SECTION 4
PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE
4.1 Preventive Maintenance Overview
Cleaning the thermocouple (TC) head is the only routine mainte-
nance required by the Vapro osmometer. This section will guide you
through the necessary steps of removing, cleaning and reinstalling
the TC head. Also included are methods for identifying and resolv-
ing more difficult thermocouple contamination situations.
During normal use, dust or lint particles gradually accumulate in the
sample chamber. Reasonable care in loading and removing sample
material from the sample holder usually makes it possible to run at
least 100 assays before cleaning becomes necessary.
Gross contamination is usually a result of incorrect sample loading
or incompletely removing sample material from the sample holder
following an assay. When correctly operated, sample material will
never contact internal chamber parts. See Section 3.2.
Under heavy use, run the Clean Test when the osmometer has
assayed 100 samples. Record the results of this test. When the
Clean Test shows moderate contamination (Clean Test reading of
around 10) try rinsing the TC mount as explained in Section 4.3. If
simple rinsing fails to correct the problem, you will need to perform
the full cleaning procedure as outlined in Section 4.3.
Cleaning the TC mount as soon as the Clean Test reveals moderate
levels of contamination will save time. Cleaning is much more diffi-
cult if you wait until contamination interferes with normal calibration
settings.
Cleaning the TC head requires removing it from the instrument.
Carefully follow directions to safeguard the thermocouple and
ensure successful completion of the cleaning process.
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