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A microammeter. © Eugene Brennan
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See
previous article about spacecraft power for an explanation of the
Seebeck effect. This is a simple thermocouple I made tonight from a
piece of scrap copper wire from 1.5 mm² flat T&E lighting cable and
heating element wire from an old hairdrier (probably nichrome). The ends
of the two pieces of wire are twisted together and the other ends
connected to a microammeter. Then the twisted together ends are heated
with a blowtorch. It generates 26 mV and a current of about 20 μA (20
millionths of an amp). Lots of these are connected in series or
series-parallel (to increase both voltage and current) to make a
thermopile for providing power in spacecraft.
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| Thermocouple made from copper and nichrome wires, joined at the end. © Eugene Brennan |
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| The thermocouple was connected to a microammeter. © Eugene Brennan |
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| ....voltage was also measured. © Eugene Brennan |
