We are talking about a thermoelectric air conditioner. It has some similarities to a traditional compressor-based air conditioner except thermoelectric coolers are smaller, more compact and lighter. A thermoelectric air conditioner is also a solid state device. This means it is all-electronic, with no moving components other than the fans. Our thermoelectric coolers do NOT have a compressor or refrigerant or copper tubing or liquid lines or filters. Consequently, in most applications, there is NO MAINTENANCE REQUIRED and this is a very important feature to the majority of our satisfied customers. Our cooling devices are extremely reliable and models are available that are suitable for indoor or outdoor use. These units are used in thousands of different industrial and military applications on a worldwide basis. EIC thermoelectric air conditioners presently range from 200 BTU to 2500 BTU. It is important to note our thermoelectric coolers are used to cool and protect electronics, not people. These reliable devices will prolong the life of your valuable electronic equipment.

Many people have not heard about thermoelectric air conditioners, even though they have been around for many years. EIC Solutions has been in business since 1972 and the fundamental technology behind our devices is the "Peltier Effect", a scientific discovery dating back more than 100 years. If you go to our Home page, at the bottom is a "How Does It Work?" link that will explain more about the workings of our air conditioners. In the 1980's, EIC Solutions developed thermoelectric technology into a unique and patented line of reliable thermoelectric solid state air conditioners.

Research has shown for every 10C (18F) temperature rise above normal room temperature, the life expectancy of your electronics is cut in half. Once you mount one of our thermoelectric air conditioners on your enclosure (cabinet, panel, box, transit case), it will keep the interior area cool, thus protecting and prolonging the life of your sensitive electronic equipment. This assumes the cooler has been properly "sized" for the application. If you are not sure which size air conditioner is best for your project, our engineers are happy to run the appropriate thermal calculations and provide you with a written recommendation. It is also important to note all of our thermoelectric air conditioners can be configured as "HC" models with heating and cooling capabilities built-in to the devices. This feature is especially useful in outdoor applications where a maximum temperature is desired inside the enclosure during warmer months (summer) and a minimum temperature is desired inside the enclosure during colder months (winter).

A detailed explanation would be quite lengthy. Basically, small thermoelectric modules (Peltier devices) are mounted inside our units in a proprietary fashion. These modules, or "chips", act as miniature heat pumps. In conjunction with a series of heat sinks, fans, various special electronic components, a thermostat and a novel and patented electronic design, the end result is a device that can lower the temperature within your enclosure below the ambient temperature. Other cooling devices such as fan/filter assemblies, heat exchangers and heat pipes cannot lower the internal temperature, they can only limit the temperature rise within the enclosure - an important distinction. And a temperature rise within an enclosure is typically a condition that is unsatisfactory for the majority of our customers. With our thermoelectric air conditioners, it is also important to note outside (ambient) air is NOT exchanged with the air inside your enclosure. This means heat and contaminants such as sand, dust, dirt and moisture are prevented from entering your enclosure and causing damage to your critical electronics.

A typical installation begins with an enclosure (or cabinet, panel, box, transit case). And if you don't already have the enclosure, we will provide this for you - in standard and custom configuration. One of our areas of specialty is providing the fully integrated "air conditioned enclosure" assembly. Typically, a rectangular hole is cut into a vertical or horizontal wall of your enclosure. The air conditioner is inserted into the hole and fastened securely against the panel (mounting gasket, mounting template and stainless steel fasteners are included with each air conditioner). The final arrangement will have cooling fans positioned on the "cold side" (portion inside your cabinet) and these move cold air inwards and towards your electronics. Fans on the "hot side" (ambient side) of the device push the waste heat away from the enclosure.

For almost all of our thermoelectric air conditioners, they can mount in either orientation. The most common mounting orientation is a vertical one, where the cooler is installed on the side, front or rear of an enclosure. For most (but not all) of our thermoelectric coolers, they can also mount horizontally on the top of your enclosure (never on the bottom). The most common mounting style is referred to as "through-mount", where a portion of the air conditioner (about 4") protrudes into the enclosure. If interior space is limited, a "flush-mount" configuration is available for all air conditioner models. Here, an optional Extension Frame is used and the cooler is positioned entirely outside the cabinet. This frees up all of the internal space for your electronics. The exception here is our 200 BTU cooler, which is available in a "flush-mount" style without the need for an optional Extension Frame. Lastly, we have a "recessed-mount" configuration available for most models. Here, all of the air conditioner ends up inside the enclosure with no external protrusion from the wall of the cabinet. This type of arrangement can be useful from a safety standpoint (for instance, if the enclosure is adjacent to a personnel walkway). It can also be useful if it is desired to have the air conditioner be less visible.

Our thermoelectric air conditioners are electrical devices. The majority of units are produced in a 120 VAC power configuration and for these, a power cord and plug are included (cord typically exits the "cold side", or internal portion, of the device). These units can be activated by simply plugging them into a power outlet ("like a toaster" is a simple explanation). The user sets the thermostat and in many applications, the unit can then be left unattended for months or years! Most (but not all) of our thermoelectric air conditioners are "certified to UL standards". This certification is handled by Intertek Testing Services and they provide the ETL Mark. Most (but not all) models are also available with CE Certification and these come into play with European applications. All coolers are available in a variety of AC and DC power configurations.

We offer a large variety of accessories. The most common optional item is our condensate drip pan. There are a few versions of these and the drip pan is recommended for most (but not all) applications. Other popular accessories include rain shrouds (for vertical and horizontal mounting configurations), extension frames (for flush-mounting the cooler entirely outside the enclosure), recessed frames (for mounting the cooler entirely inside the enclosure), digital temperature controllers (for more accurate temperature control) and security packages (for units installed in areas where tampering or vandalism may occur).

Please start by browsing our website. We have recently updated our website with many additional products, photos, drawings, specifications, illustrations and technical details sure to please even the most detail-minded engineer, designer or other user! You will find answers to many of your questions on our website. We also have a "Quote Online" feature available for most items. With this feature, you can submit a Request for Quote (RFQ) 24 hours/day, seven days/week, and you will receive a written quotation back from us no later than the next business day and often on the same day as your request. For fastest service, please give us a call. You can reach us toll-free at 1-800-497-4524. Our Sales Engineers stand ready to answer your questions and we are happy to assist you with all of your electronics cooling applications!