Shellab SCO6AD - Manual (Page 25)

25 | P a g e
OPERATION (CONTINUED)
C
ALIBRATE THE
T
EMPERATURE DISPLAY
The SCO6AD was calibrated at the factory to 37 °C. The incubator should be calibrated as required
by regulatory compliance and your laboratory protocol, or whenever the unit is installed in a new
working environment. Calibrate the incubator at the temperature set point of your incubation. Use
a certified temperature-sensing reference device regularly calibrated to 0.1°C by an independent
party. For best results use a digital reference device with a remote sensing probe such as, a
thermocouple wire probe. A remote probe offers significant time savings by eliminating a 1 hour
wait for the chamber temperature to re-stabilize each time the door is opened to check the
reference device reading. Alcohol thermometers are not suitable for performing calibrations.
Allow the incubator to stand for at least 8 hours undisturbed running at its operational set
point to stabilize prior to calibrating. Stabilized means there are no temperature fluctuations of
±0.1°C or greater for at least 1 hour. The unit must be humidified and supplied with CO
2
during
this period. Failure to allow 8 hours will result in an inaccurate temperature calibration. Sheldon
Manufacturing recommends allowing the unit to stabilize overnight for best results.
If you have not already done so, place the temperature sensor of the
reference device inside the incubation chamber as close as possible to the
chamber geometric center. Check that the sensor is not in direct contact
with the shelving.
Note: A thermocouple sensor probe sleeve may be taped to the shelving, as long
as the exposed copper end is 2 inches (5cm) above the shelf. An exposed sensor
probe in direct contact with the shelving may experience heat sinking, which can
result in an inaccurate temperature reading.
Use the access port
stopper to block
intrusions of air and
prevent chilling of the
incubator’s atmosphere
after introducing a remote
probe through the port.
Allow the chamber temperature to re-stabilize each time the chamber door
exterior is opened and closed.
a. The reference device temperature measurement should not
change for at least one (1) hour in order for the chamber to be
considered re-stabilized.
Compare the reference device and the incubator display temperature
readings. If the readings are the same, or the difference between the two
(2) falls within the acceptable range of your laboratory protocol, the
incubator is calibrated for temperature. The Temperature Calibration
procedure is complete.

If there is a difference between the two readings, and that offset falls
outside the acceptable range your laboratory protocol, place the incubator
into calibration mode. See the next step.
a. Allow the temperature to re-stabilize if the exterior door has
been opened.
