In this video I try to rescue an old Coleman Thermoelectric Cooler, but something tells me it may have been abandoned for a reason. Let's get into it! Spoiler alert, there will be a part 2. 24/20-pin ATX DC Power Supply Breakout Board -- amzn.to/3wUnKwE How thermoelectric / peltier devices actually work -- tetech.com/faqs Some practical demonstration and use case -- ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-rT9-HUzUqhQ.html Subscribe with bells and that jazz if ya like, but thanks for watchin! 😃
@@chrismaitland3681: It's in the works but still not finished. I got busy with other things, then got lazy I guess about everything. I only just tested the new cooling device last week, but I plan on finally finishing this project yet this summer. Cheers 🍻
Just got one, the thing about refrigeration; keeping things cold at the start is to put at least a frozen pack in the unit with all food to give it a chance without fighting at the start. It came with the adapter, so I can plug it in to a household out-let. works good; with all the empty space it took little bit to cool down, but it works.
I hope yours is colder than mine, cause this thing is a joke in it's current form. Sooner or later I'll be modifying this thing, I'm pretty sure I can turn it into a real freezer for cheap. Cheers 🍻.
I have the marlboro version of this cooler and I put 2 ziplock bags of ice and the plug it in. The cooler slows down the melting of the ice since it is 25 to 30 degrees cooler than the outside temp.
Warms up your already cold, slowly! Sounds exactly like the problem I'm going to fix this coming summer. Maybe this one is broken, but look at the reviews when and where you can find them, lots of discontent globally speaking. God knows I'm less than happy with the thing, but I plan to fix that coming soon. Cheers 🍻
When using a PC power supply for large loads or even small.. bundle all the yellow wires (12V) together and all the red (5V) together for more amps. Bundle the blacks for a strong ground too!
For heavy loads, yes, that would be necessary. But this TEC doesn't draw any power, hens the poor cooling performance. There was plenty of electrical power on tap, the TEC is just missing the thermal potential to require it.
@@AgentJeffy: Alright, this week I will get back to it, I promise! I have some updates just not enough to make another video. I'll make this my focus project this week. Cheers 🍻
Did you ever get to work out for you. If by chance if you still have this and you did not throw it away yet. I still have one of these and mine still works great but the front fan is damaged with some fins broken and I can't find a replacement. If you still have yours. I'm hoping you could post yours for sale.
I still have it as an ongoing project, but I got a little busy last summer with other things, so it has been on hold since. If all you need is a fan, might I suggest looking into 'Blower type PC fans'. Just pick one that runs on 12 vdc and it should be a fairly simple replacement/upgrade. Here is a link to get you started: www.amazon.com/s?k=blower+pc+fan&crid=51E3UGC9DPTO&sprefix=blower+pc+fan%2Caps%2C72&ref=nb_sb_noss_1 Cheers 🍻
Just do a continuity test to determine which terminals are contacted in each switch position. Off the top of my head, I don't know 🤷♂️! But it's a real quick and easy test to find out. Cheers 🍻
Not done yet but work in progress. I have pretty much everything I need except reasonably priced material for a new lid. All the mods I'm about to make will be contained in a new lid, I want to use PVC board but I refuse to pay the current price and I don't want to use wood as an alternative. So that's the hold up for me. I'll link you to most of the parts I'm using below so you can get started on your own version. Just note the current draw of the new cooler module, it will probably need a current limiter to keep it from blowing fuses. I'm not there yet, but I am counting on needing a PWM controller to keep the cooler's current draw in check. Temperature Controller -- amzn.to/3TsvYod Cooling Module -- amzn.to/3smEauk Picture all that stuffed into a new lid and that's where I'm headed with mine. Cheers 🍻
You can see how it's connected in the video for the most part. The switch doesn't matter since this is all DC voltage, if it gets hot when you switch it to cold then just reverse the polarity. That's literally all that switch does, it just switches polarity. As long as you don't short any circuits, you pretty much cannot mess it up otherwise, the system is designed to literally work both ways. I got all my pieces and parts to truly fix this thing, it's gonna be a super cooler when I'm done. That video should be out next month sometime. I'll try to get up close and detailed with the wiring at that time. Cheers 🍻
That still makes it useless as a cooler. At least to me. I'm in the process of making it work as it should, it will be a freezer when I'm done with it, or so I hope.
It's in progress and on the way. Sorry it's taking so long. I just need one part yet at a price I'm willing to pay and that has been the hold up. Cheers 🍻
Spoiler alert: These parts below I already have, but this will give an idea of the direction I'm heading with this project. Temperature Controller -- amzn.to/3TsvYod Cooling Module -- amzn.to/3smEauk Picture all that stuffed into a new lid and that's where the hold up is at. My chosen material is outrageously expensive now all of a sudden and I refuse to pay the current price! I hate to do it, but I may resort to using wood for this purpose. Cheers 🍻
Great video! I was wondering how I could test it without the stock power adapter. Because I found it in the garbage bin of our building and it was in great clean shape, just no power adapter. At the very least, I figure if it does not work I can use it as a regular cooler. I don't want to spend the money on a new adapter (like $60), without knowing if it's even worth it or not? And I have old computer power supplies around, so that's cool. And I think you little PCB breakout device for them, is cool! Never knew they made those!
Yeah that little breakout board is pretty neat, I use it frequently. I'm not sure what adapter you're referring to, but the cigarette lighter/auxiliary connector is only a few bucks. Here's a link: amzn.to/3IrMH7P But I'm glad you liked the video. Part 2 is under construction and I finally have all the parts to finish it. Cheers 🍻
@@Finite-Tuning Ahhh o.k, thank you! I didn't realize that the 12v cigarette lighter connector was so general and cheap, I have a couple of those from car devices actually. I was thinking (when I say adapter) was an AC to DC adapter/brick, whatever you can plug into a wall. I didn't know if there was anything special needed, because Coleman sells a replacement one and it's $60. I just want to know it works before putting any money into it. Thank's for the link, very helpful!