SYNOPSIS This paper describes the experimental performance of a lab-scale ceiling type free convected Thermoelectric (TE) Air Conditioner (TEAC). The TEAC is composed of seven TE modules (Tianjin Lantian model TEC1-12708), a free convected rectangular fin heat exchanger at the cold side and a force convected skive fin heat exchanger at the hot side of the TE modules. Tests were conducted for various operating conditions using two well insulated chambers of different volume, namely 0.024 and 1 m3. The whole set-up was slightly inclined (5°) from the horizontal plane to collect the condensed water at the cold fins and to accelerate the downward airflow. It was found that the cooling performance of the system depended, as with the forced type TEAC, on the electrical power supply and the mass flow rate of hot air. Under the design conditions used here, suitable operating conditions were 3 amps and 0.027 kg.s−1, respectively. The corresponding cooling capacity was 169 W and the average chamber temperature varied between 16°C and 28°C, depending on the volume of the chamber. The amount of condensed water from the 1 m3 chamber during 3 hours of operation was 14.6 g. When operated with open space, the TEAC could condense 356 g of water per 24 hours. Therefore, the proposed concept seems to be reliable and merit further investigations towards commercial development.