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We are dedicated to your success. Get back on track. View our expert recommendations for commonly encountered problem scenarios.
View the relevant questions below:
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It is important to determine whether the problem is with the power supply, the apparatus or the gel. Often, it helps to switch out the power supply or the lid to see if there is a faulty contact. Also, check to see whether the tape from the bottom of the gel cassette has been removed and whether the buffer core is damaged. Additionally, make sure there is sufficient buffer in the electrophoresis tank to cover the wells of the gel.
Here are possible causes and solutions:
During IEF, it is common for the current to drop below 1 mA. Most power supplies register this as a “No Load” error and automatically shut off, resulting in the stopping of the gel run. This can be bypassed in some power supplies by disabling or turning off the “Load Check” feature.
During NativePAGE™ runs, it is common for the current to drop below 1 mA. Most power supplies register this as a “No Load” error and automatically shut off, resulting in the stopping of the gel run. This can be bypassed in some power supplies by disabling or turning off the “Load Check” feature.
Here are possible causes and solutions:
We recommend marking the cassette at the bottom of the wells with a marker pen prior to assembling the Upper buffer chamber. Also, we recommend illuminating the bench area with a light source placed directly behind the XCell SureLock™ Mini-Cell unit.
You may purchase the Novex™ Power Supply Adapters, Cat. No. ZA10001 to help you connect your leads to the power supply.
Here are some suggestions:
Here are possible causes and solutions:
Here are possible causes and solutions:
Here are possible causes and solutions:
We recommend marking the cassette at the bottom of the wells with a marker pen prior to placing the cassette in the electrophoresis tank.
Our new Bolt™ Bis-Tris Plus gels have 10 cm gel cassettes and are designed to be used with the Mini Gel Tank (Cat. No. A25977). To run these gels with the Bolt™ Mini Gel Tank, for optimal results, upgrading of the tank is necessary by replacing the black 10.5 cm cassette clamp cam handles with gray 10 cm cassette clamp cam handles (Cat. No. A26732). Instructions for replacement of the cam handles can be found on Page 20 of the manual or in this video.
In the event that you do not have the gray cassette clamp cam handles (Cat. No. A26732), please follow the instructions on Page 22 of the manual for running 10 cm Bolt™ Bis-Tris Plus gels using the Bolt™ Mini Gel Tank.
Here are possible causes and solutions:
We recommend marking the cassette at the bottom of the wells with a marker pen prior to placing the cassette in the gel runner tank.
Here are some causes and remedies for wavy dye fronts:
It is likely that the Bolt™ gel cassette was inserted backwards into the unit (large plate facing the front and the wells facing the back) even though this is pretty difficult to do. When the gel is inserted backwards, the current flows from the bottom of the gel to the top, resulting in the samples running in the opposite direction. Reversing of the leads will switch the direction of the gel run, however, this will cause the current to flow from the anode to the cathode. The cathode electrode is made of stainless steel with platinum coating, and the anode electrode is made of platinum wire. Flow of electrons from the anode to the cathode will result in rusting of the steel core. On the other hand, when the leads are connected properly, the electrons flow from the cathode to the anode and the recipient of the electrons is the platinum wire that does not rust.
Note: When the gel cassette is inserted properly, the lettering (gel type, SKU and expiration date) printed on the cassette will be backwards (reads from right to left).
Here are some likely reasons and remedies:
Leaking of buffer from the inside of the tank to the outside. Leaking is most likely due to inappropriate removal of cassettes, which can lead to the gasket not sitting properly and loss of a good seal. We recommend pushing the gasket down with the thumb.
Not covering the wells completely with the buffer. We recommend filling the tank up to the electrodes prior to inserting the gel cassettes. Complete filling of the tank not only prevent leaks from the inside to the outside but also acts as a heat sink.
Not removing the tape from one of the gel cassettes. Make sure that the tape is removed from both gel cassettes before inserting them into the tank.
Here are possible causes and solutions:
Here are possible causes and solutions:
We recommend using Novex™ Power Supply Adapters (Cat. No. ZA10001) to help you connect the leads to your power supply. These adapters are supplied along with the XCell4 SureLock™ Midi-Cell. If these adapters don’t work, you may contact the manufacturer of the power supply to see if other options are available.
Here are possible causes and solutions:
Cause | Solution |
AC power cord is not connected | Check AC power cord connections at both ends. Use the correct cord. |
The fuse has blown | Replace the fuse |
Here are possible causes and solutions:
Cause | Solution |
Electrophoresis leads are not connected to the power supply or to the electrophoresis unit(s), or there is a broken circuit in the electrophoresis cell | Check the connections to the power supply and on your electrophoresis cell to make sure the connection is intact; check condition of wires in electrophoresis unit. Close the circuit by reconnecting the cables. Press Start/Pause to restart the run. |
High resistance due to tape left on a pre-cast gel, incorrect buffer concentration, or incorrect buffer volumes in the electrophoresis cell | Correct the condition by making sure the tape is removed from the pre-cast gel, buffers are prepared correctly, and the recommended volume of buffer is added to the electrophoresis unit. |
Current has dropped below acceptable rating (10 mA) | The power supply has a built-in “No Load Detection” feature that can detect when the current drops below the acceptable rating of 10 mA. |
This indicates that the circuit has been interrupted. Please check the following:
This is most likely due to a ground leak detected during the run. Check the electrophoresis system for improper grounding and restart the power supply by turning the Power switch off and on.
This is due to overheating of the power supply. Please do the following:
Here are possible causes and solutions:
Cause | Solution |
Load exceeds 3 A | The output maximum on the power supply is 3 A, so make sure that it is not exceeded. |
Blown fuse in the power supply | Replace fuse following instructions on Page 19 of the manual. |
Incorrect input voltage | Check input voltage switch near power inlet. |
Here are likely reasons why this might happen:
Here are the scenarios for this error with likely causes and solutions:
One extra fuse is supplied with the PowerEase™ 300W Power Supply. For detailed instructions on replacing the fuse, please refer to Page 19 of the manual.
During NativePAGE™ electrophoresis, it is common for the current to drop below 1 mA. The PowerEase™ 300W Power Supply will register this as a “No Load” error and automatically shut off, resulting in the stopping of the gel run. Since there is no way to disable/turn off the “Load Check” feature in the PowerEase™ 300W Power Supply, we do not recommend using it for Native-PAGE electrophoresis.
Here are possible causes and solutions:
Cause | Solution |
AC power cord is not connected | Check AC power cord connections at both ends. Use the correct cord. |
The fuse has blown | Replace the fuse |
Cause | Solution |
Electrophoresis leads are not connected to the power supply or to the electrophoresis unit(s), or there is a broken circuit in the electrophoresis cell | Check the connections to the power supply and on your electrophoresis cell to make sure the connection is intact; check condition of wires in electrophoresis unit. Close the circuit by reconnecting the cables. Press Start/Pause to restart the run. |
High resistance due to tape left on a pre-cast gel, incorrect buffer concentration, or incorrect buffer volumes in the electrophoresis cell | Correct the condition by making sure the tape is removed from the pre-cast gel, buffers are prepared correctly, and the recommended volume of buffer is added to the electrophoresis unit. |
Current has dropped below acceptable rating (4 mA) | The power supply has a built-in “No Load Detection” feature that can detect when the current drops below the acceptable rating of 4 mA. |
This is most likely due to a ground leak detected during the run. Check the electrophoresis system for improper grounding and restart the power supply by turning the Power switch off and on.
This is due to overheating of the power supply. Please do the following:
Here are possible causes and solutions:
Cause | Solution |
Load exceeds 500 mA | The output maximum on the power supply is 500 mA, so make sure that it is not exceeded. |
Blown fuse in the power supply | Replace fuse following instructions on Page 17 of the manual |
Incorrect input voltage | Check input voltage switch near power inlet. |
Here are likely reasons why this might happen:
Here are the scenarios for this error with likely causes and solutions:
One extra fuse is supplied with the PowerEase™ 90W Power Supply. For detailed instructions on replacing the fuse, please refer to Page 17 of the manual.
Here are possible causes and solutions:
Note: The PowerEase™ 500 Power Supply has been discontinued as of December 31, 2013 and our alternatives are the PowerEase™ 90W Power Supply and PowerEase™ 300W Power Supply.
Here are possible causes and solutions:
Note: The PowerEase™ 500 Power Supply has been discontinued as of December 31, 2013 and our alternatives are the PowerEase™ 90W Power Supply and PowerEase™ 300W Power Supply.
We recommend resetting the unit by holding front panel Power button down while switching rear power switch off and then on again. Release front Power button.
Note: The PowerEase™ 500 Power Supply has been discontinued as of December 31, 2013 and our alternatives are the PowerEase™ 90W Power Supply and PowerEase™ 300W Power Supply.
This happens when the buffer temperature exceeds the preset temperature limit. We recommend checking the run conditions for the correct current and power settings. Also, make sure the buffer is prepared correctly and raise the temperature limit.
Note: The PowerEase™ 500 Power Supply has been discontinued as of December 31, 2013 and our alternatives are the PowerEase™ 90W Power Supply and PowerEase™ 300W Power Supply.
This indicates that the number of gels selected exceeds the set current limit. Since the number of gels is limited by the maximum current available, we recommend decreasing the number of gels or changing the current settings.
Note: The PowerEase™ 500 Power Supply has been discontinued as of December 31, 2013 and our alternatives are the PowerEase™ 90W Power Supply and PowerEase™ 300W Power Supply.
This indicates that the number of gels selected exceeds the set power limit. Since the number of gels is limited by the maximum power available, we recommend decreasing the number of gels or changing the power settings.
Note: The PowerEase™ 500 Power Supply has been discontinued as of December 31, 2013 and our alternatives are the PowerEase™ 90W Power Supply and PowerEase™ 300W Power Supply.
Here are instructions for replacing the fuse on the PowerEase™ 500 Power Supply:
Note: Extra fuses used to be supplied with the PowerEase™ 500 Power Supply that has been discontinued as of December 31, 2013.
This error message occurs because the power supply detects that the current running through the setup is not sufficient. This error message is most common when the PowerEase™ 500 power supply is used to run an IEF gel or NativePAGE™ Blue gel is run, where the current can drop to very low levels. This problem can be avoided by disabling "Load Check" (do this only if you get the error message); in the menu screen that shows the run parameters, you can go up to the “Load Check” by clicking on the left arrow while the voltage is highlighted. Change from “on” to "off" for "Load Check" by using the using the up or down arrow (see images below). This change should not cause a problem in the running of the gel.
Note: The PowerEase™ 500 Power Supply has been discontinued as of December 31, 2013 and our alternatives are the PowerEase™ 90W Power Supply and PowerEase™ 300W Power Supply.
The PowerEase™ 500 Power Supply has been discontinued as of December 31, 2013. We do not provide schematics, parts, or a repair service for this instrument.
The PowerEase™ 500 Power Supply has been discontinued as of December 31, 2013. We do not offer a recalibration service for this instrument.
The high voltage indicator light (amber or red) is a warning light that indicates that the power source is in operation. Do not unplug the leads when this light is on.
Gels turn white when they are dried too rapidly, usually in an environment that is too ventilated, drafty, or warm. You can remedy this problem by dabbing the gel with deionized water on a Kimwipe™ tissue to rehydrate the white areas. Re-dry the gel in a dark, dry, non-drafty place, such as a drawer or cabinet.
Usually it is not necessary to peel off the cellophane. If your signal is very faint and you are concerned about getting an exposure, you can rub the top surface of your gel with a damp towel and then peel off the cellophane. Then air dry the gel for a few minutes and perform autoradiography.
Please see below for possible causes and solutions:
Cause | Solution |
Air trapped between cellophane layers | Apply adequate Gel-Drying solution to prevent bubbles between the gel and cellophane assembly |
Tension on cellophane too strong | Take care not to stretch the cellophane during dryer assembly |
Rough edges or small cracks on gel edges | Trim rough edges from the gel to eliminate starting points for cracks |
Cellophane slips during drying | Make sure clamps hold all four edges of the dryer assembly firmly |
Here are possible causes and solutions:
Here are the possible causes and solutions:
Here are the possible causes and solutions:
A black friction O-ring is attached to the Anode End Sealer. If the Anode End Sealer is difficult to insert into the Chamber Assembly Tube, remove the black friction O-ring.
Removal of the friction O-ring may result in sliding of the Anode End sealer and Sample Chambers into the Chamber Assembly Tube. If this results, add the friction O-ring on the Anode End Sealer.
Inspect the Sample Chamber to check any damage to the Sample Chamber or groove. Use another Sample Chamber included in the Spares Box.
Try lubricating the Cathode Chamber Seal (black O-ring) with silicone by lightly dabbing silicone around the seal with a swab. Silicone is typically available in most laboratories. If the Chamber Seal is damaged, replace with a new Chamber Seal included in the Spares Box.
This could potentially be due to leakage between Sample Chambers. Assemble the Sample Chambers in the Chamber Assembly Tube as described in the manual. Improper assembly of the fractionator will not produce proper sealing and result in leaking and contamination of fractions. Be sure to properly insert the Sample Chamber O-ring Seals on the groove of the Sample Chamber and place the ZOOM™ Disks on the chamber as shown in the manual.
A possible reason is poor contact between electrodes or incomplete circuit. Make sure that you have added 600 μL deionized water to the Electrode Wicks and the gel is exposed at the anodic and cathodic ends of the cassette. Check the power supply. Be sure to set the ‘Load Check’ to off to enable the power supply to operate at low current.
Here are the possible causes and solutions:
Here are the possible causes and solutions:
Here are possible causes and solutions:
Here are possible causes and solutions:
This indicates that the circuit is interrupted. Please check the following:
This indicates that a ground leak was detected during the run. Check the electrophoresis system for improper grounding. Restart the power supply by turning the Power switch off and on.
This indicates that the power supply is overheating. Turn off the power supply and check for sufficient airflow around the power supply fan. After cooling down, restart the power supply by turning the Power switch to the on position. If you cannot restart the instrument, turn off the power, disconnect the power cord from the outlet, and contact Technical Support at techsupport@lifetech.com.
Here are instructions for replacing the fuse on the ZOOM™ Dual Power Supply:
Note: One extra fuse is supplied with the ZOOM™ Dual Power Supply.
For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.