SP1848-27145 Thermoelectric Power Generator - 120°C TEG Peltier Module

Specifications

• Model: SP1848-27145 SA

• Dimensions: 40mm x 40mm x 3.4mm

• Wire Length: Approx. 300mm

• Maximum Hot Side Temperature: 120°C (248°F)

• Approximate Voltage Outputs (Open Circuit):

  • 20°C Temperature Difference: ~0.97V

  • 40°C Temperature Difference: ~1.80V

  • 60°C Temperature Difference: ~2.40V

  • 80°C Temperature Difference: ~3.60V

  • 100°C Temperature Difference: ~4.80V

• Maximum Current: ~400mA to 600mA (highly dependent on thermal management)

Key Applications and Projects

• Wood Stove Fans: Replacing burned-out modules in commercial heat-powered stove fans to get them spinning again.

• Survival Chargers: Building a custom campfire phone charger. (Requires multiple TEGs in series and a dedicated voltage regulation circuit).

• Body Heat Flashlights: Creating a low-power "Joule Thief" circuit that slowly lights up an LED using just the heat from the palm of your hand.

• IoT Sensor Nodes: Providing perpetual power to remote, low-draw environmental sensors strapped to industrial hot water pipes.

Unlock New Capabilities (Project Evolution)

• USB Power Bank Generator: 4.8V from a single TEG is under ideal conditions and will fluctuate wildly. To actually charge a phone, wire two of these TEGs in series to double the voltage, and feed that power into a 5V DC-DC USB Boost Converter. The boost converter will stabilize the fluctuating thermal voltage into a perfectly flat 5V signal that your smartphone will accept safely!
  

Package Includes:

• 1 x SP1848-27145 120°C Thermoelectric Generator (TEG) Module

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

1. What is the difference between this TEG and a TEC cooler? A TEG (Generator) is optimized to turn heat into electricity and uses higher-temperature internal solder. A TEC (Cooler) uses electricity to move heat and will melt if used as a high-temperature generator.

2. Which side is the hot side? Generally, the side with the text printed on it ("SP1848 27145 SA") is the cold side, and the blank side is the hot side.

3. How do I test which side is which? Connect a multimeter to the red and black wires. Place your hand on one side. If the voltage is positive, the side you are touching is the hot side.

4. What is the absolute maximum temperature? The hot side should not exceed 120°C (248°F). Exceeding this will melt the internal solder joints and permanently destroy the module.

5. Can I put this directly in a campfire? No! Open flames easily exceed 500°C. You must use a thick aluminum or steel buffer plate to disperse the heat and ensure the module itself never exceeds 120°C.

6. Why did my voltage drop to zero after a few minutes? This is the most common beginner mistake. If you don't use a heatsink on the cold side, the heat simply passes through the module. Once both sides are the same temperature, electricity generation stops.

7. Do I need to use thermal paste? Yes. You must use CPU thermal paste (or thermal adhesive) on both the hot and cold sides to ensure efficient heat transfer into and out of the ceramic plates.

8. Can I power an Arduino with just one of these? A single module at a safe temperature usually outputs around 2V-3V under load. You will need a DC-DC Boost Converter to step that up to the stable 5V required by an Arduino.

9. How do I get more voltage? You can wire multiple TEG modules together in Series (connecting the red wire of one to the black wire of the next), just like batteries.

10. How do I get more current (Amps)? You can wire multiple TEG modules together in Parallel (connecting all red wires together, and all black wires together).

11. Will this work to cool my CPU? No. While you can apply electricity to a TEG to make it act like a cooler, it is incredibly inefficient at it. Buy a TEC1-12706 if you want to cool things down.

12. What are the dimensions? It is exactly 40mm long, 40mm wide, and approximately 3.4mm thick.

13. Are the wires heat resistant? The red and black wires use a standard high-temperature silicone/Teflon casing, but they will still melt if exposed to direct open flame.

14. Is this module waterproof? The edges of the ceramic plates are typically sealed with silicone, making it highly water-resistant, but the wire solder joints are vulnerable. Do not submerge it underwater.

15. What does the "SA" mean on the label? It denotes the specific internal material configuration and generation parameters used by the manufacturer.

16. Why is the output current so low? Thermoelectric generation is inherently inefficient (usually around 2% to 5% efficiency). They provide small amounts of trickle power, not massive wattage.

17. Can I use a Peltier module as a generator instead to save money? You can, but regular Peltiers (TEC) have a max temp of about 70°C. They will degrade very quickly or melt if you try to use them on a hot stove.

18. Can I use ice on the cold side to increase power? Yes! The larger the temperature difference (Delta T) between the hot and cold sides, the more voltage is produced. Ice water circulating in an aluminum block works incredibly well.

19. Do I need a diode in my circuit? If you are charging a battery, you must use a Schottky diode in series with the positive wire. Otherwise, if the heat source stops, the battery will dump its power back into the TEG, turning it into a heater and draining your battery.

20. Is the ceramic fragile? Yes, it is made of aluminum oxide ceramic. If you drop it on a hard floor or clamp it between uneven metal plates with too much pressure, it will snap in half.