plates in sterilizer bags prior to disposal.

The machine presently appears to have something plugging the water lines such that the following conditions occurred:
1) On an attempted cycle, the pressure *apparently* rose almost immediately as indicated by gauge pressure,
while the heat did not rise hardly at all. The cycle initiated and timed out, but the indicators were that the heat did not reach temperature.

2) The water will not flow from the reservoir to the chamber on turning the valve to "Fill" position.

3) After the most recent attempt at a cycle which was aborted, the door would not open after attempting to vent, so the
return water line may be plugged. The door STILL would not open 12 hrs later, so I used the overpressure safety valve to equalize pressure.
I believe it may have developed a vacuum in the chamber on cooling and stopped the door from opening.

I opened the bellows valve and examined the bellows and they were heavily coated in agar as was also the valve body in which they seat.

I suspect that some of the piping may be clogging with agar. The sterilizer has received routine cleaning cycles with Alfaclean.

Can you please advise with specific directions on how to proceed to rectify?

Is this situation to be expected through normal use and can we take some action to prevent it recurring?


Kind Regards,
Bruce


">

Sterilizer.com Sterilizer Parts Technical Home FAQ Search Submit a Question Your Local Service Login
Enter question keywords
to search


Sterilizer Manufacturer:
Pelton & Crane
Model of Sterilizer:
Magnaclave
Problem Title:
Water feed and steam return lines may be plugged with Agar media.
Problem Description:
We are currently experiencing a significant problem with our 4 yr old Pelton and Crane Magnaclave sterilizer.

The machine has been used a number of times to sterilize "agar" media in preparation for culture as well as sterilizing "agar" media
plates in sterilizer bags prior to disposal.

The machine presently appears to have something plugging the water lines such that the following conditions occurred:
1) On an attempted cycle, the pressure *apparently* rose almost immediately as indicated by gauge pressure,
while the heat did not rise hardly at all. The cycle initiated and timed out, but the indicators were that the heat did not reach temperature.

2) The water will not flow from the reservoir to the chamber on turning the valve to "Fill" position.

3) After the most recent attempt at a cycle which was aborted, the door would not open after attempting to vent, so the
return water line may be plugged. The door STILL would not open 12 hrs later, so I used the overpressure safety valve to equalize pressure.
I believe it may have developed a vacuum in the chamber on cooling and stopped the door from opening.

I opened the bellows valve and examined the bellows and they were heavily coated in agar as was also the valve body in which they seat.

I suspect that some of the piping may be clogging with agar. The sterilizer has received routine cleaning cycles with Alfaclean.

Can you please advise with specific directions on how to proceed to rectify?

Is this situation to be expected through normal use and can we take some action to prevent it recurring?


Kind Regards,
Bruce
The technical information is just to help sterilizer users as reference to do their trouble shooting.
no guarranty implied. For each specific technical help to do with sterilizers
or autoclaves, go to www.sterilizers.com ... or call 1-800-801-9934 Contact Us