Troubleshooting
Tech Support: 1-800-4BIORAD • 1-800-424-6723 • www.bio-rad.com 11-5
Error Message Cause and Result Action
PS Overheated,
Program Terminated
Machine is not getting enough air,
or air being taken in is warmer
than 31°C.
Make sure that machine is getting
enough air and that temperature of
air being taken in is 31°C or cooler
(see p. 3-3). Correct any air supply
problems and run protocol again.
If error message persists, base
may need servicing. Contact
Bio-Rad or your local distributor.
Machine is running a protocol con-
sisting of many cycles of only a few
seconds each. Alpha unit heat sink
does not have time to dissipate
heat generated by rapid cycling.
Eventually its maximum allowable
temperature is exceeded, and
Alpha unit is shut down.
Contact Bio-Rad or your local dis-
tributor to discuss protocol.
PS Overheating,
Check Air Flow
See causes for “PS Overheating,
Program Terminated.”
See actions for “PS Overheating,
Program Terminated.”
PS Sensor Fault,
Temp Ignored
Power supply sensor is not
working properly. Protocols can
still be run, but machine should be
serviced soon to repair sensor.
Base needs servicing. Contact
Bio-Rad or your local distributor.
Slow Block Cycling,
Service Alpha Soon
Alpha unit block has not reached
target temperature within expected
time. Unit will begin beeping, and
will continue to beep until target
temperature is reached, protocol is
manually progressed to its next
step (see p.5-8), or protocol run is
halted. Problem often results from
machine not getting enough air, or
taking air that is warmer than 31°C.
Make sure that machine is getting
enough air and that temperature of
air being taken in is 31°C or cooler
(see p. 3-3). Correct any air supply
problems and run protocol again.
If error message persists, software
upgrade may be needed or base
may need servicing. Contact
Bio-Rad or your local distributor.
Slow Lid Cycling,
Service Alpha Soon
Alpha unit lid has not reached
target temperature within expected
time. Unit will begin beeping, and
will continue to beep until target
temperature is reached, protocol is
manually progressed to its next
step (see p.5-8), or protocol run is
halted.
Alpha unit lid needs servicing
soon. Contact Bio-Rad or your
local distributor.
Unit Failure/
Unit X Failure
(Tetrad)
The self-test has failed because of
a problem with the base or the
Alpha unit.
Contact Bio-Rad or your local dis-
tributor.
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