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How to Reduce Frost on a Peltier

A thermoelectric device that works on the Peltier principle is both a cooler and a heater. A simple change of polarity reverses where it generates heat and where it absorbs it. Jean Peltier discovered that when you pass an electric current through two dissimilar conductors, heat is either generated or absorbed at the junction of the two conductors. Thus, the heating or cooling elements of a Peltier unit are actually a linked array of such competing conductors, in order to produce a surface that will work smoothly across the length of it.

Instructions

- 1
  Reverse the polarity on your Peltier unit. This will turn the cooler into a heater. Once the frost is melted, you can wipe the moisture off.
- 2
  Contact the manufacturer of your Peltier device to get special coatings for the thermoelectric module. Most companies recommend against using a traditional sealant such as silicone, because it is more likely to trap moisture inside than keep it out. Moisture trapped inside the seal will cause the module to fail sooner than it normally would.
- 3
  Use a dehumidifier near the module if you have installed one in the house. When the temperature gets below the dew point, condensation will form. Reduce the available moisture in the air around your Peltier to minimize frost formation without having to constantly reduce polarity.

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