BIO RAD PowerPac 200, PowerPac 300 Instruction Manual

–+

POWER PAC 300

V
mA

V

CONST

–+

A

–+

–+

POWER PAC 200

AND

POWER PAC 300

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

Catalog Numbers

PowerPac 200

165-5052
165-5053

PowerPac 300

165-5050
165-5051

1

POWER PAC

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Section 1.0 Introduction ........................................................... 4

1.1 Overview ................................................................. 4

1.2 Unpacking ............................................................... 5

Section 2.0 Control Features.................................................... 6

Section 3.0 Setup and Operation............................................. 7

Section 4.0 Maintenance and Troubleshooting...................... 10

4.1 Maintenance............................................................ 10

4.2 Troubleshooting....................................................... 10

4.3 Replacing a Fuse .................................................... 12

4.4 Firmware Version Number ...................................... 12

Appendix A. Specifications........................................................ 13

Appendix B. Warranty and Ordering Information .................... 15

LIST OF FIGURES

1. PowerPac 300 Power Supply.................................................. 4

2. Location of the Fuse................................................................ 12

LIST OF TABLES

1. Front Panel Controls and Indicators........................................ 6

2. Setup Procedure ...................................................................... 7

2

POWER PAC

Safety

SAFETY

Caution/Warning

PowerPac power supplies use high output voltages that are electrically isolated from earth
ground to minimize the risk of electrical shock to the user. The following guidelines should
be observed and followed when using the power supply.

PowerPac power supplies have passed tests for operation at temperatures between 0°
and 40° C, with relative humidity between 0 and 95% non-condensing. Operating the
power supply outside these conditions is not recommended by Bio-Rad and will void the
warranty.

1. To ensure adequate cooling of the power supply, be sure that there is at least 6 cm clearance
around the power supply. Do not block the fan vents at the rear of the unit.

2. Always connect the power supply to a 3-prong, grounded AC outlet, using the 3-prong AC power
cord provided with the power supply.

3. Bio-Rad electrophoresis cells have molded two-prong plugs which are inserted into the power sup­ply’s high voltage output jacks. These plugs have been I.E.C. 1010 certified for safety compliance
for use with PowerPac power supplies. Use of other plugs or banana jacks, including the PowerPac
Adapter, is done at the user’s own risk and is not recommended by Bio-Rad. When inserting and
removing the molded two-prong plug, always grasp the plug by the molded support at the rear of the
plug. Do not grasp the individual prong ends!

4. Do not operate the power supply in extreme humidity (≥95%) or where condensation can short the
internal electrical circuits of the power supply.

5. When taking the power supply into a cold room, the unit can be operated immediately. However,
when removing the power supply from the cold room, let the unit equilibrate to room temperature for
a minimum of 2 hours before using it.

!

3

POWER PAC

Safety

Important

This instrument is intended for laboratory use only.
This product conforms to the “Class A” standards for Electromagnetic Emissions, intended for laboratory

equipment applications. It is possible that emissions from this product may interfere with some sensitive
appliances when placed nearby or on the same circuit as those appliances. The user should be aware of
this potential and take appropriate measures to avoid interference.

Bio-Rad’s PowerPac power supplies are designed and certified to meet I.E.C. 1010* safety standards.
Certified products are safe to use when operated in accordance with the instruction manual. This safety
certification does not extend to electrophoresis cells or accessories which are not I.E.C. 1010 certified, even
when connected to this power supply.

This instrument should not be modified or altered in any way. Alteration of this instrument will void the man­ufacturer’s warranty, void the I.E.C. 1010 certification, and create a potential safety hazard for the user.

Bio-Rad is not responsible for any injury or damage caused by the use of this instrument for purposes other
than for which it is intended or by modifications of the instrument not performed by Bio-Rad or an authorized
agent.

*I.E.C. 1010 is an internationally accepted electrical safety standard for laboratory instruments.

4

POWER PAC

Introduction

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 OVERVIEW

PowerPac power supplies provide constant voltage or constant current to instruments used in electrophore­sis and blotting. The PowerPacs are capable of the following adjustable outputs:

PowerPac 200

Voltage output: Adjustable from 5 to 200 volts in increments of 1 volt.
Current output: Adjustable from 0.01 to 2.00 Amps (2000 mA) in increments of 0.01 A.
Power output: 200 watts (maximum)

PowerPac 300

Voltage output: Adjustable from 10 to 300 volts in increments of 1 volt.
Current output: Adjustable from 4 to 400 milliAmps (mA) in increments of 1 mA.

Power output: 75 watts (maximum)
Up to four electrophoresis cells can be connected in parallel to the power supply.
The PowerPacs are programmed with default limit values for voltage and current. These are the values

which are available when the unit first is turned on. These values may be changed for each application.

Figure 1. PowerPac 300 Power Supply

POWER PAC 300

V

–+

mA

–+

V

CONST

A

–+

–+

5

POWER PAC

Introduction

The power supplies operate at the values specified for the constant parameter. However, to prevent dam­age to your electrophoresis cell, both PowerPacs provide automatic crossover to constant current or con­stant voltage, depending on which set value is first reached. When the set limit of the non-constant parame­ter is reached, and the power capability of the unit is not exceeded, the power supply will switch, making the
non-constant parameter the new constant parameter.

This manual describes the function and use of the PowerPac 200 and PowerPac 300 power supplies,
including all of the necessary information for system setup, operation, and maintenance.

The PowerPac 200 and PowerPac 300 power supplies offer a number of features, including the following:

• Constant voltage or constant current operation with automatic crossover.

• Timer control.

• Viewing angle adjustment.

• 3-digit LED display.

• Stackable case.

• Automatic detection of no-load conditions and rapid changes in resistance.

• Automatic completion of a run interrupted by a power failure, when user enabled.

• Ground leak detection (PowerPac 200 only).

1.2 UNPACKING

When you receive the power supply, carefully inspect the container for any damage which may have
occurred in shipping. Severe damage to the container may indicate damage to the power supply itself. If
you suspect damage to the unit, immediately file a claim with the carrier in accordance with their instructions
before contacting Bio-Rad Laboratories.

Unpack the power supply. The PowerPac power supplies are shipped with the following:

• Power supply unit.

• 3-prong, AC power cord.

• User Manual.

If any part is missing or damaged, contact Bio-Rad Laboratories immediately.