What's New . . .

Jan 2005

Model 20LC Low Temperature COOL Source

The new Model 20 LC is the first temperature calibrator to reach -40ºC (-40ºF)   in a normal lab environment without employing refrigerants.  The unit's multi-stage solid state cooling elements are arranged in a unique design which removes heat from the cooling block in a highly efficient manner.

Heretofore, there were two common methods to test temperature sensors at -40ºC: 1) a liquid bath cooled by a compressor, or 2) a metal block calibrator that itself is in a cooled environment near 0ºC.  The Model 20LC is a metal block that reaches -40ºC at a normal lab environment of 23ºC (73.4ºF).

The Model 20LC joins the Model 20 family of instruments which includes COOL and HEAT Sources in one instrument.  A dual module system with simultaneous cooling and heating is a significant advantage because temperature sensors are rarely tested at only one temperature.  The user may now test at -40ºC (-40ºF) and at a temperature up to 700ºC (129ºF), thereby characterizing the temperature sensor's offset and gain errors.

The applications are military and petrochemical where -40ºC is the typical environmental test limit, pharmaceuticals, the food industry, automotive, and chemical processing.