Re: dedicated circuits for automated microtomes and ultramicrotomes

From:Philip Oshel

Gayle,

Yes.
To expand: maybe not really "yes, dedicated, each circuit to its own 
ultratome" as a *requirement*, the ultratome power supplies might be 
good enough to handle noisy power lines, power dips and fluctuations, 
and the like, but ... ultratomes are expensive, and sudden surges and 
brownouts can cause problems, as can outages. It's relatively cheap 
to add circuits, especially in the planning stage, much cheaper than 
after the fact power conditioning, so plan on dedicated circuits. 
Overplan, in fact. At this stage, you have the opportunity to plan 
for *lots* of dedicated circuits, whether they're needed or not. Put 
them in now, and you'll have more flexibility in where you place your 
equipment, and better power for future needs.
A more critical question is: do your ultratomes need isolated 
grounds? This requires more planning, as the ground line for the 
equipment has to be isolated all the way back to -- or beyond -- the 
main power distribution center, not just the local circuit box. 
Isolated grounds (to prevent ground loops) are critical for things 
like electron microscopes, but I don't know how important they are 
for ultratomes. The manufacturer can tell you if they are needed for 
your instruments.
But again, needed or not, the planning stage is the place to put in 
things like isolated grounds, and the costs are much lower than doing 
it later when the need arises, so why not do it now?

Phil

>I need info like yesterday! Rats!
>
>Do fully automated microtomes i.e. Leica 2155 or 2165 and Ultracut UCT 51
>ultramicrotomes require dedicated circuits in laboratories?  A new facility
>is being planned and feedback asap will be very welcome.  What kind of
>setups do you have in your labs?  I would assume these instruments are fine
>with regular circuits???
>
>After blowing circuit breakers  with too much equipment on a line, we are
>planning on dedicating the processor, two cryostats and the fume hood.  Do
>any of you out in HIstoland have dedicated circuits for any other
>electrical instruments?
>
>
>Gayle Callis
>MT,HT,HTL(ASCP)
>Research Histopathology Supervisor
>Veterinary Molecular Biology - Marsh Lab
>Montana State University - Bozeman
>19th and Lincoln St
>Bozeman MT 59717-3610
>
>406 994-6367 (voice mail)
>406 994-4303 (FAX)
>
>email: UVSGC@montana.edu

-- 
Philip Oshel
Supervisor, BBPIC microscopy facility
Department of Animal Sciences
University of Wisconsin
1675 Observatory Drive
Madison,  WI  53706 - 1284
voice: (608) 263-4162
fax: (608) 262-5157 (dept. fax)




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