KRONA Electronics

Thermo Electric Cooler (TEC) Controllers

For controlling a thermoelectric (Peltier effect) cooler (TEC) we offer the Vue-TEC Series.

  • Vue-TEC-12/15/24. For controlling a single TEC up to 10A @ 21V. Available as a turn-key Developer Kit with control & analysis software, or as PCB-only for system integration & OEMs.
  • Vue-Dual-TEC. For controlling two TECs up to 10A total @ 21V or up to 20A if one TEC channel is heating and the other channel is cooling. Available as a turn-key Developer Kit with control & analysis software, or as PCB-only for system integration & OEMs.

For applications that require both temperature and laser diode control, we offer two approaches: integrated laser diode and TEC controller (a single unit drives both) and combinations of one laser diode controller and one TEC controller. This makes use of what we call the “passthrough” capability of our TEC controller.

For applications that require laser diode control but not temperature control, we offer single channel current sources for driving one laser diode or multiple laser diodes in series.

Category:

Selection Guide

This is the selection guide for applications in one the following categories:

  • Temperature control without laser diode drive
  • Temperature control separate from laser diode drive
  • Temperature control and laser diode drive as a combined system using our passthrough feature

See the Product Overview page for more information.

The TEC controller is a driver for a thermoelectric — or Peltier effect — cooler (TEC), and is capable of bidirectional operation (heating and cooling). The controller incorporates advanced servo logic that will regulate the temperature to a user-defined set point. It controls the voltage applied to the TEC, and the current that results is a characteristic of the TEC rather than the driver. In the event that the TEC tries to draw more current than the driver can provide, a shutoff will occur to protect the driver. When this occurs and the passthrough feature is in use, the laser driver will be automatically shut off as well.

The voltage capability of the TEC controller is determined by the input DC power supply. The controller output voltage is limited to 90% of the input. There are four configurations available:

  • Single output:
    • 12V DC power supply – 10.8V TEC controller maximum output, 10A output current limit
    • 15V DC power supply – 13.5V TEC controller maximum output, 10A output current limit
    • 24V DC power supply – 21.6V TEC controller maximum output, 10A output current limit
  • Dual output:
    • 24V DC power supply – 21.6V TEC controller maximum output, 10A total output current limit, or up to 20A if one TEC channel is heating and the other channel is cooling

The standard controller will work with any DC power supply in the range of 15V – 24V. Lower voltages are also possible but will require factory modification.

All Vue-TEC Controllers are available as a turn-key Developer Kit with control & analysis software, or as PCB-only for system integration & OEMs.

Features

The key features of our designs are microprocessor control, switch-mode power conversion, and advanced circuits that help protect TECs against power-supply related failures. The result: small footprints, high electrical efficiency, rich feature sets, ease of interfacing — the highest possible value whatever the application.

Feature / Link
Description

WinVue is our standard Windows interface program for our TEC and laser diode controllers, and is included in our Developer Kits. It has a slightly different configuration for each product, accessing all the features of the controllers through a familiar GUI environment.

Using our Autostart feature, all of our controllers are capable of stand-alone operation without an attached PC (although WinVue will simplify the setup and configuration of Autostart).

The Vue-TEC Controllers protect your TECs by diagnosing and reporting an extensive list of fault conditions

Software Interface

There are two methods of interfacing externally with a Vue controller: WinVue software or serial commands.

Interface / Link
Description

WinVue is our standard Windows interface program for our TEC and laser diode controllers, and is included in our Developer Kits. It has a slightly different configuration for each product, accessing all the features of the controllers through a familiar GUI environment.

Serial commands
There is a comprehensive list of serial commands available for each Vue controller. Contact Krona for more details.

Datasheets

Datasheet / Link
Description

Datasheet for Vue-TEC Temperature Controller. This product is designed to drive a thermoelectric (Peltier effect) cooler (TEC), and is capable of bidirectional operation (heating and cooling).