12
Maintenance
The calibration instrument has been designed with the utmost care. Ease of op-
eration and simplicity of maintenance have been a central theme in the product
development. Therefore, with proper care the instrument should require very
little maintenance. Avoid operating the instrument in dirty or dusty
environments.
•
A battery is used to maintain operating parameters in the unit. All operat-
ing parameters, including calibration parameters should be checked on a
regular basis to insure accuracy and proper operation of the instrument.
See the troubleshooting section for the procedure on checking the status
of the battery.
•
The bath should be cleaned regularly to prevent a buildup of oil or dust.
Use a paint safe cleaning agent on all painted surfaces. Solvents such as
Trichloroethylene or Acetone may dull or dissolve the paint. The stainless
steel surfaces may be cleaned with solvents as necessary to remove oils.
•
The stirring motor should be clean to allow proper stirring. Normally only
the outside surfaces require any attention. If the inside of the motor has
become heavily loaded with oily dust, blow it out with compressed air.
Follow normal safety procedures when using pressurized gasses.
•
Periodically check the fluid level in the bath to ensure that the level has
not dropped. A drop in the fluid level affects the stability of the bath.
Changes in fluid level are dependent upon several factors specific to the
environment in which the equipment is used. A schedule cannot be out-
lined to meet each environmental setting. Therefore, the first year the bath
should be checked weekly with notes kept as to changes in bath fluid. Af-
ter the first year, the user can set up a maintenance schedule based on the
data specific to the application.
•
Heat transfer medium lifetime is dependent upon the type of medium and
the environment. The fluid should be checked at least every two weeks for
the first year and regularly thereafter. This fluid check provides a baseline
for knowledge of bath operation with clean, usable fluid. Once some flu-
ids have become compromised, the break down can occur rapidly. Partic-
ular attention should be paid to the viscosity of the fluid. A significant
change in the viscosity can indicate that the fluid is contaminated, being
used outside of its temperature limits, contains ice particles, or is close to
a chemical breakdown. Once data has been gathered, a specific mainte-
nance schedule can be outline for the instrument. Refer to the General
Operation section (Section
8
) for more information about the different
types of fluids used in calibration baths.
•
If a hazardous material is spilt on or inside the equipment, the user is re-
sponsible for taking the appropriate decontamination steps as outlined by
the national safety council with respect to the material. MSDS sheets ap-
plicable to all fluids used in the baths should be kept in close proximity to
the instrument.
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12 Maintenance
