We use a backup generator for power outages, and also, all critical instruments are plugged into an appropriate sized UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply) to hold them for about 2 hours of uninterrupted power until the generators kick in. Basically what Allan Wang said in his reply. Just remember that your backup generator has to be outside to avoid nasty fumes. Terri
Terri L. Braud, HT(ASCP) Anatomic Pathology Supervisor Laboratory Holy Redeemer Hospital 1648 Huntingdon Pike Meadowbrook, PA 19046 ph: 215-938-3689 fax: 215-938-3874 Care, Comfort, and Heal 5. effect of power outage on tissue processor (Matthew Fleming) 6. Re: effect of power outage on tissue processor (Allan Wang) Message: 5 Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2018 08:02:47 -0500 From: Matthew Fleming <mgf...@gmail.com> Subject: effect of power outage on tissue processor 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 ------------------------------ Message: 6 Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2018 12:45:07 -0400 From: Allan Wang <all...@biomax.us> To: Matthew Fleming <mgf...@gmail.com> Cc: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: Re: [Histonet] effect of power outage on tissue processor Message-ID: <ca+3cvl7hsgn66xivvgmvwn+vsoatw4d61g2u2qksde1kcoo...@mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" 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 > ------------------------------ Subject: Digest Footer _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet ------------------------------ End of Histonet Digest, Vol 173, Issue 15 ***************************************** _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet