Utility connections are located on the right side of the lab.
For Utility Specs and Requirements, see: Radicle Lab Facility Requirements and Specifications
NOTE: Ensure Slurry Waste bag and Chemical Waste lines are installed before powering on the lab.
WATER
Connect the water supply to the 1" male banjo water inlet connection. This is commonly done using a garden hose and the included garden hose to banjo fitting adaptor (part number 784879). Other configurations and adapters are fine to use instead, as long as it is capable of supplying 1.5 gpm at 20-75psi.
Note on Water Quality: The Radicle Lab includes on-board filtering, but if the water supply is abnormally dirty, additional pre-lab filters or water softener may be required.
AIR
Connect the air supply to the lab using the male air fitting.
A locking/air release disconnect such as the one shown here makes connecting/disconnecting the air line much easier but is not required.
(5-in-ONE XSC HP Universal Industrial Safety Exhaust Couplers Milton S-1758)
The air regulator should be installed between the compressor and the lab to provide a steady regulated pressure.
Adjusting the Air Supply for Optimum Performance:
- Adjust the cut in/cut out pressure on the air compressor. Target a cut-in pressure around 150psi and cut-out pressure around 170psi.
- Use the air regulator to bring the inlet pressure down to 130-140psi at the lab.
- The pressure relief valve on the lab (near the water filters) will open around 145psi. If this happens, lower the air regulator pressure.
NOTE: Properly sized and adjusted compressor, airlines, and regulator are CRITICAL for lab operation. Undersized or unadjusted components will cause interruptions to lab operation.
TO AVOID FLOW RESTRICTIONS:
- Air regulator must be capable of >100cfm
- Fittings should be 3/8" or larger (no 1/4" fittings!)
- Air supply hose should not have coils smaller than 2ft (0.6m) in diameter
For detailed facility air recommendations, see: Radicle Lab Facility Air Requirements
CHEMICAL WASTE
Route the tubing to the waste disposal location and connect the tube to the chemical waste fitting on the lab. The chemical waste pump is responsible for pumping chemical waste from the drain pan sump through the tubing and to the waste location. Large vertical inclines or kinks in the tubing will prevent the pump from moving the liquid to the waste location.
The chemical waste is the collected and neutralized chemical, water, and slurry from the factory side of the lab. While the majority of the soil waste is disposed of through the sump pump and slurry waste, the chemical waste does include a small amount of soil.
SLURRY WASTE
Non-chemical soil waste from the soil preparation side of the lab drains into the sump pump, then is pumped out of the lab to the soil settling bag. The soil then settles to the bottom, allowing the water to run off the top. This configuration is recommended (rather than running the soil waste into a different, single container) because the lab uses about 4gal (L) water per sample, and other containers quickly fill up and require dumping. Allowing the settle out and the water to run off the top requires less maintenance and interaction.
When the soil settling bag will need to be replaced when it is full of soil.
- Assemble the Soil Settling Bag: Radicle Lab Soil Settling Bag Assembly Guide
- Connect one set of supplied 25' x 1" waste line from the lab to the soil settling bag inlet. Connect the other provided waste line to the outlet side of the bag and run it to the water run-off area.
The soil waste is pumped out of the lab and through the bag via the sump pump to the water run-off location. Vertical inclines, kinks, and long distances will prevent the pump from moving water and soil out of the lab. Running the waste line overhead or higher than the lab output can prevent the pump from moving water through the waste bag and cause the system to back up.
POWER
There are 2 power connections so the lab can be connected to a battery backup for power outages. A power splitter is supplied so that if battery backup is not being use, only one 220V power connection is needed.
Connect 220V power to both inputs using the supplied cables and/or splitters for normal operation.
ETHERNET
Radicle Lab is an IoT device and requires internet for best customer experience and troubleshooting. Offline operation of the lab is possible but not supported for extended periods of time. A hardwired internet connection via ethernet cable required.
Connect the ethernet cable to the lab via the port above the power input connections.