Manual

14
Horizontal Mini-Gel Instructions 9-12-13
SECTION 5
Maintenance of Equipment
5.1 Care and Handling
TheplasticcomponentsoftheMini-Horizontal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en-
suresconsistentandreliableperformance.
Aftereachuse,rinsebufferchamber,geltrayandcombswithde-ionizedwater.Wipe
drywithasoftclothorpapertowel,orallowtoairdry.Whenevernecessary,allcompo-
nents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solvents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.
5.2 Maintenance
Thefollowinginspectionandmaintenanceprocedureswillhelpmaintainthesafetyand
reliableperformanceoftheMini-Horizontal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.