Leica CM1510 – Cryostat
21
8.8
Defrosting
The Leica CM 1510 provides both programmable auto-
matic and manual defrosting.
During a defrost cycle, whether automatic or manual,
the evaporator is flushed with hot gas to remove frost
that inevitably builds up during routine operation of a
cryostat. Such frost formation on the evaporator can
lead to a reduced cooling performance of the cryostat.
Therefore, the
automatic defrost cycle
should be pro-
grammed to take place during the night hours to en-
sure that the operator has the required low tempera-
ture and thus good working conditions in the morning.
At installation sites with high air humidity increased
frost formation may occur, and it may become neces-
sary to start a
manual defrost cycle
in addition, which
can be operated any time when required.
The duration of the automatic and manual defrost
cycles is 8 minutes each. The manual defrost cycle can
however be terminated earlier.
The duration of the defrost cycles is set to 8
minutes in the factory.
After defrosting, cooling is resumed automatically. The
cryochamber will then be cooled to the previously se-
lected set temperature.
During defrosting, the actual chamber tem-
perature is displayed and LED 2 is illuminated
to indicate that a defrost cycle takes place.
The temperature of the quick-freeze shelf is
always lower than that of the cryochamber,
which may result in increased frost formation
that cannot be removed during automatic and/
or manual defrosting.
In this case, we recommend to remove the
cover from the shelf, turn the cryostat off over-
night, and turn it on again the next morning.
8.
Daily operation
8.8.1 Programming an automatic defrost cycle
An automatic defrost cycle is programmed via the con-
trol unit.
For programming an automatic defrost cycle, please
refer to 7.3.3 Control unit -'Setting user definable pa-
rameters'.
8.8.2 Starting a manual defrost cycle
•
To activate manual defrosting, press the 'P'-button
and the 'Arrow-up' key on the control unit simulta-
neously. Indication changes from LED 1 to LED 2.
•
To deactivate manual defrosting earlier, press the
'P'-button and the 'Arrow-up' key on the control unit
simultaneously. Indication changes from LED 2 to
LED 1.
Summary of Contents for CM1510
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