Refillable desiccant

Fresh desiccant will keep the instrument compartment dry and prevent malfunction. Water damage may occur if condensation forms inside the instrument, especially when the instrument is opened and closed in humid environments. As a preventative measure, RBR recommends servicing the instrument in a cool, dry place (when possible). Some users will purge the instrument body with compressed (dry) air before closing it to minimize the amount of moisture left behind. The most reliable way to protect the instrument is maintaining its desiccant fresh.

The desiccant can trap small amounts of moisture, but it will become exhausted over time. 

All RBR instruments ship with fresh reusable desiccant capsules. They use a cobalt-free colour changing indicator dye.  Orange indicates fresh desiccant, while green indicates it is saturated (about 15% water by weight). Once exhausted, the capsules can be replaced with new ones (available from RBR), or refreshed.

Refreshing the desiccant

Follow the steps below to refresh the desiccant.

1. Remove the saturated silica beads from their capsule.

2. Place them in the oven and heat at 120°C (250°F) for about two hours. 

Always remove the beads from their capsule before refreshing!
The capsule will deform if heated to 120°C.

3. Take the refreshed beads out of the oven and return them to the capsule. 
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Always remove the beads from their capsule before refreshing!
The capsule will deform if heated to 120°C.

4. Wait until the silica beads cool down. Once cool, the desiccant is ready to be reused. 

See the applicable RBR instrument guides for instructions on replacing the desiccant on your instrument.