Cleaning And Decontamination; Lubrication - Thermo Scientific SORVALL RC-5C PLUS User Manual

Care and Maintenance
W A R N I N G
!
If hazardous materials have
been processed in the centrifuge, ob-
serve all necessary precautions when
you are cleaning or servicing the cen-
trifuge to avoid the possibility of con-
tamination.
C A U T I O N
!
Chlorides (for example,
bleach solutions) are extremely harm-
ful to aluminum alloy rotors and can
cause stress corrosion cracking.
Therefore, do not use chlorides to
decontaminate the chamber.
W A R N I N G
!
Only a qualified technician
should attempt to clean the condenser
fins. Before accessing the condenser,
technicians should unplug the power
cord to avoid exposure to hazardous
electrical circuits. Also, the condenser
fins are very sharp; to avoid personal
injury, technicians should use care
when cleaning fins.
5-2

Cleaning and Decontamination

Rotor Chamber
The rotor chamber should be defrosted and cleaned periodically to
maintain efficient cooling. To defrost the chamber, install a rotor,
close the chamber door, set the RUN temperature switch for 25°C
and set the MAX temperature switch for 30°C, then run the centri-
fuge until the frost melts. When defrosting is complete, wipe the
chamber dry with a damp sponge or cloth.
Use 70% ethanol to disinfect the rotor chamber and the rubber door
seal or a 2% glutaraldehyde solution to sterilize them, then follow
with several deionized water rinses. For general radioactive decon-
tamination, use a solution of equal parts 70% ethanol, 10% SDS, and
water. Follow this with ethanol rinses, then deionized water rinses.
Dry with a soft absorbent cloth. Dispose of all wash solutions in
proper radioactive waste containers.
To prevent condensation from forming in the rotor chamber, keep
the chamber door closed when the chamber is cold.
Tapered Drive Spindle
Wipe the drive spindle with a soft cloth each time a rotor is to be
installed to reduce the chance of the rotor sticking. Once a week,
wash the drive spindle with warm water.
Cabinet
Clean the cabinet panels, top deck, and chamber door with a mild,
nonalkaline detergent and water. Do not use abrasive cleansers.
Refrigeration System Condenser Fins
To maintain the efficiency of the refrigeration system, the condenser
fins (located in the rear of the centrifuge) must be kept free of dust
and dirt. Condenser fins should be cleaned with a brush or a
vacuum cleaner at least annually, more often if dust accumulates
significantly. The fins will bend easily; be very careful when clean-
ing them. Due to hazards involved, only a qualified technician
should attempt to clean the condenser fins.

Lubrication

All components are prelubricated and require no further lubrica-
tion. The refrigeration unit is hermetically sealed and the ball bear-
ings in the centrifuge motor are permanently lubricated.
®
SORVALL Centrifuges