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Incubator for BODsExpand / Collapse
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Posted 3/24/2008 2:08:58 PM
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We came into work this morning and found our incubator out of temperature range by about 5 degrees.  Obviously, it is equipment failure.  Thankfully, we have two 20 cubic foot incubators just for this purpose. 

Does anyone know what is the general replacement time for a BOD Incubator?  I really do not have any idea as to how long they should last.  I thought that both of the incubators we have were purchased in 2000 or 2001, but it appears that the one that is not working was older than that.  The condenser appears to have been worked on before.  It is a Precision 815, and the lead time for a new one is 13 weeks.   I can have a Barnstead model in 2 weeks.  I am not as familiar with those incubators though. Any thoughts on the Barnstead incubator?  

I am not exactly sure as to how long the BODs were at this higher temperature, since the alarm did not go off.  I have a feeling that there is also an issue with the controller as well. 

As for the BOD samples I moved them over to the working Incubator and decided to read them back anyway.  I know the data will not be good, but I am curious to see if the results.   

Thank you for any input,

Patti

Post #8721
Posted 3/24/2008 3:28:20 PM
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I have worked with a Barnstead autoclave but never a BOD incubator.  As a brand, it is pretty reliable.  I had a Precision 815 and two Revco models--which were pretty good.  I would not recomend Fisherbrand (I haven't had good experience with them). 

I found the hard way that the BOD incubators must be defrosted just like a regular refrigerator.  Try to do this at least once a month as preventive maintenance.

Good Luck

Post #8724
Posted 3/25/2008 8:54:37 AM


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I purchased a Thermo model 815 BOD incubator about a year ago. So far am happy with it. It was a replacement for a Fisherbrand incubator that was about 16 years old and would no longer hold the temperature.
Post #8729
Posted 3/25/2008 10:27:02 AM
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The incubator issue has come down to what is available at this time.  For those of you looking for incubators in a short period of time, good luck.  The quickest I am able to get one of the incubators is three months, which will not work for me.  I will have to go with the company that can deliver an incubator sooner than later.  I have a choice of two weeks, two months or three months. 

Thankfully, we are near Barnstead and will be able to get one in two weeks.  

The incubator that is no longer working appeared to be about 10 -15 years old.  The compressor is no longer working on the unit, and the controller does not seem to be working properly.  We never touch the controller, so it could not have been working for a while.  Since we are at a water pollution control plant, we have a lot of issues with power surging, and we had a tornado last year that hit the trees at the plant, but did not touch any of the equipment.  Our plant is never to lose power, but we did on that day.

 Patti

Post #8731
Posted 5/9/2008 2:52:03 PM
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Too bad you couldn't repair it.  Ours went out awhile back and instead of replacing it at great expense we found out what had gotten burnt out by lightning and fixed it for less than four hundred dollars.

Egadz

Post #9111
Posted 5/12/2008 12:50:29 PM
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I have been really pleased with our Precision 815 incubators.  We have 3 now and our oldest has been working great for over seven years.

Our last incubator, a Labline (Barnstead I think) went bad after about 6 years.  Before paying for repair you may want to consider the age of the unit.  Apparently the original replacement refrigerant for freon (circa 1996) had a history of failure and is no longer used.  Newer refrigerants are fine, but I don't think you can change refrigerants on an older unit.

I would be surprised if one of the bigger vendors didn't have a shorter lead time.  Have you tried Daigger or VWR?  It seems like somebody would have one on a shelf somewhere.

Post #9114
Posted 5/13/2008 7:36:23 AM
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Though "PLFB's" incubator may be past the point of repair, it might be helpful to others to know that the Precision 815 is serviceable as a Whirlpool refrigerator. Obviously, the top mounted controls are not standard; but, we have had some luck enlisting the help of refrigeration companies with access to Whirlpool parts. In fact, the last two times our 815 has gone down, a simple fan replacement brought it back to life.
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