Sam Levine1d ago

Ran a column, which seemed to be fine (maybe...). Went to concentrate down the fractions and oh look the vacuum pump attached to the rotovap isn't pulling vacuum.

I sort of enjoy that Buchi's trouble shooting guide is

  • is the power cord plugged in to the device
  • is the main power switch on

    • Unfortunately there isn't much after this for "turns on but just doesn't pull" other than that the casing bolts are loose. So I took it apart, cleaned the tubing and membranes and tightened down all of the bolts including the casing ones (which while they didn't feel loose were maybe not as tight as they could have been). I can't test it however until I can disconnect the backup pump (which I had to get out of storage) from the rotovap though, because this is a very fancy pump that only pulls when the rotovap tells it to and I'm not sure if there is an override for that.

    How is everyone else's Monday going?

    Show threadSam Levine1d ago

    I remembered it can run without the rotovap if I just plug it in. It still isn't running at all. Just nothing. The power light is weirdly flicker-y, but it might have been like that before. Gah.

    I emailed Buchi, but I have a feeling this is going to be an expensive service call/repair if I want it even diagnosed (I don't think they will touch things where you take apart more than the front casing for the user serviceable membranes, though maybe that just applies to things still under warranty and I don't think this is? Unless they do 10 year ones anyway.)

    Show threadSam Levine

    On a very related note: anyone know if using the "vacu controller" on a fancy buchi rotovap when you don't have the fancy pump with the controller attached is a problem? It is clicking a lot as it adjusts things from my not fancy pump (that I can adjust the vacuum with by hand) and I don't want to damage it. I can always do this entirely by hand if necessary. Though in that case I should maybe move the fancy rotovap out of the hood and just use one of the less fancy ones...

    #Chemistry #ChemiVerse #LabLife

    Jun 15 at 9:15pmWeb
    Show threadSam Levine1d ago
    The extra noise from the louder pump (because no direct control) and the click click from the vacu controller module is going to drive me back to ear plugs again.