Bio-Rad TC20™ Automated Cell Counter - Manual (Page 30)

Fig. 19. Disabling user defined gates.
Fig. 20. System verification results.
25
Maintenance and Troubleshooting
Cleaning the TC20 Automated Cell Counter
The TC20 cell counter requires little maintenance but with long and constant use it
requires some cleaning and other maintenance. The instrument should be cleaned on
a regular schedule to remove debris or dirt that might interfere with proper function.
Cleaning the case — always turn off the instrument and disconnect the power cable
before cleaning the case. Wipe the outer case with a soft, lint-free cloth and deionized
water. Avoid wetting the power switch or jack.
Warning! Never pour or spray water or other solutions directly on the instrument.
Wet components can cause electrical shock when the cell counter is plugged in.
Cleaning the LCD screen — always turn off the instrument and disconnect the power
cable before cleaning the LCD screen. Wipe the screen with a soft, lint-free cloth lightly
moistened with LCD cleansing detergent. Excessive force can damage the screen.
Wipe the screen dry immediately.
Warning! Do not use abrasive detergents or rough material, as they may scratch the
control panel and display.
Decontaminating the instrument — always turn off the instrument and disconnect
the power cable before decontaminating the unit. Wipe the outer case with a soft,
lint-free cloth and 70% alcohol.
Warning! If you use a 10% bleach solution it may leave a residue of bleach crystals
that over time may scratch the surface. Avoid touching or cleaning the LCD screen
and control panel. Follow by wiping down with a damp cloth to remove any excess
bleach.
Do not spill liquids inside the cell counter, for example by overfilling the slides or tipping
the cell counter over while a slide with sample is in the sample port. This could
contaminate the internal structure of the unit and would require professional
decontamination.
Thermal Printer Maintenance
The print head is the most critical component of a printer and should be cleaned every
time you start a new label roll. The print head is composed of metallic heating elements
located inside the printer, in front of the yellow triangle heat indicator.
To clean the print head:
1. Turn off the printer and disconnect the power connector.
2. Open the printer and remove the label roll.
3. Wet a white cotton cloth (or a cotton swab) with 99% isopropyl alcohol and wipe
off the label adhesive residue and paper dust from print head heating elements.
Loading a new roll of labels into the printer — in order for the printer to cut labels
correctly it must calculate the size of both the label and the gap between labels.
It can do this only if the new roll is already loaded when the printer is powered on.
Loading a new roll with the printer off leads to inaccurate label cutting and adhesive
buildup on the print head.