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Covaris
E220 & LE220 (-plus, R-plus, Rsc) Setup & Instruction Manual
Part Number: 010521 Rev B | May 2021
This section provides a list of symptoms and recommended actions that may be taken to correct simple problems. Please contact the
Covaris Technical Support Dept. or your local representative for assistance with any issues.
• If your instrument will not connect to SonoLab:
- Verify that the instrument is ON.
- Verify that the USB cable is connected at both ends and undamaged.
- Close and restart the SonoLab application.
- Go to Windows Device Manager (right click on ‘This Computer’, then Properties) and verify that Windows is recognizing the
instrument, and that device drivers are properly installed. Under Ports (COM & LPT), there should be four devices listed:
o Covaris RF Controller (COM3)
o Covaris RF Controller (COM4)
o Covaris RF Controller (Port3&4) (COM5)
o Covaris RF Controller (Port3&4) (COM6)
The COM assignments may be different from those listed above (e.g. COM 7, 8, 9. 10). Under Universal Serial Bus
Controllers, there should also be four devices listed:
o Covaris RF Controller Board
o Covaris RS-485 Port
o Covaris Serial Port 2
o Covaris Serial Port 3
Each of these devices should be listed. If any appear with a yellow “!” symbol, right-click and try to re-install the device driver.
• Safety Interlock or Sensor Failures (Water Level, Water Bath Present, Door Closed, Water Temperature). These are generally
failures that require the attention of a service technician, but please verify the following items before contacting Service:
- Water Level: Verify that the water level in the bath is at or above the “0” mark on the WATER LEVEL label. Verify that the
Acoustic Assembly is fully lowered into the bath.
- Bath Present: Verify that the Acoustic Assembly is fully lowered into the bath. Verify that the bath is slid fully into the
enclosure, so that the magnet embedded at the rear of the bath can be sensed. Verify that the magnet is embedded in the
rear of the bath.
- Door Closure not recognized: Verify that the door interlock is not bypassed.
- Water Temperature limits being reached, or inaccurate temperature readings: If the water is running hot, verify that
the chiller is operating and that it is circulating water through your system’s water bath. Program the set point of the chiller
to a lower temperature (select a method with a lower set point specified) and verify that your system’s bath gets cool. Use a
separate thermometer to verify the true temperature of the bath.
• Biological or chemical results (e.g. DNA shearing) not as expected:
- Verify that the average power values reported by SonoLab are approximately correct. The typical average power is a few
percent below the value “Peak Incident Power” multiplied by “Duty Factor”. For example, if PIP=200 Watts and Duty Factor
is 10%, then an expected power reading would be approximately 15 to 17 Watts.
- Verify that the water temperature is correct and that the water is clear and free of algae or other particulates. Perform a
cleaning protocol with a 10% bleach or equivalent solution if this has not recently been done.
- Verify that the degassing pump is operating (observe the pump outlet on the left side of the bath – when the pump is
running there should be occasional bubbles exiting the pump outlet tube). Also examine the inlet “dip tube” visible from the
right side of the bath. The inlet holes (very small drilled holes in the side of the tube) should be free of obstruction. If
possible, please independently verify your analysis equipment. Covaris has DNA shearing verification kits available. Please
contact Covaris applications support or your local representative for assistance.
9. Troubleshooting
