When current is injected into a Peltier device/thermo-electric cooler, it heats up, when the current is reversed, it cools down. Why does it takes less time to heat up than to cool down?
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2$\begingroup$ What is your evidence for the asymetrical heating / cooling? $\endgroup$ – Solar Mike Jun 12 '17 at 8:07
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$\begingroup$ What temperatures? $\endgroup$ – JMac Jun 12 '17 at 10:33
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$\begingroup$ This question comes perilously close to the "hot water freezes faster than cold" flame war. However, as restated by Olin L., the functionality seems clear. $\endgroup$ – Carl Witthoft Jun 12 '17 at 14:25
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$\begingroup$ @Solar Mike. experiment $\endgroup$ – Frank Jun 12 '17 at 17:11
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$\begingroup$ @ JMac. Between 5 and 45oC $\endgroup$ – Frank Jun 12 '17 at 17:11
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Peltier devices are quite inefficient. A simple first-order approximation for a Peltier is a perfect heat pump in series with a resistor. The heat pump moves heat symmetrically proportional to the current, but the resistor always makes heat proportional to the square of the current.
The unavoidable heater in a Peltier device makes it overall better at making heat than cold.
answered Jun 12 '17 at 11:36
