EBME Forums Forums Maintenance Technical Assistance Centrifuge repair

Can anyone give me some general advice about an MSE Mistral 2000 I've been given for repair. The display complains that there is no tachometer. However I've checked that a good signal is getting to the pcb and that the comparator's (LM339) output is good.

What other interlocks are there concerned with the motor?

How can you get into the main part of the case?

TIA

Steve

Hi,

The Mistral 2000 is very sensitive to electrical interference, when your remove the front panel you have probably noticed that the mains input is precariously close to the processor and the abundance of ferrite around the input signal connectors.

A taco error is a very common fault with this model and my advice initially would be to perform a software reset. This can be done by manually opening the lid via the emergency lid release (insert a long terminal screw driver into the small hole in the left panel of the centrifuge), switch on, push the CE button a few times, switch off, switch on and run a test.

9 times out of 10 this clears the error until the next generator test!!

I hope the above information is not to late as I only occasionally check this site, but if you do feel you require any more information please don't hesitate to contact me on the number below.

Best Regards

Colin Bradnam

DJB Labcare Ltd
www.djblabcare.co.uk
Tel: 01908 612598

Some of the centrifuges need to perform master reset (can find in user or service manual) to clear the taco meter problem.

As Mr mcafzap has not yet opened the case it is a good start to check the motor brushes as depleted brushes also gives the afore mentioned error.

To do this (insert a long terminal screw driver into the small hole in the left panel of the centrifuge) as suggested by Colin.

Have someone Decontaminate the main fuge, bowl, rotors and buckets as per your trust policy.

Ensure rotor and buckets are removed

wearing gloves and mask, remove the rubber seal from around the bowl.

Pull out the drum

Unscrew the four screwheads (now visible)

With the help of a friend seperate the upper half of the chasis and place to the right of the fuge (and walla access to the beast.

Everything else should be quite logical

Hope this helps

LIII

Steve,
Tacho signal loss, which can't be rectified through a mains reset is usually a component failure on the main board.

Difficult to trace, most people write their 2000's off. It's probably the best part of 15-20 years old.

Sadly the Mistral 2000 wasn't the most reliable of machines, however it's replacement, the MSE Harrier 15/80 is more reliable and you can use the Mistral 2000 rotor/buckets/adapters in it too.

Anthony
Henderson Biomedical Ltd
www.henderson-biomedical.co.uk
0208 663 4610

Welcome to the forum, Anthony.

We don't often get discussions about lab kit on here.

I have always assumed that this was because many NHS biomeds don't get too involved in the lab.

Those of us on the Dark Side (that is, the so-called Private Sector) do, however. I have noted your nice website, and may well be in touch regarding spare parts and all the rest.

Thank you for the welcome Geoff (I was looking for an introduction or newbie thread but couldn't find one...!)

You are always welcome to give us a call about parts or advice, and I think you're probably quite right with regards NHS users maintaining their own equipment, although there are a few trusts we operate with where the Medical Engineering team are really quite good and certainly know their stuff. Depends how much training heads of the department are prepared to pay for and the willingness of staff I guess.

Thanks for the compliment about the website - it was a long time in production!

More a question of Lab Chiefs protecting their own turf (budgets, etc.) I should imagine.

The same goes for NHS Imaging (X-Ray) Departments, of course.