FAQ
Technical and commercial questions we are asked before an order — selection, lead times, electrical standards, calibration records and support.
Selection
When do I need a drying oven instead of a cabinet?
A cabinet holds a stable, low-humidity environment for storage. An oven actively drives moisture out of a load with heat — it is for bake-out, curing, drying reagents and accelerated moisture removal, not for keeping parts dry afterwards. The YSHG range is forced-air convection with PID control, from 30 L bench units to 960 L floor models, with a timer from 1 to 9999 minutes. Temperature uniformity is within ±2.5% measured at 100 °C, fluctuation ±1.0 °C and resolution 0.1 °C. Most production lines end up with both: an oven to dry the incoming load, and a cabinet to keep it dry until use.
How do I choose between a moisture-proof cabinet and a nitrogen cabinet?
Choose by what actually damages the part. A moisture-proof cabinet (YSM) controls humidity, which is enough for the great majority of storage: components, PCBs, optics and general stock all degrade mainly because of moisture. A nitrogen cabinet (YSN) additionally displaces oxygen with nitrogen, which matters when the failure mode is oxidation rather than damp — bare metals, solder pastes, powders and some semiconductor materials. Both series share the same chassis, shelf ratings and ESD option, so the decision is about atmosphere, not build quality. If you are unsure, tell us the material and the failure you are trying to prevent and we will confirm which atmosphere it needs.
Which humidity grade should I specify — A, B or C?
The YSM series comes in three grades, identified by the letter in the model number: Grade A — 20–60% RH. General component and stock storage. Prevents mould, condensation and the solderability loss that comes from sitting in humid air. Grade B — 10–20% RH. For parts with moderate moisture sensitivity: finished PCBs, connectors and optical components. Grade C — 1–10% RH. For the most sensitive work — IC trays, wafers, precision optics and lithium cells — where 10% RH is still too wet. Matching the grade to the part matters in both directions: over-drying wastes capacity on materials that do not need it. If a specification names a humidity window, we build to that window instead.
What capacity do I need for SMT reel storage?
As a practical guide: 100–160 L covers a single workstation or bench-top reel storage; 240–320 L suits one or two engineers or a lab stock; 450–540 L is department level, holding mixed sizes across three shelves; 730–880 L is high-volume staging beside the line; and 1430 L is a production-floor cabinet that takes full trolleys of trays. Two things to check before ordering a large cabinet: the door opening (and whether the trolley actually passes through it) and the ceiling height, since models from 730 L upward are over 1.8 m tall. External and internal dimensions for every model are in the datasheet.
Installation & operation
How long does a cabinet take to reach its set humidity?
Pull-down time depends on the grade, the load inside, how much moisture the load itself is carrying, and the ambient conditions where the cabinet is installed. A cabinet switched on empty settles much faster than one loaded with moisture-bearing material. Rather than quote a single figure that would not apply to your situation, we prefer to work it out: tell us the material, the quantity, the starting conditions and the grade, and an engineer will give you a realistic expectation along with the quotation.
Does a nitrogen cabinet need a nitrogen supply on site?
Yes. A YSN cabinet works by displacing oxygen with nitrogen, so it needs a nitrogen line available at the installation point. The cabinet itself still dehumidifies to 1–60% RH, so it remains a humidity-controlled store even between purges. Tell us your available supply (purity, pressure, whether it is already piped to the location) when you enquire and we will confirm the connection requirement for the model you are considering.
Can the humidity setpoint be adjusted?
The setpoint is adjustable within the range of the grade you ordered. The grade defines the window the cabinet is built and calibrated for — a grade C cabinet is specified to hold 1–10% RH, so it will not hold 30% RH as a matter of course. If your process needs different windows at different times, tell us before ordering: in several cases a single grade covers the requirement once we understand the full cycle.
Technical specifications
What humidity range can a YSM cabinet hold?
The YSM series spans 1–60% RH across its three grades: A holds 20–60% RH, B holds 10–20% RH and C holds 1–10% RH. Every grade is available across the full capacity range, so a 100 L bench unit and a 1430 L production cabinet can be specified to the same humidity window. Control accuracy is ≤ ±3% RH, and the display covers 0–99% RH. Temperature is displayed over −9 to 99 °C to ±1 °C but is not actively controlled — these are humidity cabinets.
How accurate is the humidity control?
The specified accuracy is ≤ ±3% RH, with a display range of 0–99% RH. That figure describes the spread around the setpoint once the cabinet has stabilised, not the pull-down time. Real-world stability depends on how often the door is opened, the load inside, and the ambient conditions in the room. Cabinets used continuously with the door open are better served by the optional fast-purge configuration, which we can quote.
What is the difference between the standard model and the F version?
The F suffix denotes the anti-static build. In the standard model the cabinet is finished in ivory white; the F version uses a blue-grey finish and holds surface resistivity between 10⁶ and 10⁹ Ω, with a 1 MΩ earth lead fitted as standard. Everything else is shared: the same door lock, 5 mm tempered glass window, cold-rolled steel body, LCD display, sensor and dehumidifier. The F build is what you specify when handling ESD-sensitive components, where a static discharge would do the damage that the humidity control is preventing.
What power supply do the cabinets require?
The cabinets auto-sense mains voltage and accept AC 110 V or 220 V at 50 or 60 Hz, so the same unit works on either supply without a step-down transformer or an internal change. Power draw is modest and depends on capacity and grade — a 100 L grade A cabinet draws 10 W, while the largest 1430 L grade C cabinet draws 78 W. The figure for each model is listed in the specification table. The ovens are different: models up to 240 L run on single-phase AC 220 V, and from 420 L upward on three-phase AC 380 V.
How much weight can each shelf carry?
Shelf load ratings rise with cabinet size: 20 kg per shelf at 100–160 L, 30 kg at 240 L, 40 kg at 320 L, 50 kg at 450–730 L, 60 kg at 880 L and 100 kg at 1430 L. The number of shelves also increases with capacity — from one shelf in the 100 L models to five in the 730 L and larger units, giving up to six storage tiers. If your load is denser than the standard rating, tell us the weight and we will confirm what the frame can take or specify reinforcement.
Maintenance
Does the dehumidifier require regular maintenance?
The dehumidifier is a solid-state unit with no compressor, so it needs no consumable service. The routine that keeps performance stable is about the cabinet as a whole: keep the door gasket clean and undamaged so the seal holds, keep the interior free of dust, and leave reasonable clearance around the cabinet for airflow. If the displayed humidity starts drifting from the setpoint under the same conditions, that is the signal to check the gasket first. Spare parts are stocked — tell us the model and we will supply the correct item.
How often should the sensor be calibrated?
Calibration intervals are normally set by your own quality system rather than by the cabinet: an ISO 9001 or customer-audited process usually defines how often instruments must be verified. A common starting point is annual verification against a reference, adjusted to whatever your audit actually requires. Tell us your calibration requirement when ordering and we will confirm what documentation accompanies the unit.
Documentation
Can you provide a test or calibration report?
Tell us which report your process or audit needs and we will confirm what can be supplied with the unit. Documentation requirements vary a great deal between industries, and we would rather answer against your actual specification than list generic documents. Anything we do publish is listed in the document library, and documents are added there as they are released.
Storage & applications
Are the cabinets suitable for storing lithium batteries?
Low-humidity storage is standard practice for lithium cells and battery components, where moisture uptake degrades both the electrolyte and the electrode materials. Grade C (1–10% RH) is the usual specification for this work, and a nitrogen cabinet is common where oxidation of bare lithium or current-collector foils is also a concern. One point to be clear about: a dry cabinet controls humidity and atmosphere. It is not a fire-rated or explosion-proof enclosure, and it is not a substitute for the safety controls your process requires. Tell us the cell format and quantity and we will confirm the right configuration.
Can the cabinets be used in a cleanroom?
Yes — the cabinet is a closed steel enclosure with a tempered glass window and an internal dehumidifier, so it does not add particles to the room. Stainless steel and acrylic body constructions are available as options where the cleanroom protocol calls for them. If your facility has a specific particle or outgassing requirement, tell us the class and the applicable standard and we will confirm the build that satisfies it.
What are the cabinet body and shelves made of?
The body is cold-rolled steel with a 5 mm tempered glass viewing window and a mechanical door lock as standard. Shelves are steel with the load rating listed per capacity. Stainless steel and acrylic body options are available where corrosion resistance or cleanroom compatibility matters, and keypad or mechanical code locks can replace the standard lock for controlled-access situations.
Ready to discuss your requirement?
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