Doc. N. C5574.012-E.

MUB
Data 18/01/10 Rev. B 
ISO 9001

LAB4 RK DEHYDRATOR USER MANUAL

CIBRED SUD Srl

Via Catania 2 • 00041 Albano Laziale Loc. Pavona (Rome) - Italy Neither this document nor any part of it shall be published, reproduced,
Tel. +39 069344009 (6 lines r.a.) Fax +39 069344035 copied or made known without the written authorization by Cibred Sud
www.cibred.com • e-mail: cibred@cibred.com; service@cibred.com s.r.l..
Doc. N. C5574.012-E.MU
Page Rev. B 
ISO 9001

1. FEATURES

Output pressure : factory set at 2.5 kPa

Maximum flow rate : 300 l/h
Safety valve : built in, factory set at 7 kPa 15 %
Output air dew point : better than - 40°C, @ 20°C ambient temperature,
80% Relative Humidity
Desiccant regeneration : Automatic by heating
Regeneration phase duration : 75 min
Regeneration phase interval : from 4h 30 min to 14h according to the flow rate
Alarms : power failure, high humidity, low pressure
Low pressure alarm : programmable from 0 kPa up to output pressure set
point, factory set at 1 kPa
High humidity alarm : set at 10% of relative humidity 2 %
Measures : air pressure, hour meter.
Pressure meter : full scale 6.3 kPa, resolution 0.1 kPa,
accuracy 5 % of full scale 1 digit
Led indications : power on, warning
Acoustic noise :  50 dBA at 1 m far and 1,5 m high
Enclosure degree of protection : IP20 according to IEC529
Operating temperature : -10 °C  + 50 °C
Storage temperature : -30 °C  + 60 °C
Power rating : 220/230 Vac  10% 50/60Hz
Power consumption : < 10 W (at steady state without system leakage)
< 110 W (during regeneration phase)
Dimensions : L = 482 (19”); H = 132 (3U); D = 296 mm
European Community Directives : 2004/108/EC “Electromagnetic Compatibility
Directive”
2006/95/EC “Low Voltage Directive”
Safety Normative : EN 60950-1 Safety of information technology
Electromagnetic Compatibility
Normative : EN 55022 class A and B
EN 61000-6-1
Quality assurance standard : ISO 9001
Weight (with desiccant) : 11 kg (24.25 lb.)
Air outlets : 2 air outlets, each outlet with shutoff valve
Air outlet connector : hose-tail fitting external  7 mm

PAGE 1 OF 9
Doc. N. C5574.012-E.MU
Page Rev. B 
ISO 9001

2. DESCRIPTION

The LAB4 dehydrator has been designed for continuous operation and automatic duty. It
supplies dry air up to 300 nl/h, at a dew point better than -40 °C. The output pressure is set
at 2.5 kPa.
Dry air is supplied by 2 standard independent air outlets with hose-tail on the rear panel of
the equipment. Each outlet is supplied with shutoff valve.
Air drying is performed by means of two drying towers (operating on alternate cycle) that
contain granular substances: the air flows inside the drying tower and lost most of its
molecules of water for chemical adsorption. While one tower dries the other one is
regenerated by heating and backwashing with a reverse dry air flow. An electronic
microprocessor board controls drying cycles and adjusts their duration according to air
output.
Air is compressed by two diaphragm pumps. A fundamental characteristic of the LAB4
dehydrator is the continuous tracking of the output pressure. The PWM (Pulse Width
Modulation) technique has been used to control the speed of the two pumps (one for each
drying tower), so we can reduce to a minimum pump duty, power consumption and acoustic
noise, and increase reliability (with pumps operating pressure equal to output pressure).
Pump speed control eliminates mechanical pressure regulators that introduce undesirable
pressure losses and a worst response to flow rate requirements.
The equipment is designed for 19" standard rack mounting, with a 3 units modular height.
The dehydrator does not require pre-settings nor warm-up time to start-up. It does not
require preventive maintenance. For start-up see § 3.2.
All of the components employed are not radio-active or chemically hazardous.

The following devices are located on the front panel :

• control switch and fuse holders
• liquid crystal display (2 x 16 characters) where output air pressure, hour-meter, any alarm
message and functions setting menus are displayed
• function key (see § 4)
• LED’s “POWER ON” (green) and “WARNING” (red)

On the rear panel are located :

• power supply connector
• remote alarm connector
• outlets with hose-tail and shutoff valves “V” (one for each outlet)
• M6 ground tap .

PAGE 2 OF 9
Doc. N. C5574.012-E.MU
Page Rev. B 
ISO 9001

3. INSTALLATION

The dehydrator is to be placed in the upper part of the rack without any other equipment
above.

If you cannot, it is mandatory to leave an upper free space of at least four

units from the dehydrator to the closest equipment.

After installing the dehydrator, check that all shutoff valves are in off position and that
control switch is in "" (off) position.

• Use the provided protective earthing terminal, located on the rear panel of the
LAB4RK, for safe operation when you do not have the protection wire on the power
supply cable. Use an M6 wire terminal, for the connection.
• Connect user remote alarm connector to the 25 pin reserved connector (D sub-miniature
type, in accordance with IEC48B norms [items 6 and 7]), located on the rear panel of the
dehydrator. See the following paragraph for pin function list.
• Connect the outlets to the user systems by mean of flexible pipes with appropriate
diameter using the hose-tails located on the rear panel.
• Check for correct type and rated voltage range: power rating marking is indicated on
the rear panel.

An appropriate disconnect device shall be provided as part of the building

installation. Disconnect the dehydrator from the supply for servicing.
The protection for short-circuit and ground failures of power conductors and
EMI filter is a function assigned to installation area system.

• To connect the dehydrator to the 220/230 Vac supply mains use the IEC 320 / C 14
connector placed on the rear panel of the dehydrator.
• It is recommended to use 0,75 mm2 cables. The following picture shows the ground cable
position:

PAGE 3 OF 9
Doc. N. C5574.012-E.MU
Page Rev. B 
ISO 9001

3.1 Remote alarm signalling interface

Remote alarm signalling are available by means of SPDT (Single Pole Double Throw) relay
contacts (0,5A Vac/Vdc limit shall not be exceeded).
A typical user device interconnection is shown below:

- The provided SELV (Safety Extra-Low Voltage) interface can be used with
voltages of 42 Vac or 60 Vdc.
- If alarm cabling exceed 10 m of length it is recommended the use of shielding
cable.

Remote alarm connector, 25 pin IEC48B D series, is located on the rear panel .
A list of the available warning pin connections is given in the following table. (protecting
cover must be inserted before welding the cables to the connector):

Alarm Pin Description

Low pressure 3 Close on alarm
and/or 16 Open on alarm
power off 15 Common
18 Close on alarm
High humidity 5 Open on alarm
17 Common

PAGE 4 OF 9
Doc. N. C5574.012-E.MU
Page Rev. B 
ISO 9001

3.2 First startup, switch on and switch off (see LAB4 outline)

Before proceeding to the first startup, mind to open the desiderated on/off valves located in
the internal side of the rear panel.
Switch on the dehydrator selecting the "I" control switch position: after few seconds the
pressure gauge starts indicating the output pressure.
Wait for the pressure to settle on set value; this transient state depends on the volume of the
user systems to be pressurized. The dehydrator enables the generation of warnings 20 sec.
about after any switching on; then, low pressure alarm could be activated, until the
equilibrium condition is met.
The dehydrator is automatic type and does not require any setting by the user, being all
values factory set.
On emergency or if stop is required put control switch in " O " (off) position.

Beware of high temperatures on the drying towers

(inside the dehydrator)

PAGE 5 OF 9
 Doc. N. C5574.012-E.MU
Page Rev. B 
ISO 9001

4. MENU FUNCTIONS

A low-power 8-bit microcontroller has been used. This choose with the adoption of a
display and two function keys allows user to know a large amount of information and to set
some parameters such as the pressure related ones and the warning thresholds. These data
are arranged in pages showed on the display and are user selectable by pressing the key
“ ”.
On startup the following main page1 (permanent page) is displayed. In this page the
operating gauge pressure and the hour meter value are showed:
P r e s s u r e 2 . 5 k P a
h o u r m e t e r 0 0 3 1 2
The first row indicates the operating gauge pressure (kPa). In the example showed, we read
a running measured pressure of “2.5 kPa”. The second row shows the hour meter status. The
example says the LAB4 dehydrator has been running 312 hours long.
When warning(s) is active, the indication of the hour meter status on the second row
disappears and the appropriate warning message is shot:
P r e s s u r e 1 . 0 k P a
L O W P R E S S U R E

This example says the operating gauge pressure is “1 kPa” (low pressure factory default
threshold is 1 kPa). The string “LOW PRESSURE” is the warning message related to the low
pressure condition.
Simultaneously, the red LED “WARNING” on the front panel will light.
When more than one warning is running, the strings related to the pending warnings
alternate one each other on the second row (one second clock track).

The other possible warning is:

- HIGH UMIDITY means that the output air flow has a Relative Humidity higher than 10 %.
This warning can be running at first start-up, if the dehydrator has been stocked for
weeks in humid places; in this case the alarm must disappear within 24 hours after star-
up. During normal operation, this alarm becomes active because of dehydrator failure.

1 A new page appears on the display when the key “ ” is pressed. Firmware provides an automatic return
to the main page from any implemented one (secondary pages). The timeout is fixed in one minute. At any
pressing of the key “ ”, user scrolls all the data pages implemented (secondary pages) until main page is
selected again

PAGE 6 OF 9
 Doc. N. C5574.012-E.MU
Page Rev. B 
ISO 9001

4.1. Pressure and alarm threshold settings

Note: All thresholds are factory set. Key “ ” is inside the dehydrator and accessible by
authorized personnel only.
Press the key “ ” to gain the pressure target setting menu. Display shows the following:
P r e s s u r e s e t
p o i n t : 2 . 5 k P a

The example says that the target pressure is 2.5 kPa.

Press the key “ ” (see Note) to increase the pressure target at a fixed step of 0.1 kPa.
Increment function key only is provided. When the maximum selectable value is reached (6
kPa), the minimum allowable value (0 kPa) is automatically displayed at the next key
pressing. Keeping pressed the key, the value will increase automatically.

Press the key “ ”to scroll next page and to enter the new target pressure setting2.
Press twice the key “ ” to reach Low pressure setting menu directly from the main menu:
L o w p r e s s u r e
a l a r m : 1 . 0 k P a

The example says that the low pressure alarm threshold is set at 1 kPa.
Press the key “ ” (see Note) to increase the low pressure threshold with a 0.1 kPa fixed
step. Increment function key only is provided. When the maximum value is reached (target
pressure, selected in the previous page, minus 0.1), the minimum allowable value (0 kPa) is
automatically displayed at the next key pressing. Keeping pressed the key, the value will
increase automatically.
Press the key “ ” to enter the new low pressure threshold and to go back to the main
menu.

2 in order to avoid quick changes in the operating pressure, the target pressure is not modified when in this
page

PAGE 7 OF 9
Doc. N. C5574.012-E.MU
Page Rev. B 
ISO 9001

5. CORRECTIVE MAINTENANCE AND SPARE PART

The dehydrator does not require any preventive maintenance.

In case of dehydrator failure please contact CIBRED SUD Customer Service (see first page)
and describe the failure circumstances. Instructions to discover the causes of the breakdown.
In case of servicing made by the customer itself, CIBRED SUD will supply the necessary
spare parts and mounting instructions.
If necessary, servicing do not require specialized personnel; a standard tool outfit for similar
equipments is required. In any case, no setting-up or calibration are needed.

In case of servicing, it is mandatory to keep the following in mind:

CAUTION: an appropriate disconnect device shall be provided as part of the
building installation. Disconnect the dehydrator from the supply for
servicing.

CAUTION: due to high temperatures of some parts(purposely marked) inside

the dehydrator, wait at least one hour after the switch-off, before servicing
inside.

A list of spare parts available at service stock is given in the following table:
(Note: always mention the equipment P/N or S/N on orders)

Description Cibred Sud Code

Transformer 2TTB*2237765
Humidity detector C5472
Desiccant charge K9157
Diaphragm pump 2PPBA747016S
Control board LCA C14031
Safety valve C3449.001
Heating elements K9281
Drying tower stopple K5287
Fuse 0,8A 250V H 2FFC5V80250H

PAGE 8 OF 9
Doc. N. C5574.012-E.MU
Page Rev. B 
ISO 9001

6. LAB4 OUTLINE

PAGE 9 OF 9