Chambers
The BT-1 Bath performance is described in Datyner, Gintant &
Cohen (1985). It provides for rapid solution changes (eg. 6 times/min at
1.5ml/min flow rate), reliable temperature control and uniform temperatures
(with the HI-25x heaters). Baths with a central chamber (preferable rectangular) with similar dimensions to the BT-1 will provide
predictable rates of heating/cooling and good temperature uniformity. The HI-25x series heaters will also suit baths with larger working areas (up to 18mm x 45mm). If you
want advice on adapting baths that you currently use please call us.
Our HC-1 concentric foil heater is intended for heating 30mm culture dishes. For plastic culture dishes we recommend that they be placed on a heated sub-stage (of aluminium) with as little mass as possible. The HC-1 can be adhered to this plate and specimens observed through a central hole. Two No. 2 slides bonded together and placed across the hole improve the temperature uniformity.
Figures of better than +/-0.2oC are often quoted in describing tempearture controllers. Since the exact conditions (flow rate, probe location, ambient temp. etc.) affect this figure and cells are often not located adjacent to the probe, actual temperatures in different locations in the experimental chamber must be measured under actual conditions of use (see Datyner, Gintant and Cohen (1985)).
Temperature probes
The TC2bip accepts the TH-2Km, TH-1, TH-10Km, YSI-400 and
YSI-500 probes. The Ext In for each PROBE accepts sensor outputs with
10mV/oC such as Sensortek thermocouple transducers.
Special optics (eg. fluorescence)
The HI-25T for fluorescence microscopy or where there is limited working distance. The HI-25T has a single layer of #0 cover slide thickness and requires more careful handling.
Pre-heating
The HPRE2 is a miniature pre-heater with a thermistor for sensing
the pre-heater temperature. The pre-heater supports a wide range of flow
rates. The cable plugs into the Probe Aux and Aux Output. For slow flow rates (<1ml/min)
a simple capillary tube wrapped in resistance wire (RW-10) will
suffice and the TC2bip used in the Aux=Main slave mode.
Subambient temperatures
The TC2bip can drive 12V Peltier devices. When
switched to Cool/Heat the outputs can swing both positive (for heating) and
negative (for cooling). The amplifier is designed with asymmetrical gains to
compensate for the lowered efficiency of Peltier devices in cooling mode. Our
CH Cooling/Heating module) can be directly driven by the
TC2bip.
Other applications
The TC2bip is versatile enough to be adapted to many
different temperature control tasks. For example with a special heater it has
been used to control the temperature of fluid entering kidney tubules. Other
labs have used it with larger tissue chambers for a variety of tissues
including whole lenses. Please call if you want advice on any special
application.
Optional 3rd channel (TC2-3Ch), objective heating
An optional 3rd heat only channel (TC2-3Ch) is available for the
TC2bip. It can be used for microscope objective heating (with HLS-1P Heater) for
immersion lenses or for example maintaining additional cells at the operating
temperature in a separate tissue chamber. The upgrade can be installed by the customer