4/24/96

We have a Bal-Tec CPD030. It has been used very little. This is because we cannot get it to drain. It might take all night for the alcohol-CO2 mixture to empty. The instructions seem very straigt-forward. We fill partially with 100% ethanol (with or without a sample), cool to 8 degrees C, let in the carbon dioxide (yes, the tank is the kind with the dip tube), then press the medium out button. At first it seems to empty, then gets very slow. Has anyone had a similar problem? The valves seem to work as I hear a loud click when pressing buttons. The filters are clean. Any other ideas? thanks.

Joyce Craig
Chicago.State.University@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu

Have no experience with this particular model, but when I was in south carolina were it is very humid, the ooutlet tube would freeze sloid and become blocked, the technician kept a hair blow dryer at hand to warm the outlet tube enough to keep the flow of EtOH and CO2 moving.

rschmitz@uwspmail.uwsp.edu
or
rschmitz@macsrv1.uwsp.edu
Robert (Bob) J. Schmitz

Joyce,
I think that the inlet diaphram maybe clogged. I am now with RMC and still help people with problems with BAL-TEC / Balzers equipment. Please feel free to call me at RMC, 520-889-7900. I can talk you through your difficulties if you call.

P.S I am available to help any BAL-TEC/ Balzers users out there, just E-Mail me or call.

Al Coritz
PHOBOS11@aol.com

Joyce,
In my opinion, it looks like the problem is that the exhaust pipe is jammed. Maybe it is too thin or dirty. If this is the case, in the beginning it will work fine. After a while, it will freeze and jam. Under normal conditions, you can hear loud sound and see CO2 gas and ice is expelled when you open the venting value. If this does not happen, it was probably jammed.

Ya Chen
Email:YChen@macc.wisc.edu

We have in our lab and for over three years the same CPD030 and we never had this problem. The dehydrant/Co2 exchange should not cause any trouble,and the sound should not be loud when you depress the buttons. However we had prior to this Bal-tec 030 we had a cpd020 and a similar problem occured the reason was " frozen valves " Maybe when cooling the chamber do not cool under 11 degrees. Try it then call for service check the valves.

Sylvia Francis Zalzal
franciss@ere.umontreal.ca

Hi Joyce,
We have a Balzers CPD030 and I've experienced the same problem that you have. What I have had to do is check the inlet diaphram. 9 times out of 10 something has clogged it. I'll take it out and holding the diaphram firmly, I "blast" it with an air duster. That usually does the trick.

Peling Melville
E-mail: peling@amnh.org

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