3
AQUALAB TDL/TDL 2
Table 1 Installation (continued)
Installation
Plug In Instrument
Plug the power cord into the back of the unit and an outlet.
Only use the supplied power cord or one rated for AQUALAB TDL and certified
for the country of use. The cord must be a minimum of 18 AWG and have a
rating for 10 A or greater.
WARNING: An incorrect main power voltage can damage the instrument.
Turn the Unit ON
Use the power switch on the back of the instrument to turn it on (
Allow the AQUALAB TDL a 15-min warm-up period to ensure the most accurate
readings.
Select the User Profile (Optional)
If user profiles are set up, the User screen appears first (
).
Use
UP and DOWN to select the appropriate user profile.
2.2 SAMPLE PREPARATION
Proper sample preparation is important to keep the AQUALAB TDL clean and achieve
repeatable results. A contaminated sample chamber can lead to unusually long read times
and water activity readings that drift over time.
Carefully prepare and load samples to lengthen time between cleanings and help avoid
downtime. Be consistent in sample preparation methods (e.g., crush, grind, slice the sample)
to obtain reproducible results. For more information on proper sample preparation for
different sample types, visit
Six AQUALAB sample preparation best practices
com/food/articles/six-sample-preparation-best-practices
).
More specific considerations regarding sample composition and sample temperature are
discussed in
, respectively.
Follow the steps listed below to prepare samples:
1. Make sure the sample to be measured is homogeneous.
Multicomponent samples (e.g., muffins with raisins) or samples that have outside
coatings (like deep-fried, breaded foods) can be measured, but they need to have
representative portions in the cup and may take longer than other sample types
to equilibrate.
2. Place the sample in a disposable sample cup.
a. Completely cover the bottom of the cup, if possible, to provide enough sample to get
an accurate reading.
The AQUALAB TDL is able to accurately measure a sample that does not (or cannot)
cover the bottom of the cup. For example, raisins only need to be placed in the cup
and do not need to be flattened to cover the bottom.
