Troubleshooting – LW Scientific USA Universal User Manual
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P. 770.270.1394
F. 770.270.2389
865 Marathon Parkway Lawrenceville GA 30046
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Now turn the speed up to the highest setting of “34,” 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. If you need to spin only one tube, you must use another tube filled with similarly equal fluid (or
water) to balance the rotor. 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.
8-Place, Fixed-Angle Rotor Balance Options: 6-Place, Swing-Out Rotor Balance Options:
ALWAYS MAKE SURE TUBES ARE SUPPORTED FROM THE BOTTOM, using proper tube shields and/or tube
inserts. 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 Universal at full speed will produce enough g-force to
break some 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 interfere with each
other.
Once loaded, select the desired speed and time and start the centrifuge. The Universal cannot be
opened while the rotor is turning without interrupting the cycle.
Once the unit has completed the cycle and come to a complete stop, an audible BEEP will sound. The
latch can now be turned counter-clockwise as far as possible to open the lid.
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.
No power: Plug into another outlet.
Wobbles and shakes: Remove all tube shields, and clean them out. Check for tube inserts or dried fluids
in tubes. Test run without test tubes or tube shields in place.
Makes excessive noise: Tighten rotor screw.
Breaking tubes: Turn the speed down. Check your tube limits. Discard old tubes and try new ones.
Lid won’t open: If power fails, you must override the lid-lock by pushing the supplied Manual Lid Release Tool or
a small screwdriver into the hole in the top of the unit to manually disengage the lock while gently turning the
lid latch counterclockwise.
Troubleshooting