USB connection dropout with Biotek 405TS

Integrated Devices (Centrifuge, Washer, etc)
1

Hi,

I know this forum is more automation specific but I figured maybe someone who worked with these washers can help.
We have a Biotek 405TS, and even before integrating it with the ML Star we have issues with connection dropouts. The instrument is connected with USB and using the dedicated LHC 2.2 software it manages to show connection to the PC and receive commands for a few minutes - but then it suddenly drops and connection is lost until the plate washer is turned off and on. When pressing “Test Connection” error 6046 appears.

Things we tried:

  1. Different PCs with Win10/11
  2. Different cables
  3. Disabling power save mode both for windows in general and for each of the USB ports via device manager

Any help will be much appreciated!

Isaac

1 Like
2

If every configuration youve tried has a similar stochastic failure mode its practically guaranteed to be a circuitry/ board failure. Is it an older device? Any info on what error 6046 means?

3

I did a quick search in the decompiled LHC2 software and could not find where it is thrown (I had found errors that way previously), so I also guess its forwarded from the hardware.
You could at least try to reproduce the error via the C# interface instead of the GUI. That should give some more context and error messages.

4

Thank you both for the replies. 6046 says the COM port is not available the cable needs to be checked.
How do you operate the LHC via C#?

5

Part of the LHC software should be a pdf called “LHC Runner User Application” or “LHC Runner User App Interface Spec”. I can not upload .pdf here. Its documented there. But you have to make it a 32bit application… LHC software is ancient

6

Ok I’ll look into that, thanks.
Btw, today I hooked up another plate washer from Biotek 405LS and everything was working great.
I have a feeling the USB or whatever handles the connection fails

7

Make sure that Windows settings keep the USB connection alive. Some power saving setting can deactivate USB. I also integrated this washer & found that if the washer has an error (any type of error!) the serial connection drops. You can get around this by restarting the connection (disconnect/reconnect cycle).