[Histonet] effect of power outage on tissue processor

[Allan Wang]

A generator is probably the cheapest option if you can go manually start it
after a few hours.

I purchased a UPS for a DNA sequencer which shouldn't lose power when in
use. You may also want one to add a few hours of leeway before the
generator is needed.
You should measure the tissue processor's power consumption during usage
with something like a Kill-A-Watt or cheaper ones to help you choose the
right size of UPS.
The E300 manual says it draws 10.5 A at 110 V which is 1200 W, but actual
usage could be significantly less if you aren't processing 300 samples.

I use this UPS and external battery:
https://www.amazon.com/TRIPP-SU2200XLCD-2200VA-1800W-Online/dp/B00CBQNBYI
https://www.amazon.com/BP48V27-2US-External-Battery-Select-
Online/dp/B00I3RROT2

This battery is also an option:
http://www.provantage.com/tripp-lite-bp48v60rt3u~7TRPL1CE.htm

It has a chart for runtimes with external batteries:
https://assets.tripplite.com/ups-runtime-chart/su2200xlcd-ru
ntime-chart-en.pdf

Allan Wang
Lab Manager
US Biomax

On Fri, Apr 20, 2018 at 9:02 AM, Matthew Fleming via Histonet <
histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu> wrote:

> Folks,
>
> I'm just wondering about the effects of a power outage on the tissue in a
> tissue processor. I have a small dermatopathology lab, which moved about a
> year ago to a location more prone to power outages. Last weekend the power
> was out for about 7 hours, which meant that the tissue was in 100% alcohol
> for about 5 hours, when it is programmed for 2, I believe. The tech who cut
> the tissue said it seemed a little dehydrated, but the slides looked fine.
>
> After that, I got a quote for an automatic backup generator for the
> building, but it came in at $20,000, which was much more than I was
> expecting and an expense I'd certainly like to avoid if possible. I spoke
> to the guy who maintains my equipment, who said our tissue processor (a
> Sakura E300) should not be harmed by a power outage and would pick up where
> it left off once the power returns. He also said that it can sense when the
> paraffin in the supply bins is melted and wouldn't try to use any wax that
> isn't.
>
> But still, a power outage could certainly mean that the tissue remains in a
> solution longer than programmed, as happened last weekend. My question is,
> how much of a risk does this pose? Could it damage the tissue so much as to
> make the ultimate sections uninterpretable?
>
> I should mention that I know when the power goes out, because the building
> has a fire alarm connected to a monitoring service that calls when the
> power goes out. So, as an alternative to spending $20K, I could get a
> manual generator and just go in and plug it in when the power goes out, or
> if it is out for more than an hour or two.
>
> Thanks in advance for your advice.
>
> Matthew Fleming, MD
> Fleming Dermatopathology
> Brown Deer, WI
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