Operation With Earth-Grounded Cells And Auxiliary Apparatus; Temperature And Ventilation - Gamry Instruments Interface 1000 Operator's Manual

Chapter 1: Safety Considerations--Operation with Earth-grounded Cells and Auxiliary Apparatus
The Interface 1000 contains surge suppressors that limit the voltage difference between the Interface
1000's chassis ground and earth ground to about 28 V. These surge suppressors are not part of the safety
mechanisms in the Interface 1000. Instead they are present to limit the possibility of improper instrument
operation or instrument damage caused by electrostatic discharge (static electricity) and other surge events
such as lightning.

Operation with Earth-grounded Cells and Auxiliary Apparatus

As described above, the Interface 1000 circuitry is isolated from earth ground, allowing it to make
measurements on cells that include an earth ground. This ground isolation is often called floating operation.
Cells with earth ground include many autoclaves, pipelines and storage tanks, and many fuel cell systems.
Connection of the Interface 1000 to auxiliary apparatus will often earth-ground the Interface 1000,
destroying its ability to float and make measurements on earth-grounded cells. Connection of the Monitor
Connector to an oscilloscope is an example where the instrument is earthed.
The User I/O connector can be connected to earth-grounded apparatus without earth-grounding the
Interface 1000, if the cabling is done carefully. The metal shell on the Interface 1000 User I/O Connector
is connected to the instrument's chassis, which is a floating ground. In a system that needs isolation from
earth ground, the shield of a User I/O cable must not connect the D-connector's metal shell to earth
ground. Reference all User I/O signals to pin 6 of the D-connector, which is an earth ground on the
Interface 1000.
Caution: Floating operation of the Interface 1000 can be compromised by improper
cables to your I/O Connector. We do not recommend use of standard 15-pin shielded cables with this
connector. Custom cables with the shield connected to pin 6 of the D-connector are preferred.

Temperature and Ventilation

Your Interface 1000 Potentiostat/Galvanostat/ZRA was designed for indoor use at ambient temperatures
between 0C and 45C.
The Interface 1000 uses forced air-cooling to keep the Interface 1000 components within their operating
temperature range. Most of the air needed to cool the Interface 1000 enters the chassis through holes in its
bottom plate. Some air also enters the chassis from small slots on the right side of the chassis (as viewed
from the front of the instrument).
The fan within the Interface 1000 has two operating speeds with different audible noise levels. The
Interface 1000 normally operates with the lower speed, quieter fan setting. The fan switches to a higher
speed when the Interface 1000's internal heat-sink gets hotter than 50C.
The cooling air flows through a heat sink mounted inside the chassis. The air exits through a large array of
slots on the left side of the instrument.
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