
10 |
P a g e
INTRODUCTION
R
EFERENCE
S
ENSOR
D
EVICES
Must be purchased separately
Reference sensor devices or a combined device are required for calibrating the
incubator temperature and CO
2
displays.
Reference devices must meet the following standards:
•
Accurate to at least 0.1°C
•
Accurate to at least 0.1% CO
2
The devices should be regularly calibrated, preferably by a third party.
Temperature Probes
For temperature, use a digital device with a wire thermocouple probe that can be
introduced into the incubation chamber through the unit access port. Select a
thermocouple suitable for the application temperature you will be calibrating at.
CO
2
Sampling
For best CO
2
accuracy, use a digital gas analyzer with sample tubing connecting to
the incubator CO
2
sample port. The barbed adapter gas fitting on the port connects
to
3/16-inch (4.76 mm)
inner diameter (ID),
5/16-inch (7.94 mm)
outside diameter
(OD) tubing.
Why Probes and Tubing?
Reference readings taken outside the chamber using wire temperature probes and
CO
2
sample tubing drawn through the sample port avoid chamber door openings.
Openings disrupt the chamber temperature and CO
2
concentration level. Each
disruption requires
a minimum 1-hour wait
to allow the atmosphere to re-stabilize
before continuing.
No Alcohol or Mercury Thermometers
Alcohol thermometers do not have sufficient accuracy to conduct accurate
temperature calibrations.
Never place a mercury thermometer in the incubation
chamber.
Always use thermocouple probes.
CO
2
Reference
Temperature
Reference