Constant Temperature Mode; Operating Modes - Imperx LYNX Series Hardware User Manual

F.4 Constant Temperature Mode
Constant temperature mode has the advantage of keeping the CCD temperature
stable within a tight +/-.5 degC window but the cooler operates at a variable current
with higher peak values. Therefore, the cooler efficiency is decreased and heat
dissipation increases. If the ambient temperature is too high or air flow is
insufficient (for the selected temperature setting) the TEC control can go into
thermal runaway which will trip the protection function. The user needs to
determine which temperature setting is sustainable in the actual environment.
Therefore, this mode is not generally recommended under the following conditions:
(a) High and variable ambient temperature > +30 degC.
(b) Remote installation without monitoring the camera temperature.
(c) Limited +12V supply current.
No damage to the camera will result from the TEC unit going into "Protection"
mode, but CCD cooling will be reduced to a fixed lower level.
In Constant Temperature mode, the user selects a TEC temperature setting. The
TEC control unit applies closed-loop control to regulate TEC temperature as close
as possible to the set value. Note that TEC heating is not a provided option.
Recommended temperature setting limits depend on camera model and heat
dissipation capabilities:
F.5 Operating Modes
The status of the TEC camera can be queried by pressing the "TEC Status" button
on the Configurator tab, or by sending individual Terminal commands for status.
Self-Test Mode:
TEC cameras have a Built-In-Self-Test (BIST) feature that is automatically
activated following camera power-on. The Configurator TEC Status "Self-Test" is
reported during an initial 30-second BIST period. During the Self-Test period, the
TEC controller tests cooler and temperature read back functions. The Self-Test
algorithm:
(a) Sample TEC temperature for a baseline reading (baseline-temp-sample).
(b) Set TEC mode to constant power.
(c) Set TEC power value to 8.0W.
Natural Convection: 20.00C to 40.00C (11M/16M TEC) or
Fan-Cooled:
Liquid-Cooled:
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LYNX Hardware User's Manual
15.0C to 40.00C (4M TEC)
10.00C to 40.00C
5.00C to 40.00C