ABOUT THE ANDOR iKon-L
iKon-L SECTION 1
Page 25
1.7.6.1 - Air cooling
Air cooling is the most convenient method of cooling, but it will not achieve as low an operating temperature as
water cooling (see below). Even with a fan (see NOTE immediately below), a heat sink typically needs to be
10ºC hotter than the air (room) temperature to transfer heat efficiently to the surrounding air. Therefore the
minimum CCD temperature that can be achieved will be dependent on the room temperature.
NOTE: The fan does not operate until the heat sink temperature has reached between 20ºC and 22ºC. It
is therefore quite normal for the fan not to operate when the system is first switched on. See also
Setting Temperature for information on fan settings.
The table below is a guide to the minimum achievable operating temperatures for various room & air
temperatures. Performance of individual systems will vary slightly.
NOTES:
1. The relationship between the air or heatsink temperature and the minimum CCD temperature in
the table is not 1:1. This is because TE coolers become less efficient as they get colder.
2. Systems are specified in terms of the minimum dark current achievable, rather than absolute
temperature. For dark current specifications, please refer to the specification sheet for your
camera.
3. Cooling the CCD detector helps you reduce dark signal and it’s associated Shot Noise.
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