Instruction manual

Part 5: Care and Maintenance
The R-Series equipment is designed to be as rugged as possible while still being
lightweight and performing as a precision electronic instrument. Following these
suggestions for care and maintenance will extend its life and reduce the risk of
damage.
There are two separate cleaning issues. One is with regard to maintaining the
equipment properly, the other is the minimization of transfer of disease between
hatchery stocks and to food for human consumption.
The Detector, Gate, and Counter are mostly corrosion–resistant aluminum with
Lexan artwork. However, saltwater and organic material should be removed
after each use to reduce corrosion. Water, soap and water, or 91% isopropyl
alcohol may be used, applied as a gentle spray or with a sponge or cloth. Iodine
based disinfectants are also allowed, provided they are mixed to the proper
dilution, though they may stain the equipment.
Strong solvents may damage the paint or waterproof seals, as may pressure–
washing, which is not recommended. Use of a garden hose is acceptable, so
long as high-pressure streams are avoided.
A 200 ppm chlorine solution is the standard disinfectant solution and should
be used after a thorough soap and water wash if there is any requirement for
disinfecting the equipment. NMT is not aware of any "soaps" which will also
disinfect. Please see the Appendix for information about soaps and mixing
chlorine solutions.
The Front Panel of the Detector is completely waterproof with no exposed
electrical contacts, and rinsing should be carried out as described above. Care
should be taken to avoid scratching the clear splashguard. Do not scrub with
an abrasive pad!
The Counters with + and – switches are designed to be completely waterproof,
but high-pressure streams that can force water past seals must be avoided.
The most recent counters with Black and Red switches have drain holes in
the bottom; do not use high-pressure streams or direct spray that will force
water into the drain holes. Also avoid hitting the bezels of the displays and
keys of the counter with the backs of heavy scrub brushes. Disconnect the
counter cable from the counter when it is not in use.
R-Series Instruction Manual 34