Hamilton Company | Hamilton Diluters | Technical Information | MICROLAB® Diluter & Dispenser Troubleshooting

Error Messages Code Guide

The MICROLAB®'s display windows provide you with system status and with error message information. If an error occurs, an error message appears, the system beeps three times, and all operation and function keys are disabled. To recover from the error, reinitialize the system by pressing the Run/Stop key. You cannot use the probe button on a hand probe to reinitialize the system.

Battery Errors
Communication Errors
Custom Method Errors
Delay Time Errors
Dilution Errors
Dispense Errors
Drive Unit Errors
Method Errors
Priming Errors
Syringe Errors
Titration Errors

Battery Errors

Battery failure
The battery used to preserve stored methods has either run too low to preserve the stored methods, or there is no battery installed. Any methods that have been stored on this unit have been lost.

Battery low
The battery used to preserve stored methods is running low. Replace the battery soon to prevent loss of stored methods.

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Communication Errors

Comunication
The communication link to the drive unit could not be established. Check that the connection to the drive unit is good and that the protocol and baud rate settings are correct. Also try cycling power on the drive unit. Then try the operation again.

Communication invalid echo
The echo received from the drive unit was not correct. Consult the user's manual to ensure the cable, loopback switch, protocol switch, and baud rate switches are set correctly.

Communication invalid length
The drive unit responded to the last command with either too little or too much data. Consult the user's manual to ensure the cable, loopback switch, protocol switch, and baud rate switches are set correctly.

Communication receive time-out
A serial I/O character was not received within the expected amount of time. Consult the user's manual to ensure the cable, loopback switch, protocol switch, and baud rate switches are set up properly.

Communication transmit
A physical serial I/O error occurred while attempting to send a command to the drive unit. This problem should be reported to your distributor.

Communication invalid character
An invalid response was received from the drive unit for the last command sent. Consult the user's manual to ensure the cable, loopback switch, protocol switch, and baud rate switches are set correctly.

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Custom Method Errors

Copy method to custom method
A titrate method cannot be copied to a custom method. All other method types may be converted to a custom method.

Custom method is empty
At least one operation must be specified in a custom method before the method can be accepted.

Custom method over-aspirate
This method will not operate as expected because more volume has been aspirated or filled than will fit in the syringe.

Delay Time Errors

Delay time range
The delay time entered is not allowed on this unit. The valid delay times appear on the bottom of the screen while the delay time is being entered.

Delay time resolution
The delay time entered exceeds the delay time resolution allowed by this unit. The valid delay time resolution appears on the bottom of the screen while the delay time is being entered.

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Dilution Errors

Dilute method
The dilution or ratio and a volume, or any 2 volume values must be entered for a dilution method.

Dilution parameters

The dilution specified cannot be achieved using the syringe size(s) configured. Try one of the following:

Use different dilution values.
Use different sized syringes.
Consult the user's manual to determine appropriate values.

Dilute ratio
A dilution of one or a ratio of zero cannot be accomplished. A dilution greater than one or a ratio greater than zero must be used.

Dilute volume
A dilution cannot be performed when any of the dilution volumes is zero. Dilution volumes of greater than zero must be used.

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Dispense Errors

No aliquot dispense volume
An aliquot dispense method requires at least one non-zero aliquot volume to be specified.

No pipette dispense volume
A pipette method requires that a dispense volume to be specified is greater than zero.

No serial dispense volume
A serial dispense method requires at least one dispense from at least one syringe to be performed.

Aliquots to dispense
The number of aliquots entered is greater than the maximum number of aliquots allowed for the syringe size(s) and volume(s) configured.

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Drive Unit Errors

Drive unit busy
The operation requested cannot be performed because the drive unit is currently busy. Either wait until the drive unit is no longer busy, or cycle its power. Then try the operation again.

Drive unit delay configuration
This drive unit currently attached is not capable of performing one or more of the delays specified in the method. Refer to the user's manual to determine the speeds supported by this drive unit.

Drive unit download configuration
This drive unit either does not have the appropriate number of valves and/or syringes to operate this method, or is not capable or running this method. Refer to the user's manual for more information.

Drive unit download
This drive unit is either unable to store any methods or is not compatible with this controller. Refer to the user's manual for more information drive unit download.

Titrate method
A titration method is an interactive method and, as such, cannot be downloaded to the drive unit. All other types of methods are not interactive and may be downloaded to the drive unit.

Drive unit Step/Prime busy
This operation cannot be performed because the drive unit is currently in Step/Prime mode. Turn the Step/Prime switch off and wait for the unit to stop, then try the operation again.

Drive unit initialization
This operation requested cannot be performed because the drive unit was unable to successfully complete its initialization sequence. Check that all valves and syringes are properly attached. Then try the operation again.

Drive unit over temperature
This method cannot be completed because the drive unit is too warm. The method may be restarted after the drive unit has cooled sufficiently.

Drive unit stalled
This method cannot be completed because the drive unit has experienced a valve and/or syringe stall. The method will have to be restarted.

Drive unit priming
The method cannot be completed because the drive unit is currently in Step/Prime mode. Turn the Step/Prime switch off and wait for the unit to stop. Then try the operation again.

Drive unit speed range
This drive unit is not capable of operating at one or more of the speeds specified in the method. Refer to the user's manual to determine the speeds supported by this drive unit.

Drive unit syringe configuration
This drive unit does not have the appropriate number of syringes to perform this method. Either change the configuration of the method or try a different method.

Invalid/unknown drive unit
This drive unit cannot be operated by the controller. Please refer to the user's manual to determine the types of drive units that can be operated by the controller.

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Method Errors

Duplicate method name
The method name selected cannot be used because a method with the same name already exists. Use the DELETE AN EXISTING METHOD selection to remove that method.

Method memory cleared
The battery used to preserve methods stored on this unit is good, but any stored methods have been lost. This can be caused by battery replacement or by the first power-up of the unit.

Method memory empty
The operation cannot be performed because the method memory is empty. Use the CREATE A NEW METHOD selection to create a new method.

Method memory
A new method cannot be created because the method memory is full. Use the DELETE AN EXISTING METHOD selection to release method memory.

Priming Errors

Prime cycles range
The number of prime cycles entered is not allowed on this unit. The valid number of prime cycles appear on the bottom of the screen while the number of prime cycles is being entered.

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Syringe Errors

Operation exceeds volume
This operation cannot be performed because it exceeds the limits of the syringe. syringe speed range The syringe speed entered cannot be achieved by this unit. The valid syringe speeds appear on the screen while the speed is being entered.

Syringe volume range
The syringe volume entered exceeds the volume of the syringe that has been configured. The valid syringe volumes appear on the bottom of the screen while the syringe volume is being entered.

Syringe volume resolution
The syringe volume entered exceeds the resolution of the syringe that has been configured. The valid syringe resolution appears on the bottom of the screen while the syringe volume is being entered.

Total syringe volume
The total volume(s) entered exceeds the volume of the syringe(s) that have been configured. Either reduce the volume(s), or use a different syringe size.

Total syringe volume range
The total volume entered exceeds the volume of the syringe(s) that have been configured. The valid total volumes appear on the bottom of the screen while the total syringe volume is being entered.

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Titration Errors

Titrate fill volume
The fill volume for the syringe(s) must be at least equal to the initial volume plus the step volume.

Titrate step volume
A step volume greater than zero must be entered for at least one syringe.

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Hamilton Company USA
4970 Energy Way
Reno, Nevada 89502

Tel: (800) 648-5950
Fax: (775) 856-7259

E-mail: sales@hamiltoncompany.com
http://www.hamiltoncompany.com

Sales/Support
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