While STC-7 is a cool camera, it can't be that cool. At 20°C ambient, cooling set to -5°C and it says 34% power for cooling. Should one expect the power level to be higher? To measure the actual chip temp would a tightly focused IR temp aimed at the sensor work? Realizing the shiny surface of the sensor will cause some error. _..-- TiM
The window is not transparent in the IR wavelength range used by the thermometer. You will get the temperature of the window. Due to mechanical constraints we have to measure the sensor temperature at the base of the copper cold finger. As there is limited contact area the sensor is probably a little warmer than the cold finger. This isn't an issue as long as the dark current is low and the sensor temperature is stable.
I spent several nights watching the sensor temp vs percentage cooling power and it seems reasonable. The ambient temp when first powering on the camera is nominal. As you say, the temperature is stable which is what counts. Thanks Doug! Tim
