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Thermal Management

Thermal management here means the three parts that work together to hold something at a temperature: a sensor that reads it, a solid-state heat pump that moves heat in either direction, and the hardware that couples both to your equipment. Use a thermoelectric loop when a load has to sit below ambient, or stay on one setpoint while the room moves around it. If the load only has to stay under a limit, a heat sink and a fan do that for less money and less power.

ATI covers all three parts of the loop. The thermistors are glass-encapsulated, so they barely drift over years, the module range includes long-life versions for instruments that cycle, and both are specified alongside our TEC controllers — the sensor, the cooler and the loop are known to work together. Everything ships from San Jose, California.

Three groups, one loop

NTC Thermistors read the temperature. TEC Modules move the heat, in either direction. Thermal Accessories get the heat away from the hot side and couple everything together. Most projects need parts from all three, plus a controller. The table below shows what each one contributes.

Our Delivery Promise

Fast, flexible fulfillment from San Jose, California, USA — shipped worldwide.

  • Fast in-stock shipping — In-stock orders ship within 1–2 business days after confirmation and quality check.
  • Made-to-order models — Some models are produced to order. Contact sales@analogti.com for the current lead time.
  • Worldwide shipping — Shipped from San Jose to customers worldwide.
  • Flexible carrier options — UPS, FedEx, DHL, USPS, freight forwarders, or your preferred logistics partners.
  • Clear shipment visibility — Tracking provided after dispatch to support your receiving and production planning.

What a temperature loop is made of

Four parts, three of them in this category. Work down the table — each row answers a different question, and skipping one is where most thermal designs come unstuck.

Part What it does Key numbers Decide it by…
NTC Thermistors 73 models · from $1.60 Reads the temperature and reports it to the controller 5 kΩ to 230 kΩ · B-value 3404 K to 4177 K
glass beads from Ø0.55 mm · ring-lug, hex-nut and sealed versions		 The curve your controller expects, then how the bead reaches the load. A 10 kΩ part on a 3950 K curve fits most instruments.
TEC Modules 202 models · from $10.30 Pumps heat off the load, or into it when the current reverses 0.3 W to 378 W · 2.5 × 2.5 mm to 62 × 62 mm
sealed and non-sealed · high-temperature and long-life versions		 The footprint of your cold plate first, then the heat load. Sealed versions cost the same, so take them unless the enclosure is dry.
Thermal Accessories 11 models · from $0.40 Carries heat away from the hot side and bonds the stack together Heat sinks 105 × 58 mm to 240 × 150 mm · 12 V fans
silicone thermal pads 0.5 mm to 8 mm · ceramic heaters · PTFE tubing		 The heat the hot side has to shed, which is always more than the heat you removed. Undersize this and the module cannot reach your setpoint.
TEC Controllers separate category Closes the loop: reads the sensor and sets the size and direction of the current Temperature stability to ±0.001 °C
bidirectional current drive		 The current and voltage your module needs, and how tightly the setpoint has to be held. A fixed supply cannot regulate a setpoint.

Also worth knowing:

  • Thermal pads are ordered by thickness:  The silicone pad comes in eleven thicknesses from 0.5 mm to 8 mm, each with its own price and stock. Pick the thickness from the gap you have to fill, not from the thermal figure.
  • A fan and heat sink assembly controller is in Accessories:  The ATFC106D drives and monitors a TEC and fan assembly from 12 V, with relay output, for enclosed chamber control. It sits with the accessories rather than with the controllers.
  • Custom:  Lead length, connector, housing and resistance value on the thermistors, and footprints outside the standard couple counts on the modules, can be built to order for OEM quantities. Tell us what you need.

Questions we get asked

What do I need to buy to build a complete temperature loop?

Four things, plus power. A TEC module sized to the heat load. A temperature sensor mounted on the load, not on the heat sink. A controller that reads the sensor and drives the module in both directions. And a heat path on the hot side — a heat sink, usually a fan, and a thermal interface between every metal joint.

Tell us the load, the setpoint and the ambient range, and we will name the parts.

How much heat does the hot side have to get rid of?

More than you took off the cold side. A thermoelectric module is a heat pump, not a heat destroyer: everything it removes from the load, plus all the electrical power you feed it, comes out of the hot face. That is why the hot-side heat sink is usually larger than people expect.

The practical consequence is that a bigger heat sink often does more for you than a bigger module. Efficiency climbs sharply as the temperature difference across the module falls, so lowering the hot-side temperature makes the whole loop work better. If the hot side runs away, the module cannot reach the setpoint no matter how much current you give it.

Thermal pad or thermal grease?

Grease gives the thinner bond line and the lower thermal resistance, so it is the better performer on flat, well-clamped joints. It is also messy, it has to be applied evenly every time, and it can pump out of a joint that sees temperature cycling.

A pad is easier to handle, repeatable on a production line, and it fills a gap between surfaces that are not perfectly flat or parallel. It is the practical choice for heat sinks, enclosures and anything assembled more than once. Choose the pad thickness from the gap, and keep it as thin as the gap allows.