Molecular Devices SPECTRAmax 340PC, Operator'S Manual

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Instrument Description
SPECTRAmax 340PC Microplate Spectrophotometer Operator’s Manual 1-15
minated. Typically, the microplate chamber will reach 37.0°C in less than
15 minutes. The indicator also flashes as a warning if the temperature within
the microplate chamber deviates more than ± 0.3°C from the set point.
The microplate chamber temperature is maintained at the set point until you
press the incubator
[On/Off]
key again, turning temperature regulation off. The
LCD indicator will go out, the drawer will open, and the temperature within the
microplate chamber will begin returning to ambient.
Should you turn the incubator back on after a momentary shutdown,
allow about ten minutes after reaching set temperature for the control
algorithm to fully stabilize the microplate chamber temperature.
Temperature regulation and control of the microplate chamber is achieved
through electric heaters, a fan, efficient insulation, and temperature sensors. The
heaters are located in the microplate chamber which is insulated to maintain the
temperature set point. The sensors are mounted inside the chamber and measure
the air temperature. The temperature feedback closed-loop control algorithms
compare the measured air temperature inside the chamber against the tempera-
ture set point and use the difference to calculate the heating cycles. This tech-
nique results in accurate, precise control of the microplate chamber temperature
with a temperature variation of the air inside the chamber of less than 0.3°C.
(Temperature uniformity within the microplate itself will depend upon its design,
materials, and/or configuration.)
Automix
The Automix function permits automatic shaking of the microplate at preset
intervals, thereby mixing of the contents within each well. Automix must be
selected before beginning a reading.
Selectable Automix settings are On, Once, or Off. The actions associated with
these settings depend on the read mode chosen.
For endpoint mode, setting Automix to On or Once will shake the plate for five
seconds and then read at all selected wavelengths.
When kinetic mode is chosen, setting Automix to On will shake the plate for five
seconds before the initial reading and for three seconds before each subsequent
reading. Setting Automix to Once will shake the plate for five seconds only before
the first reading, with no mixing between kinetic readings.
When Automix is enabled, either “On” or “Once” will be displayed above the
[Auto Mix]
key.
Use of Automix is strongly recommended for ELlSAs and other solid-
phase, enzyme-mediated reactions to enhance accuracy.
NOTE:
NOTE: