LW Scientific USA C5 - Manual (Page 3)

P. 770.270.1394 F. 770.270.2389 865 Marathon Parkway Lawrenceville GA 30046
Operation
Care and Maintenance
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Do not insert test tubes at this time. Close the lid, and press down until you hear the lid lock click. Set the speed to
“10” (1,000 rpm) and the time to “5” minutes.
Start the unit by pressing the RUN button. The unit should come up to speed with a smooth sound and little or no
vibration. If there is excessive vibration or noise, shut off the unit immediately, check the troubleshooting tips, and
contact LW Scientific if not resolved.
Now turn the speed up to the highest setting of “50” for the swing-out rotor or “40” for the bucket rotor, and check
for smooth sound and little vibration. If there is excessive vibration or noise, shut off the unit immediately and contact
LW Scientific. The unit is now ready to be loaded.
ALWAYS BALANCE THE LOAD. Be certain to balance tubes of equal weight across from each other on the rotor. You
can only balance 2, 4, 6, or 8 tubes at a time on an 8-place rotor and similarly even increments in a 24-place bucket
rotor. If you need to spin only one tube, you must use another tube filled with similarly equal fluid (or water) to
balance the rotor. If spinning fecals, use the same fecal solution in the balance tube, because water is much lighter
than the dense fecal solutions (for Fecal Hints, please contact LW Scientific). Proper balancing will improve sample
separation and will extend the life of the centrifuge. Spinning out-of-balance loads may break tubes, and can cause
damage to the unit which will not be covered under warranty.
ALWAYS MAKE SURE TUBES ARE SUPPORTED FROM THE BOTTOM, using proper tube shields and/or rubber tube cushions.
Never allow a tube to hang by its cap on the rim of the tube shield, which can cause the stopper top to pop off and
the tube to break as it hits the bottom of the shield. The cap may also cause damage inside the bowl. Damage due
to improper loading will not be covered under warranty.
KNOW THE G-FORCE LIMITS OF YOUR TUBES. The C5 at full speed will produce enough g-force to break some low-cost
types of tubes. Be certain that you are not exceeding the recommended g-forces for the brand of tubes that you
are using.
NEVER FORCE A TUBE INTO THE SHIELDS. Tubes should fit easily into and out of the tube shield. Make sure the tubes do
not exceed the length limits listed in the “Introduction”, or the tubes may hit the top of the lid and break upon
start-up.
*Please see diagram for tube requirements of the 24-place bucket rotor.
Once loaded, select the desired speed and time and start the centrifuge. The C5 cannot be opened while the rotor
is turning. Note: The maximum speed for the bucket rotor is 4,000 rpm.
Once the unit has completed the cycle and come to a complete stop, an audible BEEP will sound. The lid lock will
disengage for 7 seconds, at which time you should push on the front right corner to release the lid. The lid will relock
after 7 seconds for safety. To unlock later, simply push the OPEN/OFF button and press the lid again.
IMPORTANT: Time and speed values from the previous 4 cycles are automatically saved into memory. To recall
previous values, press the STOP/OPEN button while the lid is open. This convenient feature will save time when
switching between processes.
Use only high quality test tubes. Lower quality or inexpensive glass or plastic tubes may fracture and release their
contents into the tube chamber. Make sure you know the maximum force allowed for the tubes you are spinning.
Never force a tube into the tube shield. The tube shields and cushions were designed to accommodate most
common sizes of tubes.
Keep the tube shields clean. If a tube breaks inside a shield, clean all the debris from the shield and bowl and
disinfect.
Motor and electrical maintenance: The C5 uses a maintenance-free brushless motor and its bearings are
permanently lubricated. It should not need servicing for the life of the unit. Likewise, the electrical components
were designed for high reliability and should not need regular service. However, if repairs are needed, please
contact LW Scientific.
With proper care and maintenance, your C5 centrifuge will provide years
of laboratory service. Please follow these guidelines:
2-9ml 2-9ml
10-15ml