Cooling your camera

peter_4059 (Peter) · #1 05-04-2008, 10:15 PM

Today's project was to pull apart one of those cheap ($30) car drink coolers. I tested the Peltier before I demolished the fridge and found the cold finger drops to 20 degC below ambient. I've re-assembled the Peltier components and I'm planning to attach this to the back of my DSI.

Before I freeze the DSI has anyone else been down this path and do you have any advice or warnings. I'm not expecting the DSI imaging chip to get this much cooling but even 10 deg would be handy up here in steamy QLD.

In particular I'd like to know how to maximise the cooling between the Peltier and the DSI.

Peter

g__day (Matthew) · #2 06-04-2008, 01:06 AM

I would guess more metal on metal contact would provide for better heat flow. So you could either lap you DSI when the peltier attaches, or fill all the pimples with solder, and then lap the soldier and attach the peltier to this flat surface - with a touch of silver thermal paste - the type used of computer heat sinks (e.g thermal take 5).

citivolus (Ric) · #3 06-04-2008, 01:09 AM

Can you seal the DSI in any way with some desiccant inside? You may start to develop moisture issues if it cools too much otherwise.

h0ughy (David) · #4 06-04-2008, 08:11 AM

see whst Bert has done with his 5d

iceman (Mike) · #5 06-04-2008, 08:14 AM

Also maybe chat with Steve Mogg from Mogg adapters. He does the "Outback Cooler" specifically designed to cool the DSI's.

I had a look at it yesterday, great bit of gear.

peter_4059 (Peter) · #6 06-04-2008, 08:23 AM

Thanks for the advice. I read somewhere that the DSI casing has an o-ring style seal but I think Mogg recomends some silicone around the USB connection. I'm going to try the cooler without modifying the back of the DSI first to see if this impacts camera temperature. I might have to shop around for a damaged DSI for spare parts!