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@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 > _______________________________________________ > Histonet mailing list > Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu > http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet > _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet