Compatibility of Lab Armor Beads with Non-Lab Armor Baths

When converting a third-party water bath into a bead bath by adding Lab Armor Beads, the water bath must heat to the set temperature and maintain a constant temperature. The designs of some baths make them incompatible for use with Lab Armor Beads. Some customers may experience issues when trying to use Lab Armor Beads in their old water baths. Common problems are discussed below.

Types of Baths and the Concerning Problems

Shallow Form Baths

Moving air wicks heat away from the surface of Lab Armor Beads. The routine removal of the bath’s lid during normal operations produces too much heat loss. There is insufficient thermal mass in 1-2 inches of Lab Armor Beads for the bath to optimally recover.

Deep Tub Water Baths

Water baths with tub depths greater than approximately 8 inches are usually incompatible with Lab Armor Beads. The location of the heating element and its proximity to the thermostat is often too great, which causes the element and beads to overheat. The over-temperature control unit of the bath may shut off the bath, or sometimes the bath will continuously cycle between temperatures above and below the set point.

Circulating Water Baths

Mechanical water pumps are not compatible with beads.

Shaking Water Baths

General mechanical movement is not compatible with beads.

Metal Cover Plate in the Bottom of Older Style Water Baths

May be able to convert by filling the spaces below and above the cover plate with beads.

Empty Spaces?

Steps to fill the spaces below and above the cover plate with Beads:

Identify the cover plate.
Switch the bath to the OFF position, unplug, and empty the water.
Remove the metal base plate to uncover the thermostat or heating element.
Clean the bath thoroughly with soap and water. Rinse tub with 70% ethanol and allow to completely dry.
Clean the metal base plate thoroughly with soap and water. Rinse with 70% ethanol and allow to completely dry.
Once completely dry, first fill the space beneath the metal base plate with Lab Armor Beads then replace the plate.
Fill the bath to 3/4 volume with Beads.

Known Compatible Water Baths

Steps to fill the spaces below and above the cover plate with Beads:

Thermo-Fisher Scientific: Isotemp and Precision Series
Precision Scientific: All General Purpose Series
PolyScience: PolyScience : All General Purpose Series
Grant Instruments: All General Purpose Series
VWR: All General Purpose Series
Sheldon Manufacturing: All General Purpose Series
Lab Companion: All General Purpose Series
New Brunswick: All General Purpose Series
Lab-Line: All General Purpose Series
Buchi Heating Baths: All General Purpose Series
Boekel : All General Purpose Series

Known Incompatible Water Baths

Julabo – SW and TW Series: Dry-running protection system interferes with bead bath setup and prevents continuous operation.
Ratek - WB4, 7, 14, 20 Analog Series and WB4D, 7D, 14D, 20D Digital Series. For safety, a manual reset cut-out disconnects power to the element if the water level falls too low.