Bio-Rad CHEF Mapper® XA System User Manual

Page 61

Section 11
Troubleshooting Guide

Problem

Solution

Equipment:

No power

1. Check fuses at back of power module
2. Check source of A/C power
3. Contact Bio-Rad Laboratories

No voltage across electrodes,

Check that lid is on

with AC power light lit on

2. Check that serial cable is fully inserted at

power module

both ends

3. Check that coiled interlock cable is firmly

attached

4. Confirm that all leads are properly attached
5. Check HV fuse on front panel (0.5 A FB) and

replace if necessary

6. Check that a programmed voltage gradient is not

set at 0

7. Check that unit is not set in pause mode

Gel floats away

1. Pump flow rate is too high or too low. Adjust

with Variable Speed Pump

No or low buffer flow

1. Look for kink in tubing

2. Check Cooling Module; buffer in the heat

exchanger can freeze if the chiller is cooling, but
the pump is not on

Gel band patterns appear very 1. Foreign object in chamber; remove
distorted; lanes very curved,*

thermometer, gel stops at top of gel, etc.

bands sharp, but slanting

2. Insufficient or non-uniform cooling due to low

pump flow

3. Check that buffer is level with surface of gel;

use leveling feet

4. Check that field vectors add up to a net forward

migration

5. Replace damaged electrode
6. Buffer volume should be 2.2 L for models

purchased after 1994.

7. Power module fault; contact Bio-Rad

Laboratories

*Slight distortion of the outermost lane is normal