About Certification

Due to an agreement that SBS has with SBIG's authorized repair depot, SBS is able to offer sellers and buyers a unique service to facilitate the purchase and sale of used SBIG brand cameras and accessories.  In this process, the seller does not have to pay any fees up front to clean, test, repair and/or refurbish an older camera, and the buyer can purchase a used SBIG camera with confidence knowing that the camera has been newly tested and refurbished or repaired at SBIG's authorized repair depot and meets the same specs as a new camera.  For details, please see the Consignment Terms and Conditions page.  Basically the certification process includes the following, as needed:  

• Inspect and clean the camera body
• Inspect and clean the camera interior
• Inspect and clean the CCD
• Perform pressurized air "Leak Test" of CCD chamber and seal as necessary
• Identify and perform any necessary updates to electronics or ECO's (Engineering Change Orders)
• Test Ethernet and USB connections, Relays, AO, CFW, I2C and External Guide Port operation
• Test shutter operation/alignment
• Test CFW indexing
• Inspect light and dark frames
• Inspect flat field frame
• Measure Delta T performance
• Measure noise and dark current
• Bake camera to remove any residual moisture in the camera body
• Install freshly recharged desiccant
• Santa Barbara Scientific then certifies that the camera meets specs published by SBIG for make and model and print complete test report

PLEASE NOTE:  Santa Barbara Scientific (SBS) is an independent company with no legal connection to either Diffraction Limited or SBIG Service & Repair Center apart from the agreement with SBIG Service & Repair Center to provide the services outlined above.  SBIG Service & Repair Center, an independent company located in the county of Santa Barbara, California, operates under contract with Diffraction Limited as the sole authorized warranty and repair center for SBIG products.   SBIG Service & Repair Center operates independently when servicing and/or repairing used SBIG cameras that are out of warranty.  Santa Barbara Scientific and SBIG Service & Repair Center are solely responsible for representations made in connection with their certification of performance of used cameras.

Certification does not operate to renew or extend the original factory warranty on the camera, any new electronic repair performed on the used camera is however guaranteed by SBIG Service & Repair Center as follows:  Repairs (if any) to the camera's electronics or mechanics are guaranteed for 90 days.  If the chamber requires resealing it is guaranteed not to leak for six months and if a new CCD is installed it is guaranteed for one year.