DRB200 Troubleshooting Guide

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DRB200 Troubleshooting Guide ..........................................................................................................1

Scope and Principle ............................................................................................................................2

Presale Information ...........................................................................................................................2

Accessories/Replacement Parts ..........................................................................................................4

Instrument Specifications ...................................................................................................................5

Maintenance .....................................................................................................................................8

Troubleshooting Information .............................................................................................................9

FAQ ...................................................................................................................................................9
Scope and Principle
1. Scope: The DRB200 dry thermostate reactor has preprogrammed programs for Hach procedures
that require digestion. The reactor is safe, versatile, accommodates most test vials, heats fast,
reproducible, and has optional duel block for simultaneous digestions.
2. Measuring principle: The dry thermostate reactor is a benchtop instrument for heating
prepared samples, within the temperature range of 37°C to 165°C for a designated amount of
time between 0 to 480 minutes. The instrument can accommodate vials from 13mm to 20mm
in diameter.
3. Application: Digesting samples in the following industries: drinking water, wastewater,
industrial. Hach EPA compliant digestion procedures.

Presale Information
1. Common DRB200 Model Part Numbers 115V
a. LTV082.53.30001, 110 V, single block, 9 16-mm and 2 20-mm vial wells
b. LTV082.53.40001, 110 V, single block, 15 16-mm vial wells
c. LTV082.53.42001, 110 V, dual block, 21 16-mm and 4 20-mm vial wells
d. LTV082.53.40001, 110 V, dual block, 30 16-mm vial wells

e. DRB200-01, 110 V, single block, 9 13-mm and 2 20-mm vial wells

f. DRB200-02, 110 V, dual block, 21 13-mm and 4 20-mm vial wells
g. DRB200-03, 110 V, dual block, 30 13-mm vial wells
h. DRB200-04, 110 V, dual block, 12 13-mm and 8 20-mm vial wells

2. Common DRB200 Model Part Numbers 230V

a. LTV082.52.30001, 230 V, single block, 9 16-mm and 2 20-mm vial wells
b. LTV082.52.40001, 230 V, single block, 15 16-mm vial wells
c. LTV082.52.42001, 230 V, dual block, 21 16-mm and 4 20-mm vial wells
d. LTV082.52.44001, 230 V, dual block, 30 16-mm vial wells

e. DRB200-05, 230 V, single block, 9 13-mm and 2 20-mm vial wells

f. DRB200-06, 230 V, dual block, 21 13-mm and 4 20-mm vial wells
g. DRB200-07, 230 V, dual block, 30 13-mm vial wells
h. DRB200-08, 230 V, dual block, 12 13-mm and 8 20-mm vial wells

3. Advantages of DRB200 over Hot Plate Digestion

a. DRB200 preprogrammed programs, closed system, fast and reproducible heating,
multiple samples digested at once.
b. Hot plate digestions require a fume hood, DRB200 minimizes exposure to chemicals and
other safety concerns.
 c. Hot plate digestions require supervison, DRB200 reactor can operate without
supervision once program is initiated.

4. Well Size Options

a. Well size 13mm test tubes (TNT+)
b. Well size 16mm (TNT)
c. Well size 20mm (digestion vials in TNT+ reagent sets)

5. Configurations
a. Single Block: 9x16mm 2x20mm, 15x16mm, blank, 9x13mm 2x20mm

b. Duel Blocks: 21x16mm 4x20mm or 30x16mm

c. Duel Blocks: 21x13mm 4x20mm or 30x13mm

 d. Dual Block: 9x13mm 8x20mm

Accessories/Replacement Parts
1. Reducing Adapters

a. 20mm to 16mm - HHA155 (ea)

b. 16mm to 13mm - 2895805 (pkg 5)

2. Protective Lid - LZT048

3. US Power Cord - 1801000

 4. Thermometer 0 to 200C - 4565500

5. Glycerin (Glycerol) - 243134

Instrument Specifications

View of DRB200 (Duel Block)

Display and Keys

Programs
1. Stored Programs
a. Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), 150C, 2 hours
b. Total Organic Carbon (TOC), 105C, 2 hours
c. 100C: heat 30,60,120min
d. 105C: heat 30,60,120min
e. 150C: heat 30,60,120min
f. 165C: heat 30,60,120min
2. User Programs: User programs make "variable temperature and time options”:
a. 3 programs available: PRG1, PRG2, PRG3
b. 4 Character Name
c. Temperature: 37-165C
d. Time: 0-480min
Software Navigation

Symbols and Beeps

1. Clock Symbol
a. Clock symbol will change as the timer is running.
b. The remaining time is displayed as it counts down to zero.
c. DRB200 will beep three times when temperature program is complete. Reactor wil turn
off the heater and begin to cool.

2. Thermometer Symbol
a. Thermometer symbol will change as the DRB200 heating block is heating. The reactor
will display the status of the thermometer temperature.
b. Thermometer symbol will remain constant when temperature is reached.
c. The status of the thermometer themperature is displayed when the reactor is cooling.

3. Audible Beeps
a. The instrument will beep twice when the set temperature is achieved and the timer is
ready to start.
a. DRB200 will beep three times when temperature program is complete. Reactor wil turn
off the heater and begin to cool.
Maintenance
1. Cleaning the Instrument :

1. Switch off the instrument, unplug the power cord and allow the instrument to cool.

2. Wipe the instrument with a soft, damp cloth. Make sure no water penetrates into the
instrument.

If a vial overflows or breaks, or a small amount of liquid is spilled, proceed as follows:

1. Switch off the instrument, unplug the power cord and allow the instrument to cool.

2. Draw off the liquid with a pipette, avoiding any contact with the skin.

3. Transfer liquid residues to a proper disposal.

4. Remove broken glass with tweezers and wipe out any remaining liquid, avoiding any
contact with the skin. Switch off the instrument, unplug the power cord and allow the
instrument to cool.

2. Instrument Temperature Test

The temperature shown in the display corresponds to the temperature in a closed HACH vial
filled with an aqueous medium. During the heating phase, the real block temperature in the
vicinity of the heater may be higher than the temperature shown on the display.

Materials needed: Empty Hach vial, glycerol (approximately 5 mL), and a calibration stem-type
thermometer (95–155 °C) are needed to check the block temperature.

1. Fill a clean, empty vial with glycerol at room temperature, and insert the thermometer
until it touches the bottom of the vial.

2. When the thermometer is in the vial, the level of the glycerol must be 51 mm ± 0.5 mm
from the bottom for 16mm cuvette or 62mm ± 0.5 mm from the bottom for a 13mm
cuvette. *glycerol should be a room temperature.

3. Insert the vial in the center opening of the second row of the left test block.

4. Start the temperature program for 150 °C, 60 minutes (or the COD program) for this
block.

5. When the heating phase is complete, the thermometer temperature should be the
same as the temperature shown on the display. (See FAQ for more information)
Troubleshooting Information
1. Common Error Messages (provided by instrument manual)

FAQ
Q: What can be done to adjust the Instrument Temperature Test when the value is off from 150C?
A: A calibration adjustment should only be done by Hach authorized service technicians. The
typical accuracy if +/- 2C. The most common reason for DRB200 reactors to measure high 153-
155C is that the reactor has not reached equilibrium. When the reactor starts heating towards
set temperature, it will initially overshoot the temperature about 2C and then cool down to set
point. Allow the reactor to heat at 150C for 30min. sometimes this will allow a reactor to pass
this test.

Q: There is a hole in the bottom of the DRB200 well. Is this a manufacturing defect?

A: No, the Hach DRB-200 reactor blocks (P/N LTV082.XX.XXXXX AND DRB-XXX) may have tiny
holes in the bottom of the block. This is normal because there is just one ground plate carrying
all the different types of its wells. So, due to the bigger diameter of the 16mm block you can see
this little hole. This has no influence to the function of the reactor. The plate on the bottom
prevents any fluids from entering into the electronics.
Q: The DRB200 says "Init Error" upon startup. What is wrong?
A: The DRB200 gives this error when one of the blocks is not working. The reactor will need to
be repaired by a Hach authorized service technician.

Q: I have several DRB200 reactors that have been serviced several times for “Init Error”, what could be
the cause of this?
A: It is likely due to power surges in the area. When the instrument heats up initially, it tries to
determine if it is using 115V or 230V. If the power factor is varying, it might repeatedly heat up
trying to determine which is being used, possibly causing the blocks to fail more frequently.

Q: Can you turn the instrument off before it cools to room temperature?
A: Yes, but it is not good laboratory practice. A powered off reactor can not alert other
technicians that the block is hot. Also, damage can occur to the instrument if you turn it back on
before it cools back down to room temperature.

Q: If the DRB200 has a catastrophic failure, what is the highest temperature the block could obtain?
A: The thermal link within each reactor block is designed to melt and shut off power to the
heater if the block reaches 216° C.

Q: What can cause my COD reagent vials to get stuck in the DRB200 reactor wells?
A: If the reagent vial caps leak, acid from the vials can react aggressively with the aluminum
wells. This leaking acid can cause damage to the reactor block if it makes contact with the
electrical boards.