1、 Correct use of standards

1. Preparation before startup

The placement environment should meet the following requirements: good ventilation, away from heat sources (such as heating and alcohol lamps) and strong electromagnetic interference, flat ground and load-bearing capacity (to avoid vibration affecting temperature stability); The ambient temperature should be controlled between 5-30 ℃ and the humidity should be ≤ 70% to prevent excessive condensation or poor heat dissipation of the equipment.

Check the equipment status: Confirm that the power cord is firmly connected and well grounded; The water level in the water tank is between the scale lines (for humidification function models), and the water quality needs to be distilled water or deionized water (to avoid clogging the pipeline with scale); Observe that the sealing gasket of the box door is not damaged, the tray frame inside the box is firm, and the light tube is not loose or broken.

Sample pretreatment: Place the sample to be cultured in a dedicated culture container, avoiding direct contact between the container and the inner wall of the box or sensor probe; Samples should be placed with gaps to ensure smooth airflow circulation inside the box, without obstructing the light tubes and air vents.

2. Running parameter settings

Temperature setting: Set the target temperature according to experimental requirements (the conventional range for low-temperature models is -10 ℃~60 ℃) to avoid setting the temperature difference too large at once (such as setting it directly from room temperature to -5 ℃). Gradually adjust it (adjust 5 ℃ each time, stabilize for 30 minutes, and then fine tune) to prevent compressor overload damage.

Light setting: Select the light intensity (such as 10000-20000lx for seedling stage and 20000-30000lx for flowering stage) and light cycle (such as 16h light/8h darkness) according to the growth needs of the plant, and avoid setting the highest intensity of light for a long time (shortening the life of the lamp tube); If you need to adjust the lighting in sections, you need to set it through the device program and prohibit frequent switching of lighting modes midway.

Humidity setting (with humidification function): The humidity range is controlled between 40% -90% RH to avoid long-term exposure to high humidity environments above 90% (which can easily breed mold); If the experiment does not require humidification, the humidification function can be turned off and the water tank can be emptied.

3. Running operations

Avoid frequent opening and closing of the box door: try to control the opening time within 30 seconds, and wait for 30 minutes after each opening before proceeding with the next operation to prevent drastic fluctuations in temperature and humidity inside the box; When collecting and placing samples in bulk, the order can be planned in advance to reduce the number of door openings.

Real time monitoring of operating status: Regularly check the device display screen to confirm that the temperature, lighting, and humidity parameters are consistent with the set values (temperature fluctuation ≤± 0.5 ℃, humidity fluctuation ≤± 5% RH); If an alarm occurs (such as temperature exceeding the standard or low water level), it is necessary to immediately stop the machine for troubleshooting and prohibit operation with faults.

Prohibited from overloading: The total weight of samples inside the box should not exceed the rated load-bearing capacity of the pallet to avoid stacking too densely and affecting air circulation; It is prohibited to place flammable, explosive, or corrosive materials inside the box, or directly put unsealed liquid samples (to prevent contamination of the indoor environment).

4. Shutdown operation

After the experiment, set the temperature to room temperature, turn off the lighting and humidification functions, let the equipment cool naturally for 30 minutes, and then turn off the power to avoid damage to the compressor due to excessive temperature difference.

Take out all samples and containers, empty the water tank (humidifier model), wipe the residual moisture inside the box with a dry cloth, and keep the box dry.

Turn off the main power, unplug the power cord, and cover the equipment with a dust cover to prevent dust accumulation if it is shut down for a long time.

2、 Daily maintenance and upkeep

1. Cleaning and maintenance (once a week)

Cleaning inside the box: Use a soft cloth dipped in neutral detergent to wipe the inner walls, trays, and partitions of the box to remove sample residue and stains; If there is mold growth, it can be wiped with diluted 84 disinfectant (1:100), then wiped with distilled water to remove residual disinfectant, ventilated and dried before use.

Cleaning of the shell and control panel: Use a dry soft cloth to wipe the dust off the shell, and avoid liquid infiltration into the control panel. If there are stains, gently wipe them with a small amount of anhydrous ethanol.

Air filter cleaning: Remove the air filter from the air inlet inside the box, rinse it with clean water, and air dry it (or use a vacuum cleaner to remove dust). If the filter is damaged, it should be replaced in a timely manner to avoid dust blockage affecting heat dissipation and air quality.

2. Maintenance of core components

Lighting system: Check the brightness of the lighting tubes every 3-6 months. If there is uneven lighting, brightness decay (below 70% of the initial brightness), or blackening of the tubes, replace them with tubes of the same model; Turn off the power when replacing, wait for the lamp to cool down before operation, and avoid touching the electrodes at both ends of the lamp.

Refrigeration system: Regularly clean the dust on the condenser at the back of the equipment (using a balloon or vacuum cleaner) to ensure good heat dissipation; Avoid the condenser being obstructed by debris and maintain a ventilation space of at least 10cm around it. Check the refrigerant pressure every 1-2 years. If there is a decrease in cooling effect (such as slow cooling or inability to reach the set temperature), contact after-sales service to replenish the refrigerant.

Humidification system (with humidification function): Clean the water tank and humidification pipeline monthly to remove scale (soak in citric acid solution for 30 minutes and rinse); If the humidification spray port is blocked, it can be gently unblocked with a fine needle to avoid affecting the humidification effect.

Sensor maintenance: calibrate the temperature and humidity sensors with standard instruments every 6 months. If the detection deviation exceeds ± 1 ℃ or ± 5% RH, contact after-sales for adjustment; Avoid touching the sensor probe during cleaning to prevent damage.

3. Regular maintenance (once every 6-12 months)

Sealing gasket maintenance: Check whether the sealing gasket of the box door is aging, deformed or damaged. If it becomes hard or cracked, it should be replaced in a timely manner; Regularly apply Vaseline to the surface of the sealing gasket to enhance sealing and extend its service life.

Compressor maintenance: Ensure that the compressor operates without abnormal noise or vibration. If there is abnormal noise or frequent start stop, it is necessary to investigate whether it is due to unstable voltage or poor heat dissipation, and contact after-sales maintenance if necessary.

Pipeline inspection: Check whether there are leaks in the refrigeration and humidification pipelines, and whether the joints are loose. If there are leaks, stop the machine immediately for maintenance.

4. Long term idle maintenance

Before leaving idle, thoroughly clean the box and core components, empty the water tank, and ensure that the equipment is dry.

Disconnect the power supply, unplug the power cord, cover the device with a dust cover, and place it in a cool and dry place, avoiding direct sunlight and high temperature and humidity environments.

Start up and run for 30 minutes every month (set to room temperature, no need to load samples), allowing the compressor and motor to run to prevent component aging; At the same time, check whether the various functions of the equipment are normal, and promptly deal with any problems found.

3、 Key precautions

It is prohibited to open the maintenance port of the refrigeration system or disassemble the core components by oneself while the equipment is running. Maintenance must be carried out by professional personnel.

When operating at low temperatures (such as ≤ 0 ℃), avoid residual moisture inside the box from freezing, otherwise it may damage the sensor and pipeline; If it freezes, power off and thaw naturally. Do not use hard objects to strike the ice cubes.

Voltage stabilizers should be equipped in environments with large voltage fluctuations to avoid equipment failures caused by unstable voltage; The equipment must be well grounded to prevent the risk of electrical leakage.

During maintenance, it is necessary to turn off the power and unplug the power cord to avoid electric shock; Neutral and non corrosive products should be used for cleaning solution, and strong acids, strong bases, or organic solvents (such as acetone or high alcohol concentration) should not be used to wipe the box or components.

By standardizing usage and regular maintenance, the service life of low-temperature light incubators can be extended to 5-8 years, while ensuring the accuracy and repeatability of experimental data. The operation details of different brand models may vary slightly. Before use, it is necessary to carefully read the equipment manual and adjust the maintenance plan according to the manufacturer's requirements.