cooling strategy is principally geared toward long-duration exposure(s). My requirements are more of the short duration variety - yet we are pursuing the same goals - enhanced contrast and noise reduction. My prime-directive is achieving suitably low temperatures with no un-expected 'side-effects' with little or moderate emphasis only in the coolant-consumption optimization department.

I see my set-up as particularly basic. Consisting of a constant-on trickle-feed. Albeit basic - it's promises to be never-the-less; informative .. We get a solid stab at answering the age-old question - do we see a sensor-specific, marked reduction in dark current figures - as achieved through evaporative, non-regenerative cooling? This, again, in the Peltier-less, insulated, trickle-fed cold-finger configuration. Pretty straightforward. I have still to construct such a test-bed .. it's not out-of-the-question .. it's a matter of finding a corner of favourable space-time continuum.

Here's a couple of links to websites detailing the use of sound cards as A/D converters .. good laptop-based process-monitoring starting point(s).

A)
http://www.dxzone.com/catalog/Software/Oscilloscope/
B)
http://www.filetransit.com/view.php?id=50233
C)
http://software.filestube.com/o/oscilloscope

It's known that a thermocouple probe generates a bit of heat "on it's own". This might influence results - emphasis on "might". it's the Seebeck effect. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoelectric_effect

It can offset temperature measurements by a degree or two - is my understanding.

Over.