Unless your dehydrator used high heat to dry the pods, it won't affect viability.

You, on the other hand, will have to be very careful recovering the seeds from dried whole pods. When you open them, they will produce dust that you really don't want in your respiratory system. That's why most people dry their seeds separately from their pods.

Dennis

So what are you planning on growing next year?

might try some new superhots like chocolate bhutlah

Next time you want to harvest seed, I suggest that you pull out the placenta with the seeds and dry them. Even just air drying, if you wait several days to a week, the seeds will just fall off the placenta with light rubbing. Then dry the individual seeds several more days and you are set. Or if you wan to use a dehydrator, I would keep it at a very low setting like maybe 100. It will still dry them quite fast and you could cut the whole process down to couple days probably.
Bruce

Join the holiday seed swap. There is plenty of seeds to go around.

Johnny

Pepper seeds dry very fast, as compared to tomatoes. I would just cut the pepper in halves( length wise). With tip of knife just separate the seeds from placenta and place them on paper towel and let stay for about week-10 days.

But easier than that, just get into the Holiday Seeds Swap and get what you want. hehe

No I was just kidding. Save the seeds and send them to The Holiday Seeds Swap. That is a lot better for all of us. :-)