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Frequently Asked Questions
If documents are requested they will be
sent via your fax number.
I am Jim Whitney. I was employed by Ericomp, Inc. for 11 years and many
of you will remember me as their Customer Service Manager. With Ericomp,
Inc. going out of business in August 2000, I recognized a need for my former customers to still receive help and for me to remain employed - so the ericompSERVICE website was born.
The serial number is printed on a label on the back of the unit. WARNING
- If you have a Water-Cooled unit BE VERY CAREFUL not to break the water inlet. It
is best to UNPLUG it by pressing on the silver tab above the hose on the left
side.
If you see a momentary row of squares, it has a contaminate in memory
and the RAM memory will have to be cleared mechanically. I can supply
Instructions and Software Set-up procedure for a $15. Document Fee.
If there is nothing on power-up, try opening the front panel, then
remove and reseat both ends of the display ribbon cable. This may clean
the contacts and reestablish communication.
Still nothing? I can provide diagrams for opening front, voltage
checks, and schematic of Signal to Display for $10. document fee.
There is still a 30% chance that it is a problem with RAM contaminate. I can
add documents for clearing the RAM (as in step 1) for an additional
$10.
The program will continue to run but if it's been doing this at other times,
it is best to clear the memory ("Dump" in the menu). If it still
persists, I can provide a Troubleshooting Guide for a $15. Document Fee.
Look at the sample temperature on the display, open the "in-sample"
monitor tube and hold the end of the thermocouple. Is there a temperature
change?
If yes - the keypad is probably bad but it's
worth it to open the front panel and take the keypad ribbon cable connector off and on
several times and try the keypad again.
I can send you for instructions on opening the front and verifying that the
problem truly
IS the keypad for a $10. Document fee. That fee may be
credited toward the purchase of a new keypad.
If no - the memory has contaminate. See
"screen is blank".
Verify that your setpoint temperature and time are displayed when a program is run.
If that still doesn't work, I can supply you with a Heating Trouble-shooting
Guide and how to check your Software Set-Up for a $15. Document Fee.
Start a program, let it heat up 10°-15°, then alternately press 'Stop' -
'Start' and listen for the water valve solenoid click.
No click? It is probably just a connector
contact. Open the front panel, take the connectors along the back of the
top board and the power supply off/on several times to clean and
reseat. Lay front panel back in place and try your program again. I can provide a Cooling Troubleshooting Guide for a $10. Document Fee.
Yes click? Remove the water inlet hose (back
left corner - press silver tab down), take the end to a sink and depress the
plunger at the end. Is there water flow? If so there is a mechanical
problem in back. I can provide a Mechanical Troubleshooting Guide for a
$15. Document Fee.
Do the front display / programming seem normal?
Yes - There is a separate electronics board that
supplies power to the block. It could be the fuse on the board, the board
itself or the block assembly. I can provide a Troubleshooting Guide for a $15.
Document Fee. If you subsequently need to purchase parts or have
it repaired, I will credit the document fee.
No - Clear the memory and try again. I can
supply a Software Set-Up and Optimization Guide for a $10. Document Fee.
Put a simple program in, turn the cycler off for one minute, turn back
on.
Is your new program gone?
The battery back-up is bad.
Is it still there? Just
clear the memory using "Dump" in the menu.
The memory is contaminated. Clear it out using "Dump" in
the menu.
Check the program for a bad time or temperature. It may be just in that
program or a contaminate in memory and the whole memory should be cleared.
Select "Dump" in the menu.
At ambient, with no program running, compare the sample and block
temperatures (in both blocks if so equipped). The highest temperature
reading is the bad thermocouple - probably a sample. I can provide a guide
to confirm which thermocouple is bad and bypass it to get the other block
operational (if so equipped) for a $10. Document Fee.
The memory is full. Clear it out using "Dump" in the
menu.
Is the screen frozen? Go to "Why
does the screen freeze up during a run?"
Is it just not getting to the setpoint and starting the timer? Go to "Why
is the program taking longer to run?"
Does it stop and go back to "ready to start"? Clear memory by
pressing "Dump" in
menu.
The only time the water runs is when the block is under program control and
is going to a lower temperature, i.e. using the water to cool.
Be sure the "in-sample monitor" tube has the correct level of
mineral oil. Watch (or record using a dot matrix printer under
print/select/chart record) cycling between setpoints. If the sample
is slow to get to the setpoint and trigger the timer, the overshoots/undershoots need
adjusting. See your manual.
This one can be difficult. If mechanically clearing the RAM (See 'Why
is my screen blank?) doesn't work, it wants to come here for a little visit.
Your problem obviously needs my special touch -
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