Thermoelectric Cooler Controller Description - Alpha Omega Instruments 800 Series Instruction Manual

ALPHA OMEGA INSTRUMENTS CORP.
Series 800/850 Thermoelectric Cooler Controller

THERMOELECTRIC COOLER CONTROLLER DESCRIPTION

Both the Series 800 and Series 850 Thermoelectric Cooler Controllers represent a
significant advance in the state-of-the-art of thermoelectric cooler (TEC) controllers. It
is no secret that in the past, TEC controllers required a significant amount of hands-on
operation to provide satisfactory performance, particularly when variations in the load
and/or environmental conditions existed. The Series 800 / 850 TEC Controllers utilize
advanced control technology in combination with auto-tuning capabilities to provide
un-precedented performance. The Series 800 is designed for bench-top use with the
Series 850 is configured for use in a 19" rack.
Ease of Use
The eloquence of the Series 800 / 850 TEC Controllers are their ease of use. The
Series 800 / 850 TEC Controllers feature a user-friendly front control panel containing
four (4) switches that allow access to the instrument's control settings. In addition,
there are two (2) LED digital displays that simultaneously display both actual
temperature and set-point temperature. Each controller features proportional, integral,
and derivative (PID) control that provides exceptionally tight control over a wide
temperature range, as well as rapid response to changes in operating conditions. The
auto-tuning feature helps to insure maximum performance over a broad spectrum of
operating conditions. Auto-tuning sets the critical PID terms to match the conditions of
the application and provides fast response while minimizing overshoot and
undershoot. From the user's perspective, the need to make frequent manual
adjustments has been virtually eliminated. For unique applications, users have the
option to manually adjust the instrument's control parameters as desired.
Maximum Versatility
The Series 800 and Series 850 TEC Controllers accept a variety of temperature
sensors including 3-wire, 100 ohm RTDs. Use of a 3-wire RTD helps to eliminate
measurement error caused from unaccounted changes in sensor cable lengths.
Another feature of the Series 800 / 850 TEC Controllers is that users can choose to
operate in either the bipolar (heat and cool) or unipolar (heat or cool) mode. In the
bipolar mode, heating and cooling limits can be set independently of each other,
helping to ensure that temperature limits are not exceeded. In addition, the controllers
incorporate current limit adjustment to protect TEC modules from damage due to
excess current. Current levels for the heat and cool modes can be set independently,
thus offering maximum protection to TEC modules and peripheral equipment. The
front panels contain LEDs to indicate when the instruments are in the heat or cool
mode.
SECTION 2.0
Instruction Manual
Page 7