Owner manual

SECTION 5

MAINTENANCE OF EQUIPMENT

5.1 CARE AND HANDLING

TheplasticcomponentsoftheElectrophoreticBlottingunitsarefabricatedfromacrylicandpolycarbonate.

Electrodesandconnectorsaremadefrompureplatinum,stainlesssteel,andchromeplatedbrass.Aswithany

laboratoryinstrument,adequatecareensuresconsistentandreliableperformance.

Aftereachuse,rinsebufferchamber,cassettesandScotchBritepadswithde-ionizedwater.Wipedrywitha

softclothorpapertowel,orallowtoairdry.Whenevernecessary,allcomponentsmaybewashedgentlywith

water and a non-abrasive detergent, and rinsed and dried as above. Never use abrasive cleaners, glass cleaning

spraysorscouringpadstocleanthecomponents,asthesewilldamagetheunitandcomponents.

Additional precautions:

• Donotautoclaveordry-heatsterilizetheapparatusorcomponents.

• Donotexposetheapparatusorcomponentstophenol,acetone,benzene,halogenatedhydrocarbonsol-

vents or alcohols.

• AvoidprolongedexposureoftheapparatusorcomponentstoUVlight.

• DoNOTtreatwithdiethylpyrocarbonate(DEPC)-treatedwaterforextendedperiodsat37°C.Abriefrinse

withDEPC-waterissufcientafterathoroughwash,followedbyaquickrinsein50%ethanol.

• Electrostaticchargeandheatafxtheconductiveplatinumsurfacecoveringthetitanium.Itcanbe

scratchedoffordamagedbyusingsharpobjectsorscouringpads.Thiswilldisturbthecontinuityofthe

electriceldandhaveanegativeeffectontransfers.

• Thestainlesselectrodecanbepermanentlydamagedbycorrosionifthepolaritybetweenanodeandcath-

ode is reversed. CAUTION: Be certain of power connections before initiating transfer.

5.2 MAINTENANCE

Thefollowinginspectionandmaintenanceprocedureswillhelpmaintainthesafetyandreliableperformanceof

theBlottingsystems.Replacementpartscanbeorderedbycalling1-858-755- 4959orbycontactingyourlocal

distributor.

• Bananaplugsandpowercordsshouldbeinspectedregularly.Ifthebananaplugsbecomelooseordonot

feel friction tight replace the plugs or power cords.

• Shouldpowercordassemblies(connectors,wireorshrouds)showanysignsofwearordamage(e.g.

cracks,nicks,abrasions,ormeltedinsulation),replacethemimmediately.

• Theplatinumwireissecuredtothebananajackbycompressionbetweenastainlesswasherandthejack

nut. The nut/washer interface should be tight and free of corrosion.