V&P Scientific, Inc.
5
TECHNICAL NOTE 457
OPERATION
HEATING BLOCK OPERATION USING THE TEMPERATURE CONTROLLER
1. Turn on the Temperature Controller using the on/off power switch (see figure 7). The Controller already has a
temperature programmed so the Circle Heater will immediately begin to heat. The red number in the upper
display is the current temperature of the heater. The green number in the lower display is the value set during
operation. See the Tempo Controller Operating Instructions (Appendix) for more details on the features of
the display.
2. To turn off the Circle Heater without turning the power switch off, press the down arrow key until the green
lower display reads “OFF”.
Figure 7. Front View of Temperature Controller for the Circle Heater.
3. The upper limit temperature on the Temperature Control Panel is set to 200
o
C at the factory. The temperature
of the Spin Bases should not be higher than 120
o
C because of the Polypropylene SpinVessels. Polypropylene
will melt at temperatures greater than 130
o
C.
4. Temperature set value will need to be empirically determined. Since there is no direct contact between the
polypropylene SpinVessel and the heating element, heat transfer must occur through the air and to a limited
extent through the Spin Base of the SpinVessel motor unit. Therefore, the temperature setting for the Controller
will be much higher than the actual temperature in the solution in the SpinVessel.
5. It is best to pre-heat the Circle Heater and the solution to be mixed as it takes a long time for the solution to
come to temperature otherwise. Heat the solution in a beaker so that it can be poured into the 1 liter SpinVessel
already placed in the Circle Heater’s Spin Base (see figure 8 next page).
6. If the lid was on during the pre-heating of the Circle Heater, be careful when handling it as it will be
very hot!
Place it back on top after pouring the heated solution into the 1 liter SpinVessel.
7. Note that the position of the Circle Heater in the photos has the SLAS dimensioned SpinVessel Motor Unit in
a “landscape” position as it would be held in most microplate locators on a liquid handler deck. The magnets
that hold the Temperature Sensor Controller will be in the front and if the lid is placed
so that the “VP” lab
el is
toward the back, the opening in the lid will mirror the position of the Motor Unit underneath.
On/Off
Power Switch
Upper Display:
Process Value
Lower Display:
Set Value
Scroll
Key
Up/Down
Arrows
Return
Key
Temperature Control Panel
