MJ Research DNA Engine Dyad PTC-220, Operation Manual, Page: 111 / 157

9-2
DNA Engine Dyad Operations Manual
Cleaning the DNA Engine Dyad Cycler
Cleaning the Chassis and Blocks
Clean the outside of an Alpha unit or the cycler chassis with a damp, soft cloth or tissue
whenever something has been spilled on it or when the chassis is dusty. A mild soap solution
may be used if needed. Allowing major buildup of laboratory dust or other contaminants
may affect the performance of the cycler or Alpha units, as well as, the outcome of your
experiments. As with any thermal cycling experiment, a reasonably clean, contaminant free
environment is recommended.
For particularly sensitive reactions, where contamination could confound results, we recom-
mend use of an MJ Research Cleanbox or equivalent, which utilizes a UV lightsource to
inactivate extraneous DNA.
Three models of cleanbox are offered by MJ Research:
CBX-0750 75cm wide, single door, 120V
CBX-0900 90cm wide, single door, 120V
CBX-0120 120cm wide, dual doors, 120V
To clean block wells, use swabs moistened with water, 95% ethanol, or a 1:100 dilution of
bleach in water (see the
Twin Towers Operations Manual for instructions on cleaning the
Twin Towers slide slots). If using bleach, swab wells with water afterward to remove all traces
of bleach. Clean spilled liquids out of the block as soon as possible; dried fluids can be
difficult to remove. Do not clean the block with caustic or strongly alkaline solutions (e.g.,
strong soaps, ammonia, bleach at a higher concentration than specified above). These will
damage the block’s protective coating, possibly causing electrical shorting.
If you use oil in the block (a practice not recommended by MJ Research, Inc.; see “Using Oil
to Thermally Couple Sample Vessels to the Block,” in Chapter 4), clean the wells whenever
the oil has become discolored or contains particulate matter. Use a swab to determine
whether cleaning is needed. Clean the block with 95% ethanol as described above.
Oil
buildup must be prevented. Old oil harbors dirt, which interferes with vessel seating
and diminishes thermal coupling of sample vessels to the block.
Caution: Do not pour any cleaning solution into the block’s wells and then heat the
block, in an attempt to clean it. Severe damage to the block, the heated
lid, and the chassis may result.
Cleaning the Air Vents
Clean the air intake and exhaust vents with a soft-bristle brush, a damp cloth, or a vacuum
cleaner whenever dust is visible in them. The air intake vents are located on the bottom,
lower front edge, and back of the machine; the air exhaust vents are located on both sides
(see figures 2-1, 2-3, and 2-4). If these vents become clogged with dust and debris, airflow
to the Alpha unit’s heat sink is hampered, causing performance problems related to over-
heating. The air intake vents are particularly likely to collect dust since their holes are much
smaller than those of the air exhaust vents, to prevent debris from entering the instrument.