Bio-Rad PROTEAN Plus Dodeca Cell - Manual (Page 7)

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PROTEAN Plus hinged spacer plate The hinged spacer plates close to form a gel
cassette. The hinge is necessary to seal the
bottom edge of the gel cassette so that the
current pathway runs effectively through the
gel.
Caution: Glass plates and glass spacers are
sharp.
Gel releaser The green gel releaser tool is used to open the
cassette after electrophoresis and to separate the
gel from the bonded spacers.
2.3 Setting up the Buffer Recirculation Pump
Carefully remove the Buffer Recirculation Pump from the shipping box. The pump
includes a power cord and spare fuses. The Buffer Recirculation Pump is the key component
of the Buffer Recirculation Pathway (BRP). The proper set up of the BRP is shown below in
a schematic drawing (Figure 2.3A). The buffer exhaust tube connects from the the lid to the
pump. The other end of the pump connects into the bottom of the cell. The BRP pulls buffer
up through the lid and it flows down through the pump and back into the cell at the bottom of
the tank through the acrylic tubes. Setting up the BRP in the inverse direction will result in
inadequate buffer recirculation and the temperature throughout the tank will not be uniform.
This will cause distortions in the protein resolution patterns in the gels.
Fig. 2.3A. Proper Set-up of the Buffer Recirculation Pathway (BRP).
2.3.1 Voltage conversion
The Buffer Recirculation Pump is shipped in its 120 V or 220 V version. To operate at
other voltages, refer to the procedure below. Warning: Failure to follow this procedure may
result in damage to the unit and invalidation of the warranty.
Power is supplied to the Buffer Recirculation Pump via a power entry module consisting of:
• On/off switch: A two-position rocker switch is located on the rear panel. “I” is ON,
“O” is OFF.
• Power cord receptacle: Grounded three-pin receptacle for the power cord
• Fuse holder/line voltage selector: Four-position line voltage selector and fuse holder.