Isotech ORION 796 User manual

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Orion 796 Iss.08 –01/14
STIRRED LIQUID BATH
MODEL ORION 796
User Maintenance Manual/Handbook
Isothermal Technology Limited, Pine Grove, Southport, PR9 9AG, England
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Internet: www.isotech.co.uk E-mail: [email protected]
The company is always willing to give technical advice and assistance where appropriate. Equally, because of the programme of continual
development and improvement we reserve the right to amend or alter characteristics and design without prior notice. This publication is
for information only.

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Orion 796 Iss.08 –01/14
CONTENTS
EMC INFORMATION .................................................................................................................................................................3
ELECTRICAL SAFETY ................................................................................................................................................................3
HEALTH AND SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS..............................................................................................................................4
GUARANTEE ...............................................................................................................................................................................5
CAUTIONARY NOTE ................................................................................................................................................................6
SPECIFICATION .........................................................................................................................................................................7
ON ARRIVAL ...............................................................................................................................................................................8
IMPORTANT –READ THIS NOW...........................................................................................................................................9
CHILLERS...................................................................................................................................................................................9
Chiller function M version .........................................................................................................................................................9
Chiller function L version ........................................................................................................................................................10
Chiller gases and quantities ....................................................................................................................................................10
SETTING UP ............................................................................................................................................................................10
FRONT PANEL CONTROLS...................................................................................................................................................11
REAR PANEL .............................................................................................................................................................................12
USING THE CONTROLLER....................................................................................................................................................13
FRONT PANEL LAYOUT ........................................................................................................................................................13
The Temperature Controller ...................................................................................................................................................13
Altering the Setpoint ..............................................................................................................................................................13
ADVANCED CONTROLLER FEATURES ...............................................................................................................................13
Setpoint Ramp Rate ...............................................................................................................................................................13
Instrument Address ................................................................................................................................................................14
MONITORING THE CONTROLLER STATUS .......................................................................................................................14
Units......................................................................................................................................................................................14
OVER TEMPERATURE CONTROLLER (H MODEL ONLY) ..................................................................................................15
OVER AND UNDER TEMPERATURE CONTROLLER (M &LMODEL ONLY).....................................................................15
OVER TEMPERATURE CONDITION .....................................................................................................................................15
OPERATION AND INITIAL TESTING..................................................................................................................................17
CHOICE OF LIQUIDS ..............................................................................................................................................................18
LIQUID LEVEL .........................................................................................................................................................................18
CHANGING LIQUIDS..............................................................................................................................................................19
USING THE COOLING COIL .................................................................................................................................................20
USING THE PC INTERFACE ..................................................................................................................................................21
CONNECTIONS .....................................................................................................................................................................21
CAL NOTEPAD .........................................................................................................................................................................22
DEVELOPMENT......................................................................................................................................................................22
HOW TO INSTALL CAL NOTEPAD.......................................................................................................................................23
PROTOCOL.............................................................................................................................................................................23
ACCESSORIES ..........................................................................................................................................................................24

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Orion 796 Iss.08 –01/14
EMC INFORMATION
This product meets the requirements of the European Directive on Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC)
89/336/EEC as amended by EC Directive 92/31/EEC and the European Low Voltage Directive 73/25/EEC,
amended by 93/68/EEC. To ensure emission compliance please ensure that any serial communications connecting
leads are fully screened.
The product meets the susceptibility requirements of EN 50082-1, criterion B.
Symbol Identification
Publication
Description
ISO3864
Caution (refer to manual)
IEC 417
Caution, Hot Surface
ELECTRICAL SAFETY
This equipment must be correctly earthed.
This equipment is a Class 1 Appliance. A protective earth is used to ensure the conductive parts can not become
live in the event of a failure of the insulation.
The protective conductor of the flexible mains cable which is coloured green/yellow MUST be connected to a
suitable earth.
The blue conductor should be connected to Neutral and the Brown conductor to Live (Line).
Warning: Internal mains voltage hazard. Do not remove the panels.

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HEALTH AND SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
1. Read this entire manual before use.
2. Wear appropriate protective clothing.
3. Operators of this equipment should be adequately trained in the handling of hot and cold items and liquids.
4. Do not use the apparatus for jobs other than those for which it was designed, i.e. the calibration of
thermometers.
5. Do not handle the apparatus when it is hot (or cold), unless wearing the appropriate protective clothing
and having the necessary training.
6. Do not drill, modify or otherwise change the shape of the apparatus.
7. Do not dismantle the apparatus without disconnecting it from the supply and leaving time for it to reach
ambient temperatures.
8. Do not use the apparatus outside its recommended temperature range
9. The apparatus is protected by an over temperature circuit, ensure correct settings at all times.

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Orion 796 Iss.08 –01/14
GUARANTEE
This instrument has been manufactured to exacting standards and is guaranteed for twelve months against
electrical break-down or mechanical failure caused through defective material or workmanship, provided the
failure is not the result of misuse. In the event of failure covered by this guarantee, the instrument must be
returned, carriage paid, to the supplier for examination and will be replaced or repaired at our option.
FRAGILE CERAMIC AND/OR GLASS PARTS ARE NOT COVERED BY THIS GUARANTEE
INTERFERENCE WITH OR FAILURE TO PROPERLY MAINTAIN THIS INSTRUMENT MAY INVALIDATE THIS
GUARANTEE
RECOMMENDATION
The life of your ISOTECH Instrument will be prolonged if regular maintenance and cleaning to remove general
dust and debris is carried out.
ISOTHERMAL TECHNOLOGY LTD.
PINE GROVE, SOUTHPORT
PR9 9AG, ENGLAND
TEL: [phone]/544611
FAX: [phone]
The company is always willing to give technical advice and assistance where appropriate. Equally, because of the
programme of continual development and improvement we reserve the right to amend or alter characteristics and
design without prior notice. This publication is for information only.

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Orion 796 Iss.08 –01/14
CAUTIONARY NOTE
ISOTECH PRODUCTS ARE INTENDED FOR USE BY TECHNICALLY TRAINED AND COMPETENT
PERSONNEL FAMILIAR WITH GOOD MEASUREMENT PRACTICES.
IT IS EXPECTED THAT PERSONNEL USING THIS EQUIPMENT WILL BE COMPETENT WITH THE
MANAGEMENT OF APPARATUS WHICH MAY BE POWERED OR UNDER EXTREMES OF TEMPERATURE,
AND ARE ABLE TO APPRECIATE THE HAZARDS WHICH MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH, AND THE
PRECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN WITH, SUCH EQUIPMENT.

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Orion 796 Iss.08 –01/14
SPECIFICATION
Model No.
ORION 796L
ORION 796M
ORION 796H
Temperature Range
-80°C to 125°C
-40°C to 125°C
30°C to 300°C
Volume
150mm diameter, 470mm deep (8.5 litres)
Absolute Stability
±0.006°C (Methanol,
-80°C)
±0.006°C (Methanol,
-40°C)
±0.006°C (C10 Oil,
125°C)
Vertical Uniformity
±0.005°C (Methanol, 0°C)
±0.005°C (Methanol, 0°C)
±0.007°C (C10 Oil,
125°C)
Heating Time
25°C to 125°C <50mins (C10 oil)
30°C to 300°C <120mins
(VH Oil)
Cooling Time
0°C to -80°C <240mins
(Methanol)
10°C to -40°C <180mins
(Methanol)
-
Communications
Includes Serial Interface, PC Cable and Software
Dimensions
485mm wide, 525mm deep, 1150mm high
Weight
78kg
68kg
48kg
Safety
Compliant to CE Regulations
Power
2.8kW
1kW
108-130 or 208-240V,
50/60Hz
800W

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Orion 796 Iss.08 –01/14
ON ARRIVAL
You should have the following parts:
1. Main Bath Assembly.
2. One overflow and one drain pipe.
3. Lid.
4. This User Maintenance Manual/Handbook.
5. PC Interface Lead (yellow) and Adaptor.
Optional accessories are available and will only be present if specified on your order.
In the unlikely event of any items arriving damaged please retain the packing materials (which may need to be
inspected later) and then contact your supplier.

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IMPORTANT –READ THIS NOW!
CHILLERS
The M and L models include an internal mechanical refrigeration unit. During transit the internal oil can be
displaced. On arrival the equipment should be left for 24 hours in an upright position to allow any displaced oil to
settle. Under no circumstances should this equipment be tipped or moved to a horizontal position. This will
render the refrigeration system unusable and as a consequence invalidate any warranty.
Chiller function M version
The chiller is designed to automatically enable at any temperature below 40°C. The chiller will run all the time and
the temperature control is balanced by the heater. The chiller will have unwanted cooling power at the higher
temperatures, such as temperatures above -10°C; it can cause unwanted instability in the liquid temperature. To
prevent this, the Orion has an automatic cooling reduction facility built in. This is in the form of an internal by-pass
valve that will reduce the running pressure of the refrigeration system.
The by-pass valve will automatically enable at temperatures above -10°C until the chiller is automatically switched
off at 40°C. Because of the time taken to cool down from higher temperatures with the by-pass enabled and
reduced cooling, the by-pass valve only actually opens when the actual temperature is within ±3 °C of the set
point. This allows the full cooling at all other times.
Further cooling power reduction is enabled via the cooling power adjustment fitted to the front panel. This is a
manual adjustment and may offer improved liquid stability at setpoint. Turning the adjustment fully clockwise will
fully close the valve allowing full cooling. This feature will operate at any temperature below 40°C.
The functions of the chiller can be identified by the display of the controller on the front panel. Refer to the
controller section on page 14 for details.
The diagram below gives a graphical account of the Orion medium chiller function
(1) Chiller enabled.
(2) Full cooling, by-pass valve off
(3) By-pass valve enabled
(4) Band of temperature where by-pass valve is active.

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Orion 796 Iss.08 –01/14
Chiller function L version
The Orion Low has a cascade refrigeration system. This allows the bath to reach temperatures in excess of -80°C.
The chiller is fully automated and requires no user intervention.
Because of the complex nature of this refrigeration system, it is recommended that in the event of service, you
contact Isotech for advice as it is generally beyond the scope of standard refrigeration systems.
Chiller gases and quantities
Orion Medium
Gas used R404A
Quantity ~550grams
Orion Low
Gas used
High stage R404A
Quantity ~350grams
Low stage R23
Quantity ~100grams
SETTING UP
The whole manual should be carefully read before using the bath, and then set the bath up as follows.
Connect the drain pipe to the drain tap and the overflow pipe to the rear panel ports. Place a suitable container
under the overflow pipe. Ensure the tap is shut, i.e. lever at 90°. If the equalising block is to be used it should be
placed in position now.
Fill the bath with suitable liquid, water is probably best for initial testing. Fill the bath until the level is 45mm below
the top lid of the bath.
ALWAYS ISOLATE THE BATH FROM THE ELECTRICAL SUPPLY WHEN CHANGING LIQUIDS

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Orion 796 Iss.08 –01/14
FRONT PANEL CONTROLS
Medium only
Cooling Power and cool enable are only present on the Orion M model.
Cooling Power are only present on the Orion L and Orion M.
The cooling power control permits the power to be reduced from maximum and fine tuning of performance at
different temperatures.
Full clockwise is maximum cooling.
Set the flow control to suit the liquid and operating temperature.

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REAR PANEL

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USING THE CONTROLLER
FRONT PANEL LAYOUT
The Temperature Controller
The controller has a dual display, the upper display indicates the nominal block temperature, and the lower display
indicates the desired temperature or setpoint.
Altering the Setpoint
To change the setpoint of the controller simply use the UP and DOWN keys to raise and lower the setpoint to the
required value. The lower display changes to indicate the new setpoint.
ADVANCED CONTROLLER FEATURES
Setpoint Ramp Rate
By default the bath is configured to heat (and cool) as quickly as possible. There may be some calibration
applications where it is advantageous to limit the heating (or cooling rate).
An example might be when testing bimetallic thermostats; by forcing the bath to heat at a controlled rate it is
easier to determine the temperature at which the thermostat changes state.
The bath can have its heating rate limited with the Setpoint Ramp Rate feature. This feature is accessed from the
Scroll key. Depress the key until the display shows,
OFF
SP.RAT
The upper display will show the current value and is adjustable from OFF to 999.9. The units are °C/min and are
adjustable via the UP/DOWN keys.
When the SP.RAT is active the lower setpoint display will now automatically update with the current value, known
as the working setpoint. The setpoint can be seen by pressing either the UP and DOWN key.
The Setpoint ramp rate operates when the bath is heating and cooling.

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Instrument Address
The controller has a configurable "address" which is used for PC communications. Each instrument has an address;
this allows several instruments to be connected in parallel on the same communications bus. The default value is 1.
This address would only need to be changed if more than one Bath is connected to the same PC port.
To check the Address value press the scroll key until the lower display indicates,
ADDR
The upper display will show the current value that can be modified with the UP and DOWN keys.
MONITORING THE CONTROLLER STATUS
A row of beacons indicate the controllers status as follows,
Medium Version
Output 1 (op1)
Heater –shows when the heater is active, seen to pulse to display heater output
REM
This beacon indicates activity on the PC interface
Output 2 (op2)
Full cooling –When illuminated shows full cooling and the by-pass valve is closed.
When not illuminated, indicates the by-pass valve is open and reduced cooling is
enabled
Output 4 (op4)
Indicates the chiller is enabled and working
Low version
Output 1 (op1)
Heater –shows when the heater is active, seen to pulse to display heater output
REM
This beacon indicates activity on the PC interface
Output 2 (op2)
Not used
Output 4 (op4)
Indicates the refrigeration is in full cooling mode
Units
The units can be changed from °C. Press the scroll key until the lower displays shows
UNITS
Use the UP and DOWN keys to select the desired display unit.

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OVER TEMPERATURE CONTROLLER (H MODEL ONLY)
This device is an important safety feature. It has its own temperature sensor and will isolate the heater if the
temperature exceeds the set temperature. It should be set slightly higher, perhaps 10 –20°C higher than the
working temperature or to the maximum safe temperature of the fluid in use. Whichever is the lowest value. IT
MUST BE SET IN THIS WAY TO ENSURE SAFE USE OF THE BATH. Suitably set it will allow for protection
against component failure and also operator error when setting the controller, either from the front panel or
remotely from a computer.
The heat enabled beacon will be lit when the over-temperature controller is in safe mode.
Set the desired value on the lower display using the UP and DOWN keys.
OVER AND UNDER TEMPERATURE CONTROLLER (M & L MODEL ONLY)
The M and L models have a low temperature trip in addition to a high temperature trip. The low temperature trip
will turn the chiller off and can be used to safe guard water triple point cells or the liquid in the bath from freezing.
The high trip will isolate the heater if the bath temperature exceeds the set value.
Set the High Trip value to a suitable value, perhaps 10 –20°C higher than the operating temperature but lower
than the flash point of the liquid. Set this value into the A1 Hi Parameter.
Set the Low Trip value to a suitable value, perhaps the minimum safe operating temperature for the calibration
into the A2 Lo Parameter.
To access these parameters press the scroll key until they appear on the lower display and modify the value shown
on the top display with the up and down keys.
OVER TEMPERATURE CONDITION
In the unlikely event of an over temperature or under temperature condition the Orion will go to Alarm condition.
Depending which of the alarms has been triggered the unit will either disable the heater or the cooler accordingly.
The Temperature Policeman controller will identify which alarm has been triggered by the scrolling lower display.
The message will read as follows:
OVERTEMPERATURE CONDITION –ATTENTION REQUIRED
UNDERTEMPERATURE CONDITION –ATTENTION REQUIRED
The respective illuminated beacon will also switch off.
To reset the heater or cooler, the condition must be removed, that is the temperature must be restored to the
correct value by either waiting for the temperature to normalise, or by resetting the controller to a more suitable
value. The controller will need to be reset manually, even if the controller is switched off, it will still power up
again in the alarm condition until reset.

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To reset the controller, ensure the temperature for both over and under temperature is safe then press both the
PAGE button and the SCROLL button simultaneously, you may need to press these buttons twice , once to clear
the alarm and once to reset, in order to resume normal operating mode. The scrolling warning display will
disappear and the illuminated beacon light up.

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OPERATION AND INITIAL TESTING
Set the bath up as described in the earlier “Setting up Section”. For convenience it is suggested that a newly
received bath should be tested at 50°C with water as the operating liquid.
Connect the bath to the supply and switch on.
1. Set the over temperature controller to a suitable value, see earlier.
2. Set the set-point of the temperature controller to the desired value (50.0°C).
3. Ensure correct operation of the bath.

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CHOICE OF LIQUIDS
The choice of liquid is important. If it is too viscous at the operating temperature then the bath may not perform
correctly. Other criteria also need to be met, such as safety, operating range and fume emission for example.
Isotech is able to supply a number of fluids for various temperature ranges, refer to Solutions for Primary &
Secondary Laboratories, Volume 1.
Unfortunately, there is not one fluid which can be used over the whole operating range of the bath.
Beware of oils that are claimed to work from below ambient to over 100°C. Whilst we do not supply or
recommend such liquids, others do. It is our experience that such oils absorb moisture from the air when used
below the dew point. Then at temperatures around 100°C this moisture boils and can lead to the oil spilling from
the top of the bath. Even without the boiling risk, the oil is soon spoilt by the ingressions of moisture and the oil
has to be replaced regularly, which can be an expensive task. It will be seen that when changing fluids from say
water to oil that it is important that ALL the water has been removed before adding the oil.
As oils approach their upper operating limit fumes become significant and fume extraction becomes essential.
Isothermal Technology manufactures a Fluidised Alumina Bath, the 875 Bath which overcomes the limitations of
oils and may be used to 700°C without fuming problems.
Below ambient we use a mixture of methanol and water. Methanol is poisonous and has a low flash point. It needs
to be used very carefully by those suitably trained and aware of the dangers if handled inappropriately. As local
safety requirements vary not only from country to country but also from organisation to organisation the safety
aspects of these fluids should be determined with the user’s safety officer.
LIQUID LEVEL
All liquids expand as they are heated and contract when they cool.
The bath has been designed to allow for varying liquid volumes and also features an overflow system which
prevents the liquid from spilling from the top of the bath.
The overflow will be seen on the top right of calibration tube. Ensure at the operating temperature the level is
within 10-70mm of the overflow opening.
Ensure at all time that the liquid level is kept at the correct level and that the liquid is circulating around the bath. If
the level falls excessively the flow will stop with a consequence of large temperature gradients. If a liquid is being
used close to its flash point a hazard could then occur.

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CHANGING LIQUIDS
If possible it is best to plan so that liquids do not need to be frequently changed. This may be achieved by liquid
choice, determining convenient calibration points or having more than one bath - each with a different liquid to
cover the routine calibration range.
To change the liquid,
1. Disconnect from the supply.
2. Ensure the liquid is at a safe handling temperature. Neither too hot nor too cool then open the drain tap.
3. Drain the liquid into clean containers of adequate capacity, properly labelled for future use.
4. Clean the bath. Detergent and absorbent paper will assist. If the bath has been used with an oil, it can be
helpful to re fill with water and detergent and to allow the mixture to circulate before draining again.
5. Close the tap.

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USING THE COOLING COIL
The Orion has an internal cooling coil fitted (see picture on page 12). Access for the cooling coil is via two
bulkhead fittings on the rear panel.
Water passed through the coil will substantially reduce the cooling time. To avoid any hazard from the expansion
of water to steam do not use water at temperatures in excess of 100°C and ensure water is drained from the coil
before setting the Bath above 100°C.