SHA-C Digital Water Bath Shaker

Overview

The SHA-C Digital Water Bath Shaker is a precision-engineered laboratory instrument designed for consistent thermal regulation and mechanical agitation of liquid samples in sealed vessels. Operating on the principle of water-mediated heat transfer, it maintains uniform temperature distribution across the bath chamber via integrated heating elements and PID-controlled circulation, while delivering stable reciprocal oscillation motion to facilitate suspension, dissolution, extraction, or cell culture applications. Unlike air-jacketed shakers, the water bath configuration ensures superior thermal inertia and minimal temperature fluctuation—critical for sensitive biological assays, enzyme kinetics, and microbiological incubation where thermal stability directly impacts reproducibility. The unit is engineered for continuous operation under standard laboratory conditions (20–25 °C ambient, 40–60% RH), with an aluminum alloy bath chamber resistant to corrosion from aqueous solutions and routine cleaning agents.

Key Features

• Digital PID temperature control with real-time feedback loop, enabling setpoint accuracy within ±0.3 °C and long-term drift <0.2 °C/hour
• Reciprocal oscillation mechanism with adjustable speed range (0–220 rpm), calibrated via internal tachometer and displayed on dual LED screen
• Stainless steel water bath tray (300 × 250 × 120 mm) compatible with standard Erlenmeyer flasks (50–1000 mL), test tubes, and multi-well plates using optional clamps
• Over-temperature and dry-run protection circuits automatically deactivate heating if bath level falls below safe threshold or temperature exceeds 105 °C
• Low-noise DC motor drive with sealed bearing assembly, rated for >10,000 hours MTBF under continuous 24/7 operation
• Front-accessible water fill port with level indicator and removable drain valve for maintenance-free fluid management

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The SHA-C accommodates common labware including glass and polypropylene containers up to 1 L volume. Its open-bath design supports direct immersion of sample vessels without lid interference, facilitating rapid thermal equilibration. The unit complies with IEC 61010-1:2010 for electrical safety in laboratory equipment and meets EMC requirements per EN 61326-1:2013. While not certified for use in explosion-proof environments or sterile cleanrooms (ISO 14644 Class 5+), it is routinely deployed in GLP-compliant QC laboratories for dissolution testing (USP ), microbial growth studies (ISO 8199), and reagent preparation workflows. All materials in contact with water—bath tray, heater housing, and support frame—are RoHS-compliant and free of lead, cadmium, and hexavalent chromium.

Software & Data Management

The SHA-C operates as a standalone analog-digital hybrid system with no embedded firmware or network interface. Temperature and speed values are locally displayed and manually logged; no data export, USB connectivity, or PC synchronization is supported. For regulated environments requiring audit trails, users integrate external validation tools: calibrated NIST-traceable thermistors (e.g., Fluke 1523) for temperature mapping, and optical tachometers (e.g., Extech 461923) for speed verification. When used in FDA-regulated settings (e.g., pharmaceutical QC labs), the device is typically included in equipment qualification protocols (IQ/OQ/PQ) per ASTM E2500-13, with calibration intervals defined by internal SOPs based on usage frequency and criticality of application.

Applications

• Bacterial and yeast culture expansion in liquid media (e.g., LB, YPD) at 30–37 °C with controlled aeration
• Protein solubilization and antigen-antibody binding assays requiring precise thermal-agitation coupling
• Environmental sample digestion (e.g., EPA Method 3015A) using hot acid baths with simultaneous shaking
• Standardized dissolution testing of solid dosage forms per USP Apparatus I/II simulation protocols
• Preparation of homogeneous suspensions for particle size analysis (e.g., laser diffraction or dynamic light scattering)
• Extraction of plant metabolites or nucleic acids from tissue homogenates under elevated temperature

FAQ

Is the SHA-C suitable for use with organic solvents such as ethanol or acetone?

No. The water bath chamber is designed exclusively for aqueous solutions. Organic solvents may degrade seals, corrode aluminum components, and pose fire hazards due to lack of vapor containment or explosion-proof construction.

Can the oscillation amplitude be adjusted independently of speed?

No. Amplitude is fixed at 20 mm peak-to-peak displacement. Only rotational speed (rpm) is user-adjustable via the front panel encoder.

Does the unit support external temperature probes for chamber mapping?

Not natively. The built-in sensor is embedded in the bath wall. For ISO/IEC 17025-compliant validation, third-party PT100 or thermistor probes must be inserted manually into designated ports or immersed alongside samples.

What is the recommended maintenance schedule?

Deionized water should be replaced weekly; tap water requires bi-weekly replacement with descaling every 30 days using 5% citric acid solution. Annual inspection of heater terminals and motor brushes is advised for high-utilization labs.