Molecular Devices SPECTRAmax 340PC, Operator'S Manual

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Stand-Alone Operation
SPECTRAmax 340PC Microplate Spectrophotometer Operator’s Manual 3-3
This chapter contains operating information for the SPECTRAmax 340PC Microplate
Spectrophotometer. If you are an experienced user of this instrument, you can turn to
the Operation Overview on page 3-6 for a quick review of the operating steps.
Prepare for a
Reading
Turn the Instrument and Printer On
The power switch for the SPECTRAmax 340PC is located on the back panel.
Press the rocker switch to the on position. The instrument will automatically per-
form diagnostic checks to ensure that it is functioning correctly. Turn the printer
on at this time also.
Set the Temperature
If elevated temperature within the microplate chamber is desired, you should
turn on the incubator first, allowing enough time for the temperature to reach the
set point before performing a reading. When you first turn the instrument on, up
to 30 minutes may be required for the temperature within the chamber to reach
the set point.
Temperature cannot be regulated at a set point that is lower than 4°C
above the ambient temperature.
The incubator can be left off for Endpoint readings where temperature control is
not required and for ambient Kinetic assays.
To enable the incubator, press the incubator
[On/Off]
key (located below the
[Temp °C]
key). An indicator at the right side of the LCD will show that tem-
perature control is on and the microplate drawer will close (if open) after a delay
of about 10 seconds.
To change the temperature set point, press the up or down arrows on the
[Temp °C]
key until the desired temperature is shown in the display.
The microplate chamber temperature will be maintained at the set point until
you disable temperature control by touching the incubator
[On/Off]
key again.
When the incubator is off, 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 for the control algorithm to fully stabilize the
microplate chamber temperature.
Choose a Read Mode
Using a Blank Pattern
If your microplate has wells containing reagent blanks, you can enter a blank pat-
tern. In stand-alone mode, the locations of blank wells are provided to the SPEC-
TRAmax 340PC by using a blank pattern template.
One packet of blank pattern templates is provided with the instrument. Pick up a
template by the center tab and use a common lab marker (black works best) to
NOTE:
NOTE: