Instructions for Operation and Care of Dickson Paraffin Baths
WHITEHALL MANUFACTURING
• P.O. BOX 3527 • City of Industry, CA 91744-0527 U.S.A
Phone (800) 782-7706 • (626) 968-6681 • Fax (626) 855-4862 • Web: www.whitehallmfg.com
6
DIRECTIONS FOR OPERATING
Plug the bath into any convenient outlet of 115 volt 50/60
cycle alternating current (unless specifically modified for
operation on higher voltage or direct as well as alternating
current). Where a proper outlet is not available, an adapter
plug should be used and correctly grounded.
Remove Plexiglass Slat from inside unit. Place the paraffin
in the bath. There is no power switch so the unit will be on
once plugged in. Turn the knob clockwise to the high heat
position on Model PB-101 to activate the high-heat circuit
(the high heat circuit will stay in operation until the circuit is
manually switched off). On models PB-104, PB-105 and
PB-107, rotate the timer switch to activate the timed hi-heat
circuit for the full 55 minutes. To rapidly melt the paraffin it
may be desirable to activate the hi-heat circuit a second
time. In any event, when the time switch returns to “0” the
hi-heat circuit is broken and the bath automatically will
begin to operate on the maintenance circuit. Therefore,
after the timer returns to “0”, allow the bath to cool until the
treatment temperature of 126°F (52.2°C) is reached and
maintained. The high heat warming light will go off as
treatment temperature is approached.
** CAUTION! Do not rely on the light alone to
determine whether the Dickson Paraffin Bath is at
operating temperature – ALWAYS CHECK THAT THE
PROVIDED THERMOMETER READS A SAFE
OPERATING TEMPERATURE, 126° to 132°F (52.2
°
to
55.6°C) BEFORE SUBMERGING ANY APPENDAGES IN
THE WAX!
Keep the unit connected to the electrical outlet. The
maintenance circuit, independent of the high-heat circuit, is
controlled by a close differential thermo-switch set to
automatically keep the bath liquid at a temperature of
126°F (52.2°C). The DICKSON Bath precisely maintains
this temperature. This insures the quickest possible “glove”
to be formed.
If a higher temperature is required for an individual patient,
turn on the high heat knob until the thermometer shows the
desired temperature. As a rule, with the high-heat knob
switched on and the bath covered, the temperature will rise
1°F (0.55°C) per minute.
If a lower temperature is desired, pull the plug from the
electrical outlet, letting the bath cool until the thermostat
indicates the temperature desired. The bath will cool at a
rate of 1°F (0.55°C) every 10 minutes.
The high heat indicator light will go on when the
temperature of the bath is anywhere in the range of 140 to
150°F (54.4 to 65.5 °C) and above. This light indicates
when the bath is coming up to sanitizing temperature. DO
NOT USE INDICATOR LIGHT TO DETERMINE
OPERATING TEMPERATURE! ALWAYS VERIFY
OPERATING TEMPERATURE WITH THE PROVIDED
THERMOMETER.
To sanitize the bath, turn the high-heat switch on for a full 55
minutes. The temperature will rise to about 212°F (100°C).
The bath should, in this manner, be sanitized after each
day's use. Again, the bath will automatically return to the
operating temperature (On models PB-104, PB-105, and
PB-107 only), the bath is thus normally self-sanitizing.
It is recommended the Paraffin Bath be connected to
electric current day and night. It will then be ready for use at
any time. To attempt to melt the paraffin every day to bring it
to an operating temperature will consume valuable time.
The cost of continuous operation of the bath will
approximate the cost of continuously burning a 40 watt
bulb.
The temperature of the paraffin will not rise above 212°F
(100°C) at any time. Again, on all DICKSON models, there
is a safety limit switch on the melting element. Thus the
powerful melting element is safety circuited by both the cut-
out switch and the timer mechanism. As an added
precaution the maintenance element, which in itself is not
powerful enough to overheat the bath is also limited by a
cut-out switch.
If it is necessary to disconnect the bath from the electrical
circuit at night, the temperature of the paraffin solution will
drop approximately 25 to 30°F (13.8 to 16.5°C). By turning
the high-heat switch on in the morning for about 30 minutes
the proper treatment temperature will again be achieved.
BE SURE THAT THERE IS PARAFFIN IN THE TANK BEFORE
OPERATING UNIT. OPERATION WITH AN EMPTY TANK MAY CAUSE
THE HEATING ELEMENTS TO BURN OUT.