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hot lid module, which presses the tubes from the top and heat them for preventing
condensation and also eliminates self-opening of the tubes in order to avoid a possible
contamination of the instrument by amplicones;
electronics modules including power supplies RS-50 and SP-500-12;
cabinet of the instrument, which has several ventilation holes.
The instrument rear panel accommodates the following (fig.2):
power switch;
two fuses;
power input;
USB connection (type B).
Fig.2 Rear view of DTlite instrument
Caution!
The instrument has precision mechanical elements. To avoid displacement of them
any shocks during operation and movement of the instrument should be eliminated. When in-
strument is moved the thermal block has to be in closed position.
2.2 Fast thermal control system
The system of high-rate temperature control includes a thermal unit, its movement and posi-
tioning module, and the hot lid module.
The thermal block
ensures thermal cycling of the tubes according to the amplification pro-
gram. Two Peltier elements are used for thermal plate cooling and heating providing high ac-
curacy of temperature regulation, noiselessness, good characteristics of mass-and- dimension
ratio and high reliability. Each of these Peltier elements has its own temperature sensor and
regulator that allows the preset of necessary temperature gradients across the plate.
The instrument thermal plate is made of aluminum alloy, which possesses an optimal ratio
between good thermal conductivity, weight, and processing characteristics. The plate design
is a cellular structure with reinforcing ribs and corresponding number of wells:
in S modification – 48 wells for standard 200 mcl PCR tubes with distance between the
rows as in standard 48-well plates. The well shape provides optimal heat transfer to the sam-
ples with volume up to 50 mcl.
in L modification – 192 wells for standard 45 mcl 192-well PCR microplates.
Note!
For stable results, tubes with the angle of tapered part of 17°20" must be used.
