I was being careless calling it a "thermocouple" - it's actually a "thermopile" using the Seebeck Effect. Mechanically dissimilar metals are placed in contact with each other while one is heated and the other is not. The temperature difference produces an electric current to flow.
This old technician will stop there at let the physicists in the reflector here go into more detail ;-) I did a little digging to reassure my memory of the Soviet device and found photos on line! (Is the internet the greatest library since Alexander or what?) Here are photos: http://www.douglas-self.com/MUSEUM/POWER/thermoelectric/thermoelectric.htm#r l They generated enough power run a tube-type radio, providing power for filaments and high voltage for the plate circuits. From the description, the radio was a low-power-consumption portable using 1.5V on the filaments and 90V on the plates, but that is still impressive for a small oil lamp! The above web site has a lot of fascinating information about "Thermo-Electric Generators". 73, Ron AC7AC -----Original Message----- From: Holger Schurig [mailto:[email protected]] What are thermocouples, peltier elements? ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
