The following jobs fall under the purview of the current Incubator Czar.
Current Incubators#
Each incubator was named after a character from the 1989 cult classic Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure.
Bill#
- 25*C, 8am-8pm
- Temp/Humidity Control - house air/water
Ted#
- 25*C, 4am-4pm
- Temp/Humidity Control - house air/water
Joan of Arc [primary]#
- 25*C, 8am-8pm
- Temp/Humidity Control - house air/water
So-Crates#
- 18*C, 8am-8pm
- Temp/Humidity Control - water pan
Maintenance#
- The incubators should be cleaned every 6-12 months.
- The transducer used by the humidifiers is a consumable, and should usually be replaced every 1-2 years.
Cleaning#
Darwin Chambers suggests using white vinegar for cleaning. Gloves should be worn at all times.
- Temporarily remove all fly boxes from the incubator
- Turn the incubator off (temperature/humidity/clock settings will not be disrupted)
- Remove each incubator shelf and discard the old mite paper. Then wipe each shelf down and attach a fresh sheet of mite paper.
- Thoroughly wipe down every interior surface of the incubator.
- Inspect the fan/heating unit by unscrewing the fans.
- If mold is visible, carefully wipe down the inside of the unit while avoiding any electronics/wires
- Wipe down the drip pan
- Ensure that the drip pan outflow clog-free
- Clean the humidifier
- Unplug the transducer power element, then remove all other connections
- The humidifiers are highly prone to mold outbreaks given their… well high humid conditions
- In a lab sink, thoroughly soak and wipe down the humidifier chamber
- Replace the transducer if necessary
Shelving#
Incubator Czar should ensure that shelves are assigned and updated according to the needs of the lab.
Mites#
While a few mites here and there is nothing to be concerned about, mite infestations can become an issue quite rapidly if left unchecked. If you think there might be a mite issue, here are some variables to check:
- Are the mites only found in one person’s box or can they be found across multiple boxes and shelves? This will tell you whether the issue is local (one person’s poorly kept stocks) or global (infestation), respectively.
- Are the mites only found within fly vials or can they be found throughout the incubator? To test this, wipe the base of the incubator with a paper towel and look at it under a microscope. If you see mites, this would strongly suggest that they have migrated out of the vials and are now living throughout the incubator.
What to do if there is a mite issue:
- Request that all incubators flip their stocks to fresh vials. Depending on how bad the issue is, it can be helpful to continue flipping to fresh vials every day or every other day until the issue is resolved.
- Take out all the shelves and remove the existing mite paper. Wipe down the inside of the incubator and each shelf with ethanol. Re-cover the shelves with fresh mite paper.
- Note: the high-heat of the incubator will likely vaporize the ethanol, avoid breathing in too many fumes
- In general, it can be helpful to replace the mite paper every 6-12 months
Humidifier Requirements#
- Water Pressure - roughly 10PSI
- Ensure that all water lines are connected via push-to-connect tubing that closes if disconnected, in order to avoid accidental flooding.
- Water Quality - filter should be replaced every (ASK SLEBODA)
- Chamber - ultrasonic humidifier chamber should be cleaned once a year (fall)
Changing the Time#
To change the time set on the Darwin Incubators (e.g., after daylight savings changes), check the Digital Timer. Hit “MENU” (this should bring you to h format), then “OK” (this should bring you to the set time). Then use the +/- buttons to change the time. Hit “MENU” again to exit.
If you need to change the light-cycle, see the manual below (essentially you keep going through the MENU options).
Changing the Temperature & Humidity Settings#
To change the temperature on the Darwin Incubators use the arrows on the displays to change the smaller number, the “Set Value” (SV). The “Process Value” (PV) will eventually reach this number. If it is a large change, however, it may trigger an alarm that occurs when the PV deviates from the SV by some amount for a duration. You can change this duration and the deviation using the other buttons on the temperature or humidity controllers (instructions are in the manual below), or just restart the incubator a few times as it settles.
Note: the incubators may not perform as well at different SVs without tuning their controllers, this is easy to do automatically, just look in the manual for “Auto-Tune”.