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Appendix
I. Using the Controller With an Oil Bath
Application Note #1
Using your 200-Series controller with oil baths rated for less than 120 volt operation is not recommended.
J-KEM manufactures a 400-Series controller designed for use with oil baths rated for any voltage and is
recommended for this application. The 200-Series controller can be used with an oil bath rated for 120
volt operation without any special setup. Simply place the flask and the thermocouple directly in the oil,
set the appropriate power setting and enter the reaction setpoint temperature..
If you need to use an oil bath with you J-KEM controller, J-KEM recommends the Instatherm oil baths.
The two largest baths, Catalog #’s INS-150 and INS-160 are both rated for use with 120vac controllers
and provide good temperature regulation.
If you frequently heat reactions using oil baths, we recommend J-KEM’s 400-Series oil bath controller.
If the reason for using an oil bath is that a small volume is being heated, and you want to use your
200-Series controller for the job, you have a second option. J-KEM sells heating mantles for small
volumes (5, 10, 25, 50 ml) which can be plugged directly into the temperature controller. Your controller
regulates volumes as small as 1 ml in a 5 ml flask using a 5 ml heating mantle. If you need to heat even
smaller volumes, your User’s Manual describes a technique for heating microliters (“Controlling the
Heating Mantle Temperature Directly”; in Section 4). The advantage of this option is that it eliminates
the mess and safety hazards associated with oil baths. Accessories for regulating the temperature of
small volumes are available from J-KEM including small volume heating mantles and micro
thermocouples.
Call if you have any concerns or would like to discuss your application with a technical representative.
Accessories for Heating Small Volumes Available From J-KEM
Heating Mantles
All sizes from 5 ml to 50 L.
Teflon Coated Microscale Thermocouples
See Catalog.
Thermocouples hermetically sealed in
various size hypodermic needles
See Catalog