6
•
Functional Checkout
Switch on the Axoporator 800A, the version of the firmware will be displayed
followed by the settings display.
Look in the upper right hand corner of the panel display. It provides the value of
the feedback resistor of the AP-1A headstage connected to the Axoporator 800A. If
the AP-1A-1MU is connected, the reading will be 1M. If the AP-1A-0.1MU is
connected, the reading will be 0.1 M. In the center of the display near the top, the
resistance of the SCE-1U model cell is displayed. This reading should be 10 M
Ω
.
Press and hold the Reset button (upper left hand corner of the front panel controls).
The Pulse Type (lower left hand corner of the front panel display) should show a
positive going square wave. If not, use the Pulse Type button (bottom row of front
panel controls) to select a positive going square wave. Use the Single/Train button
to select a single pulse. The lower right hand corner of the display will show a
single positive going pulse. Adjust the Pulse Voltage knob (far left row of front
panel controls) so that the display voltage reads 10.0 V and adjust the Offset
Voltage knob (beneath the Pulse Voltage knob) so that the DC offset reads 0.0 V.
Adjust the Pulse Width (far right row of panel controls) until the display reads
100 ms. Press and hold the Trigger button (bottom right of front panel controls).
The current reading (upper left of the display) should be 100
±
1 nA and the power
reading (near the center of the display) should be 1
±
0.01 µW. Terminate the test
by removing your finger from the Trigger button.
Leave all settings as above but press the Single/Train button so that two rectangular
pulses appear in the lower right hand corner of the display. Adjust the Train
Duration knob (bottom row of front panel controls) until the display reads 10 s.
Adjust the Pulse Frequency knob (next to the Train Duration knob) until the display
reads 1.0 Hz. Briefly press the Trigger button. The dual rectangular pulse in the
lower right hand corner of the display will be replaced with the word ACTIVE.
The current and power readings should be I = 100
±
1 nA and 1
±
0.01 µW,
respectively. Switch toggle on the SCE-1U model cell so that the resistance is
15 M
Ω
. The current and power readings should now be I = 67.7
±
1 nA and
0.67
±
0.01 µW, respectively.
Axoporator 800A Theory and Operation, Copyright 2005 Axon Instruments / Molecular Devices, Corp.