Seed Storage

These two charts answer different halves of the same question: what chamber fits your biology, and how will it behave at your setpoints? The specification table tells you what each unit can physically deliver—height, usable area, tiers, airflow geometry, light intensity, and temperature range. That’s the lens for protocol fit and throughput. The low-temperature chart then explains the refrigeration reality at those settings: when fresh air is off limits, how defrost cycles affect stability below +8 °C, and which strategies (sequential defrost, dual refrigeration) keep spikes from touching your samples. Read them together and you’ll see both the capability and the operating envelope.

• Throughput vs. biology: CG1000 is a density machine: 5.38 ft² per tier × up to 20 tiers ≈ 108 ft² of tray surface in a 29.2 ft³ cabinet. CA1000-IN and CA1000-TC each provide 22.6 ft² over 4 tiers (~5.65 ft² per shelf) for incubation and culture work. CA1000-PG gives 42 in of headroom for tall phenotypes; CA1000-AR balances 11.3 ft² with 18 in height for model organisms.
   
• Airflow direction matters: “→” = horizontal flow across trays (best for uniform germination and stacked layers). “↑” = vertical flow through canopy (best for tall plants; reduces stratification).
   
• Light intensity = intent: 125–225 µmol (IN/TC) supports incubation and culture without overstimulating metabolism; 200 µmol (CG1000) is calibrated for germination; 500–700 µmol (AR/PG) supports active photosynthesis and growth. Choose the chamber by the PPFD your protocol actually requires.
   
• Lights ON/OFF temperature lines indicate the controller compensates for lamp heat load. Use the ON value for photoperiod work; OFF for dark cycles. The CG1000’s 4–40°C ON/OFF range covers pre-chill through warm germination; CA1000s hold 4–45°C ON / 4–40°C OFF for broader physiology.

• No fresh air below 4°C: below this, outside air invites coil freeze and dew-point excursions. Run recirculating air and temper any makeup air upstream.
   
• Defrost behavior: if you set < +8°C, expect defrost-related temperature spikes. Mitigations shown here are practical:
   
  • Sequential defrost staggers multi-evaporator thaw cycles to avoid a single large spike.
     
  • Dual refrigeration alternates evaporators (one cooling, one defrosting) or runs both to pull down to setpoint, improving stability and providing redundancy.
     
• Ultra-low operation: systems capable of –10°C lights ON are for short-lived or high-value material before deep storage; plan handling to avoid condensation when moving between rooms.

Turn specs into reproducible biology by selecting on three axes—height/area, PPFD, airflow—then confirm the temperature/defrost strategy matches your protocol window. If you’re working near +2 °C or below +8 °C, plan for recirculation (no fresh air), map temperatures under load, and verify dew-point margin during defrost. For ultra-low work, choose systems that can alternate cooling/defrost or run in tandem to hold setpoint. Finally, lock it in with SOPs: sensor placement, acceptance criteria, and alarm thresholds tied to your biology (germination, culture, or growth). When chamber capability and refrigeration behavior align, you get what matters—stable microclimates, clean data, and protected collections.