GELF POD INCUBATOR
OPERATIONS MANUAL
FOR MODEL
GELF601
PO Box 715
Marietta, OH 45750
800-648-3042  740-373-6809
Fax 740-374-3760
www.caronproducts.com
service@caronproducts.com
Dear Valued Customer:
Thank you for purchasing CARON Products & Services equipment. We appreciate your
business and look forward to being your preferred supplier of controlled environment
equipment products in the future.
At CARON, we are committed to continuous quality improvement. Our goal is to supply
our customers with highly reliable equipment at a fair price. In order to openly monitor
our performance, we would appreciate your feedback on our products and services.
If you have questions, or any suggestions for improvement based on the installation or
operation of the equipment you have purchased, please contact our service department
at service@caronproducts.com or 740-373-6809.
Thanks again for your business!
GELF601 Operations Manual
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1 – Warranty Information ..................................................................... 4
Section 2 – Equipment Overview ...................................................................... 7
Section 3 – Equipment Installation ................................................................... 8
Unpacking
Choosing a Location
Preliminary Cleaning
Adjust Door Tension
Connecting a CO2 Supply
Connecting Electrical Power
Section 4 – Equipment Operation ................................................................... 12
Setting the CO2 flow-rate
Gelf Pod
Section 5 – Preventive Maintenance .............................................................. 14
Section 6 – Specifications ............................................................................... 15
Section 7 – Electrical Schematic .................................................................... 16
GELF601 Operations Manual
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SECTION 1- WARRANTY INFORMATION
EQUIPMENT LIMITED WARRANTY
Please review this section before requesting warranty service. At CARON, one of our primary goals is to provide
customers with high levels of personal service and top quality products, delivered on time, backed by technical
service and supported for the life of the product.
Before contacting us for warranty service, please be aware that there are repairs that are not covered under
warranty.
WARRANTY DEFINED
Caron Products & Services, Inc. (herein after CARON) hereby warrants that equipment manufactured by
CARON is free from defects in materials and workmanship when the equipment is used under normal operating
conditions in accordance with the instructions provided by CARON.
COVERED:
• Parts and labor for a period of two (2) years from date of shipment.
• Any part found defective will be either repaired or replaced at CARON's discretion, free of charge, by CARON
in Marietta, OH. Parts that are replaced will become the property of CARON.
• If CARON factory service personnel determine that the customer's unit requires further service, dependent of
the model involved, CARON may, at its sole discretion, provide a service technician to correct the problem, or
require the return of the equipment to the factory or authorized service depot.
• CARON will have the right to inspect the equipment and determine the repairs or replacement parts
necessary. The customer will be notified, within a reasonable time after inspection, of any costs incurred that
are not covered by this warranty prior to initiation of any such repairs.
NOT COVERED:
• Improper installation; including electrical service, gas and water supply tubing, gas supplies, room ventilation,
unit leveling, facility structural inadequacies or ambient conditions that are out of specification.
• Cost of express shipment of equipment or parts.
• Any customer modifications of this equipment, or any repairs undertaken without the prior written consent of
CARON, will render this limited warranty void.
• CARON is not responsible for consequential, incidental or special damages; whether shipping damage or
damages that may occur during transfer to the customer’s point of use. When the equipment is signed for at the
customer’s site, ownership is transferred to the customer. Any damage claims against the shipping company
become the responsibility of the customer.
• Repairs necessary because of the equipment being used under other than normal operating conditions or for
other than its intended use.
• Repair due to the customer's failure to follow normal maintenance instructions.
• Parts considered consumable; including: light bulbs, filters, gases, etc.
• Damage from chemicals or cleaning agents detrimental to equipment materials.
• Force Majeure or Acts of God.
This writing is a final and complete integration of the agreement between CARON and the customer. CARON
makes no other warranties, express or implied, of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose or otherwise,
with respect to the goods sold under this agreement. This warranty cannot be altered unless CARON agrees to
an alteration in writing and expressly stated herein shall be recognized to vary or modify this contract.
Ohio Law governs this warranty.
GELF601 Operations Manual
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EQUIPMENT INTERNATIONAL LIMITED WARRANTY
Please review this section before requesting warranty service. At CARON, one of our primary goals is to provide
customers with high levels of personal service and top quality products, delivered on time, backed by technical
service and supported for the life of the product.
Before contacting your distributor for warranty service, please be aware that there are repairs that are
not covered under warranty.
WARRANTY DEFINED
Caron Products & Services, Inc. (herein after CARON) hereby warrants that equipment manufactured by
CARON is free from defects in materials and workmanship when the equipment is used under normal operating
conditions in accordance with the instructions provided by CARON.
COVERED:
• Parts for a period of two (2) years from date of shipment.
• Any part found defective will be either repaired or replaced at CARON's or their authorized representative’s
discretion. Parts that are replaced will become the property of CARON.
• If CARON or their authorized representatives determine that the customer's unit requires further service,
CARON or the representative may, at its sole discretion, provide a service technician to correct the problem, or
require the return of the equipment to the an authorized service depot.
• CARON or their authorized representative will have the right to inspect the equipment and determine the
repairs or replacement parts necessary. The customer will be notified, within a reasonable time after inspection,
of any costs incurred that are not covered by this warranty prior to initiation of any such repairs.
NOT COVERED:
• Calibration of control parameters.
• Improper installation; including electrical service, gas and water supply tubing, gas supplies, room ventilation,
unit leveling, facility structural inadequacies or ambient conditions that are out of specification.
• Cost of express shipment of equipment or parts.
• Any customer modifications of this equipment, or any repairs undertaken without the prior written consent of
CARON, will render this limited warranty void.
• CARON and their representative are not responsible for consequential, incidental or special damages;
whether shipping damage or damages that may occur during transfer to the customer’s point of use. When the
equipment is signed for at the customer’s site, ownership is transferred to the customer. Any damage claims
against the shipping company become the responsibility of the customer.
• Repairs necessary because of the equipment being used under other than normal operating conditions or for
other than its intended use.
• Repair due to the customer's failure to follow normal maintenance instructions.
• Parts considered consumable; including: light bulbs, filters, gases, etc.
• Damage from use of improper water quality.
• Damage from chemicals or cleaning agents detrimental to equipment materials.
• Force Majeure or Acts of God.
This writing is a final and complete integration of the agreement between CARON and the customer. CARON
makes no other warranties, express or implied, of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose or otherwise,
with respect to the goods sold under this agreement. This warranty cannot be altered unless CARON agrees to
an alteration in writing and expressly stated herein shall be recognized to vary or modify this contract.
Ohio Law governs this warranty.
Caron Products & Services, Inc.
PO Box 715 · Marietta, OH 45750
740-373-6809
GELF601 Operations Manual
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INTERNATIONAL SYMBOLS AND DEFINITIONS
Danger Carbon Dioxide
Danger of suffocation (asphyxiate),
deficient in oxygen
WARNINGS
Local government may require proper disposal
GELF601 Operations Manual
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SECTION 2 – EQUIPMENT OVERVIEW
Congratulations! You have just purchased the latest technology in Gelf Pod Incubators.
Before using the equipment, familiarize yourself with key components of the product and
thoroughly read this manual.
Power switch
Cell culture vessels
(not included)
CO2 flow meter
Door handle
Removable
Gelf Pod
GELF601 Operations Manual
Power ‘on’ indicator
green lights
Page 7 of 16
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SECTION 3 – EQUIPMENT INSTALLATION
Unpacking
Your new unit has been thoroughly packaged to avoid shipping damage. However, the
unit should be fully inspected upon arrival before signing for receipt. If the package has
visual damage, make notes accordingly on the freight bill and have it signed by the
delivery company. In the event of concealed damage after the unit is uncrated, keep the
carton and packaging material. Call the shipping company within 7 days of receipt,
request inspection and retain a copy of the inspection report.
Remove all foam protective pieces from both outside and inside the incubator. Remove
any tape holding components in position during shipping.
A shipping kit is also included inside the incubator. The shipping kit includes a user’s
manual, electrical cord, & gas connection tubing.
Choosing a Location
To ensure proper operation, the unit must be located on a firm level surface. The unit
should be located in an 18°C – 25°C ambient and out of direct sunlight. A typical
location is on a lab bench or in a Bio Safety Cabinet.
The unit requires an electrical connection and a regulated pressurized CO2 supply to
operate properly. Choose a location where these facilities are or can be made available.
Preliminary Cleaning
Your new incubator was thoroughly cleaned prior to leaving the factory. It is
recommended however, to disinfect all interior surfaces with a general purpose
laboratory cleaning agent prior to using the product. After cleaning, dry all interior
components with a sterile cloth as necessary.
Chloride containing cleaners can attack and
corrode stainless steel. Cleaners with strong
acids can damage plastic components.
GELF601 Operations Manual
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Clean copper surfaces with a cleaning solution approved for copper surfaces such as
Gelf Copper Cleaner (GELFKIT). See cleaning section of manual or contact CARON
customer service for details.
Adjust door tension
Raise the door to the most open position. The door should be easily opened and remain
open without falling. If the door is too stiff when opening, use a Phillips screw driver and
turn the two hinge adjustment screws counter-clockwise. If the door falls closed when
letting go, turn the two hinge adjustment screws clockwise.
Connecting a CO2 supply
High concentrations of carbon dioxide can
cause asphyxiation. The use of CO2 monitors
and alarms is recommended for areas where
CO2 can collect.
The CO2 gas supply should be 99.5% pure and
should not contain a siphon tube. Install a 2
stage gas pressure regulator with a maximum
adjustment of 25 psi. Inlet pressure must be
regulated to 15 psi.
CO2 tank regulators are available to purchase through CARON customer service. Once
the cylinder regulator is installed, connect the outlet of the regulator to the hose barb
fitting using the tubing and clamps provided. Check the connections closely for leaks.
GELF601 Operations Manual
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CO2
connection
Rear view of unit
Electrical
connection
Connecting Electrical Power
Ensure that there is unobstructed access to the
main power plug disconnect.
The incubator runs off of 12 VDC. A universal AC power adapter is included which
plugs into 115/230 VAC, 50/60 Hz. Also included are U.S. and European connection.
As shipped from the factory, the U.S. plug is on the power supply. To change plugs,
simply press the button below the prongs of the plug and push straight up on the prongs.
U.S. plug
adapter
European
plug adapter
Push here to
release plug
The unit requires a dedicated electrical outlet. See
specific power required and connection.
GELF601 Operations Manual
Push straight up on
prongs to remove
plug
table below for model
Page 10 of 16
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Plug
U.S. Plug
European Plug
Power Requirements
115V, 60Hz, 16A FLA
230V, 50Hz, 8A FLA
Plug Connection
NEMA 5-20
CEE 7/7
When the required electrical connection is available, plug the provided power cord into
the unit and the electrical outlet.
GELF601 Operations Manual
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SECTION 4 – EQUIPMENT OPERATION
Turn on the power switch on the front-left side of the incubator. The Caron logo should
illuminate with green LED’s and will be on when the unit is on. The copper plates in the
bottom of the incubator will begin to warm up keeping product around 37C.
CO2 flow setting
Adjust the flow meter for the correct amount of CO2 into the Gelf Pod Incubator.
Recommended flow settings are 0.08 LPM if placed on a bench (in open air) and 0.16
LPM when used in a bio-safety cabinet (forced air flow). The CO2 concentration inside
the incubator will be approximately 5%.
Do not set the flow meter above 0.2 LPM. High
concentrations of carbon dioxide can cause
asphyxiation.
In Bio-safety
cabinet: 0.16 LPM
On Bench:
0.08 LPM
GELF601 Operations Manual
Flow
adjustment
knob
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Gelf Pod
The Gelf pods are intended to be placed on the shelf of any incubator. The incubator is
kept at a controlled temperature and the pod reaches that temperature. The Gelf pod
has a large thermal storage capacity and helps maintain the desired temperature during
door openings and power outages.
An additional purpose of the Gelf pod, is to maintain product at the incubator
temperature even when removed from the incubator. The pod will keep product warm
for a few minutes when placed on a bench. When used in conjunction with the Gelf
incubator, the pod keeps product warm for longer periods of time. This would include
processes such as feeding & harvesting cells performed in a bio-safety cabinet.
The gelf pods are multi purposed both in how they are used and the cell culture vessels
that they hold. They are designed to hold a wide range of sizes of t-flasks, Petri dishes
and micro titer plates on them. The gelf incubator will hold product stacked 4.5 inches
(11.5 cm). The pod top inside dimensions for placing product is 5 in x 17 in (13 cm x 43
cm).
GELF601 Operations Manual
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SECTION 5 – PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE
Your CARON incubator is robustly designed to minimize performance problems.
However, regular maintenance is very important for continuous trouble free operation.
Recommended Daily Maintenance Checks
 Check the CO2 tank levels
 CO2 flow meter setting
Recommended Monthly Maintenance Checks
 Verify Gelf incubator copper heating plates are warm
 Gelf Incubator door stays open. Adjust door hinge tension screws if necessary.
Recommended Annual Maintenance Checks
 Disinfect all surfaces with a general purpose laboratory cleaning agent.
 Clean copper with an approved copper cleaner such as Gelf Copper Cleaner
 Perform checks of the temperature and CO2 systems.
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SECTION 6 – SPECIFICATIONS
Temperature
CO2
Exterior Construction
Interior Dimensions
Exterior Dimensions
Electrical
Unit Weight
Surface Construction
Insulation
Dimensions
Unit Weight
GELF601 Operations Manual
Gelf Pod Incubator
Around 37°C
Metered
Stainless steel with clear, acrylic door
6.4” D x 5.6” W x 18.3” H
(16 cm x 14 cm x 46.5 cm)
20.6” L x 7” W x 7” H
(52 cm x 18 cm x 18 cm)
12VDC, 1.5A max
115V/230V 50/60Hz power supply
10 lbs (without pod)
Gelf Pod
Antimicrobial copper
Proprietary gel active insulation
formulated for 37°C
17.1” L x 5.3” W x 0.8” H
(43 cm x 13 cm x 2 cm)
3 lbs
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SECTION 7 – ELECTRICAL SCHEMATICS
GELF601 Operations Manual
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