Fig. 2 illustrates all the components as connected together in
testing the operation of the thermoelectric module. The red wire of
the thermoelectric module was connected with the positive power
supply (i.e., solar cells) and the black wire of the module was
connected with the negative power supply. Due to this method of
wire connection, the lower surface of the thermoelectric module
became the hot side of the module, while the other side became the
cold side of the thermoelectric module. The cold side of the thermoelectric
module is needed to be set inside the refrigerator and
the hot side to be set outside. The temperatures of the hot and cold
sides of the thermoelectric module were measured by thermocouple
wires which were connected to the sides of the module. One
end of the thermocouples was connected to the hot side of the
module whereas the other end was connected to the cold side. The
thermocouple was connected to a data logger so the electric current
was converted and recorded in temperature units. The hot side of
the thermoelectric module was attached to the heat sink whereas
the cold side of the thermoelectric module was used to cool the
refrigerator cabinet. The heat sink was attached to the hot side of
the thermoelectric module to release heat more efficiently out
into the atmosphere. The back side of the heat sink was connected
with the fan thatwas used mainly to help in rejecting the extra heat
out into the atmosphere.