Build a TEC Generator Efficiency Monitor with Arduino Uno

Every part needed, pre-tested for compatibility, with an AI build companion trained on this exact project. Shipped from Bengaluru in 3-5 days.

This project equips you to build a precision monitoring station that reads temperature on both sides of a thermoelectric generator (TEC module), measures its electrical output, and compares real performance against the theoretical Carnot efficiency limit. It’s the exact kind of experiment that brings thermodynamics to life for a physics practical, a college mini project, or a deep dive into energy harvesting.

What You'll Build

You'll assemble a complete data logger around an Arduino Uno that takes dual DS18B20 temperature probe readings at the hot and cold faces of a TEC module, uses an INA219 sensor to capture voltage, current, and power, timestamps every reading with a DS3231 real-time clock, and displays live delta‑T, power, and efficiency metrics on a 0.96‑inch OLED. All data saves to a microSD card so you can export it for analysis. When you’re done, you’ll have a portable monitor you can detach and reuse for any low‑voltage DC source experiment—think small solar panels, hand-crank dynamos, or battery characterisation.

What You'll Learn

• How to wire and poll two DS18B20 temperature probes on a single OneWire bus without address conflicts
• Using the INA219 over I2C to read high‑side voltage and current, then calculate instantaneous power in code
• Logging timestamped sensor arrays to a microSD card with proper CSV formatting for Excel or Python analysis
• Comparing the generator’s measured efficiency to the Carnot equation using real‑time temperature difference data

Kit Contents

Why Buy This Kit Instead of Sourcing Parts Separately

Who This Kit Is For

Ideal for CBSE Class 11–12 students looking to demonstrate thermal energy conversion in a physics investigatory project, B.Tech ECE/EEE undergraduates tackling an energy harvesting mini project, Smart India Hackathon teams prototyping power monitoring for renewable systems, and ATL Tinkering Lab members moving beyond basic sensor tutorials into real energy analytics. The build straddles thermodynamics and embedded electronics—a perfect bridge for anyone curious about how heat becomes electricity.

Built and Backed by Compoden

Every Compoden kit ships with an AI build companion trained on this exact project — accessible via a QR code on the box, with WhatsApp and email backup. We've spent 10 years building projects for makers, schools, and institutions across India. If a part fails because of a manufacturing defect, replace it free within 7 days.