Peltier Cooler for Astrovid Stellacam II
Here's an add-on cooler for the Astrovid Stellacam II and Watec WAT-120
that significantly reduces the CCD dark currents that result in noise, warm
pixels and 'blinking' pixels in long exposures. The 38 watt Peltier device
in the cooler drops the temperature of the camera enclosure more than 25
degrees F below the normal operating temperature.
While not comparable to directly cooling the imager chip in a long exposure
CCD camera, cooling the Stellacam II camera body significantly reduces
image degradation caused by dark current noise in a 256 frame integration.
See images below.
Reducing image noise provides higher contrast live video images, and
quieter multi-frame sequences for capture and stacking. While averaging
and processing can reduce the effects of noise and warm pixels, starting
with quieter data is a big advantage!
The cooler slips over your camera and is secured to the camera's tripod
mounting holes with the provided screws. No modification of the camera
is needed and the cooler can be attached or removed in less than one
minute. The Pelteir cooling device, insulated enclosure, heatsink and
ball bearing brushless fan pull heat from the camera and operate on
12 volts DC at 2 to 3 amps. Comes with a 10ft power extension cable for
the cooler. A cigarette lighter DC cable and AC-DC power supply are
optionally available.
Cooling is most effective for the Stellacam II at ambient temperatures
above 60F where noise in the image becomes sigificant. Below about 40F
ambient, cooling is not needed and can cause harmful condensation.
An optional machined delrin 1.25" to 2" barrel adapter serves as a thermal
barrier, which allows lower camera temperatures by providing thermal
isolation from the telescope focuser components.
Stellacam II shown installed is not included!
Price includes FREE Priority shipping in the USA!
Ordering Information
These are single raw images with the camera capped, after 30 minutes of
operation, with and without the cooler turned on. Ambient air temperature
of 75F. The temperatures are measured at the front of the camera enclosure
near the imager, but not on the imager itself.
640x480 Dark, 256 frame integration, max gain, hi gamma, 93F (Cooler Off)
640x480 Dark, 256 frame integration, max gain, hi gamma, 68F (Cooler On)
Hot pixels are apparent, but warm pixels and ramdom noise is reduced.
Astrovid Stellacam II is Here!
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