User manual
Section 7- Diagnostics and Troubleshooting
1. Exit the software.
2. Disconnect the instrument power cord and USB cable.
3. Reconnect the instrument’s power cord, then the USB cable.
4. Restart the software.
If the error persists, contact
Technical Support. Outside of the US and Canada, please contact your local NanoDrop
products distributor.
Low Signal Errors
Some error messages (e.g. 1009, 1022, 1023, and 1063) are triggered when little to no light reaches the detector
during initialization or a measurement. Ensure the pedestal surfaces are clean and that there is not a cuvette in the
cuvette assembly block.
Follow the pedestal cleaning steps as outlined below:
1. Apply 3-5 µL of dH
2
0 on to the bottom pedestal.
2. Lower the upper pedestal arm to form a liquid column; let it sit for approximately 2-3 minutes.
3. Wipe away the dH
2
0 from both the upper and lower pedestals with a clean, dry lab wipe.
Typically dH
2
O is sufficient for removal of samples that have dried on the optical fiber pedestals. There are a few
cases (i.e. dried proteins) that may require a more rigorous cleaning protocol. For these cases, we recommend that
0.5M HCl be substituted for the dH
2
O in step 1 above. Follow with 5 µL of dH
2
O to remove any residual HCl.
Note: Do not use a squirt or spray bottle to apply de-ionized water or HCl.
If the troubleshooting steps outlined above do not fix the problem, perform an Intensity Check as previously
described and send the results to
Technical Support.
Liquid Column Breakage
This error occurs when a possible problem with the column is detected. The most common explanation is that the
column is not forming properly due to the pedestal being “unconditioned.”
When a pedestal becomes unconditioned, sample droplets applied to the bottom pedestal will “flatten-out” and
cover the entire pedestal surface rather than “bead up.” Buffers containing detergents and various other reagents
may cause the pedestal surfaces to become unconditioned. We have noted that routine use of the Bradford reagent
may result in difficulty forming columns with 1 µL samples. Refer to the
Pedestal Reconditioning procedure under
“Warranty and Maintenance.”
7-4