Molecular Devices EMax Plus User manual

5032018 C
October 2018
EMax®Plus
Microplate Reader
User Guide

EMax Plus Microplate Reader User Guide
2 5032018 C
This document is provided to customers who have purchased Molecular Devices equipment, software,
reagents, and consumables to use in the operation of such Molecular Devices equipment, software,
reagents, and consumables. This document is copyright protected and any reproduction of this
document, in whole or any part, is strictly prohibited, except as Molecular Devices may authorize in
writing.
Software that may be described in this document is furnished under a non-transferrable license. It is
against the law to copy, modify, or distribute the software on any medium, except as specifically
allowed in the license agreement. Furthermore, the license agreement may prohibit the software
from being disassembled, reverse engineered, or decompiled for any purpose.
Portions of this document may make reference to other manufacturers and/or their products, which
may contain parts whose names are registered as trademarks and/or function as trademarks of their
respective owners. Any such usage is intended only to designate those manufacturers’ products as
supplied by Molecular Devices for incorporation into its equipment and does not imply any right and/or
license to use or permit others to use such manufacturers’ and/or their product names as trademarks.
Each product is shipped with documentation stating specifications and other technical information.
Molecular Devices products are warranted to meet the stated specifications. Molecular Devices makes
no other warranties or representations express or implied, including but not limited to, the fitness of
this product for any particular purpose and assumes no responsibility or contingent liability, including
indirect or consequential damages, for any use to which the purchaser may put the equipment
described herein, or for any adverse circumstances arising therefrom. The sole obligation of Molecular
Devices and the customer's sole remedy are limited to repair or replacement of the product in the
event that the product fails to do as warranted.
For research use only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.
The trademarks mentioned herein are the property of Molecular Devices, LLC or their respective owners. These trademarks may not
be used in any type of promotion or advertising without the prior written permission of Molecular Devices, LLC.
Patents: http://www.moleculardevices.com/patents
Product manufactured by Molecular Devices, LLC.
3860 N. First Street, San Jose, California, 95134, United States of America.
Molecular Devices, LLC is ISO 9001 registered.
©2018Molecular Devices, LLC.
All rights reserved.

5032018 C 3
Contents
Safety Information 4
Warnings, Cautions, Notes, and Tips 4
Chapter 1: Introduction 8
Computer Integration 8
Absorbance Read Mode 9
Endpoint Read Type 10
Kinetic Read Type 10
Chapter 2: Setting Up the Instrument 11
Connecting Instrument Cables 12
Chapter 3: Getting Started 13
Selecting the Instrument in the Software 13
SoftMax Pro Protocol Settings 14
Loading and Unloading Plates 15
Chapter 4: Maintenance 17
Cleaning the Instrument 17
Replacing the Halogen Lamp 18
Adjusting the Lamp 20
Obtaining Support 21
Appendix A: Instrument Specifications 22
Physical Specifications 23
Electromagnetic Compatibility 23
System Dimensions 24

EMax Plus Microplate Reader User Guide
4 5032018 C
Safety Information
Information about the safe use of the instrument from Molecular Devices® includes an
understanding of the user-attention statements in this guide, the safety labels on the
instrument, precautions to follow before you operate the instrument, and precautions to
follow while you operate the instrument.
Make sure that everyone involved with the operation of the instrument has:
Received instruction in general safety practices for laboratories.
Received instruction in specific safety practices for the instrument.
Read and understood all Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for all materials being used.
Read and observe all warnings, cautions, and instructions. The most important key to safety
is to operate the instrument with care.
WARNING! If the instrument is used in a manner not specified by Molecular
Devices, the protection provided by the equipment might be impaired.
Warnings, Cautions, Notes, and Tips
All warning symbols are framed within a yellow triangle. An exclamation mark is used for
most warnings. Other symbols can warn of other types of hazards such as biohazard,
electrical, or laser safety warnings as are described in the text of the warning. Follow the
related safety information.
The following user attention statements might be displayed in the text of Molecular Devices
user documentation. Each statement implies the amount of observation or recommended
procedure.
WARNING! A warning indicates a situation or operation that could cause
personal injury if precautions are not followed.
CAUTION! A caution indicates a situation or operation that could cause damage to
the instrument or loss of data if correct procedures are not followed.
Note: A note calls attention to significant information.
Tip: A tip provides useful information or a shortcut, but is not essential to the
completion of a procedure.

Safety Information
5032018 C 5
Symbols on the Instrument
Each safety label found on the instrument contains an alert symbol that indicates the type of
potential safety hazard.
Symbol Indication
Consult the product documentation.
Potential biohazard.
Power switch indicates power on.
Power switch indicates power off.
Required in accordance with the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)
Directive of the European Union. It indicates that you must not discard this electrical or
electronic product or its components in domestic household waste or in the municipal
waste collection system.
For products under the requirement of the WEEE directive, contact your dealer or
local Molecular Devices office for the procedures to facilitate the proper collection,
treatment, recovery, recycling, and safe disposal of the device.
- - California proposition 65 requires businesses to provide
warnings to Californians about significant exposures to chemicals that cause cancer, birth
defects, or other reproductive harm.

EMax Plus Microplate Reader User Guide
6 5032018 C
Electrical Safety
To prevent electrical injuries and property damage, inspect all electrical equipment before
use and report all electrical deficiencies. Contact Molecular Devices technical support for
equipment service that requires the removal of covers or panels.
To prevent electrical shock, use the supplied power cord and connect to a properly
grounded wall outlet.
To ensure sufficient ventilation and provide access to disconnect power from the
instrument, maintain a 20cm to 30cm (7.9in. to 11.8in.) gap between the rear of the
instrument and the wall.
Power off the instrument when not in use.
Chemical and Biological Safety
Normal operation of the instrument can involve the use of materials that are toxic,
flammable, or otherwise biologically harmful. When you use such materials, observe the
following precautions:
Handle infectious samples based on good laboratory procedures and methods to
prevent the spread of disease.
Observe all cautionary information printed on the original containers of solutions before
their use.
Dispose of all waste solutions based on the waste disposal procedures of your facility.
Operate the instrument in accordance with the instructions outlined in this guide, and
take all the required precautions when using pathological, toxic, or radioactive materials.
Splashing of liquids can occur. Take applicable safety precautions, such as using safety
glasses and wearing protective clothing, when working with potentially hazardous
liquids.
Observe the applicable cautionary procedures as defined by your safety officer when
using hazardous materials, flammable solvents, toxic, pathological, or radioactive
materials in or near a powered-up instrument.
WARNING! Never use the instrument in an environment where potentially
damaging liquids or gases are present.

Safety Information
5032018 C 7
Moving Parts Safety
The plate carrier on the EMax Plus moves in and out of the read chamber during the read,
and then returns to the home position after the read ends. If the plate carrier does not
return to the home position, select the Operations tab and click Initialize.
The instrument contains moving parts that can cause injury. Under normal conditions, the
instrument is designed to protect you from these moving parts.
WARNING! If the instrument is used in a manner not specified by Molecular
Devices, the protection provided by the equipment might be impaired.
To prevent injury:
Never try to exchange labware, reagents, or tools while the instrument is operating.
The instrument calibrates the lamp before moving the microplate carrier into the
chamber for each read. Between multiple-wavelength or kinetic reads, the carrier waits in
the home position before the read continues. Do not try to remove the plate until the
software indicates that the entire read is complete.
Never try to physically restrict the moving components of the instrument.
Keep the instrument work area clear to prevent obstruction of the movement.
CAUTION! To prevent damage to the instrument, the height of the plate must not
exceed 15mm.
Note: Observe all warnings and cautions listed for all external devices attached to or in
use during the operation of the instrument. See the applicable user guide for the
operating and safety procedures of that device.
CAUTION! Never touch the optic mirrors, lenses, filters, or cables. The optics are
extremely delicate, and critical to the function of the instrument.

5032018 C 8
Chapter 1: Introduction
The EMax®Plus Microplate Reader is a filter-based absorbance microplate reader with eight
standard filters for a wide range of applications.
The instrument can read 96-well plates to run protocols with the visible Absorbance (ABS)
read mode with the Endpoint and Kinetic read types.
The high sensitivity and flexibility of the EMax Plus Microplate Reader make it useful for
applications in the fields of biochemistry, cell biology, immunology, molecular biology, and
microbiology.
Typical applications include ELISA, total protein, and cell proliferation.
Application notes with specific application protocol suggestions are in the Information
Center and Knowledge Base on the Molecular Devices web site at
www.moleculardevices.com.
Computer Integration
Each Molecular Devices microplate reader is shipped with a license key for the SoftMax® Pro
Data Acquisition and Analysis Software that you install on the computer that you use to
operate the instrument. The SoftMax Pro Software provides integrated instrument control,
data display, and statistical data analysis.
You should install the SoftMax Pro Software on the computer before you set up the
instrument. Please be aware that some updates to the SoftMax Pro Software require a
purchase. Contact Molecular Devices before you update the software. To download the
latest version of the software, visit:
https://www.moleculardevices.com/products/microplate-readers/acquisition-and-analysis-
software/softmax-pro-software#Order.
Note: For information about the computer specifications that are required to run the
software, the software installation and licensing instructions, and the directions to
create the software connection between the computer and the instrument, see the
SoftMax Pro Data Acquisition and Analysis Software Installation Guide.
To prevent data loss, turn off all sleep and hibernation settings for the hard disk, the CPU,
and the USB ports. Disable automatic Windows updates. Update Windows manually when
you do not use the computer to control an instrument. You can set these options in
Windows Control Panel.
You can connect the instrument to a printer and operate the instrument in stand alone
mode to run basic Absorbance read mode Endpoint read type protocols. In stand alone
mode, the instrument control panel enables you to adjust the temperature and the
wavelength to do fixed point plate reads. For the SpectraMax Plus 384 you can do fixed point
cuvette reads. Stand alone mode is not available for the VersaMax.
1

EMax Plus Microplate Reader User Guide
9 5032018 C
To run protocols that require advanced acquisition settings or to run Absorbance read mode
Kinetic read type and Spectrum read type protocols, you must connect the instrument to a
computer and use the SoftMax Pro Software to operate the instrument.
Absorbance Read Mode
The instrument uses the Absorbance (ABS) read mode to measure the Optical Density (OD)
of the sample solutions.
Absorbance is the quantity of light absorbed by a solution. To measure absorbance
accurately, it is necessary to eliminate light scatter. If there is no turbidity, then
absorbance=optical density.
A=log10(I0/I)=–log10(I/I0)
where I0is intensity of the incident light before it enters the sample divided by the light after
it passes through the sample, and Ais the measured absorbance.
When you measure absorbance, the pathlength is defined by the volume of sample in the
well. To make sure that all the wells in the plate contain the same volume, use an accurate
liquid handler to dispense the sample into the plate.
The temperature-independent PathCheck® Pathlength Measurement Technology
normalizes your absorbance values to a 1cm path length based on the near-infrared
absorbance of water.
The instrument enables you to choose whether to display absorbance data as Optical
Density (OD) or %Transmittance (%T) in the Reduction dialog.
Optical Density
Optical density (OD)is the quantity of light passing through a sample to a detector relative to
the total quantity of light available. Optical Density includes absorbance of the sample plus
light scatter from turbidity and background. You can compensate for background using
blanks.
A blank well contains everything used with the sample wells except the chromophore and
sample-specific compounds. Do not use an empty well for a blank.
Some applications are designed for turbid samples, such as algae or other micro-organisms
in suspension. The reported OD values for turbid samples are likely to be different when read
by different instruments.
For optimal results, you should run replicates for all blanks, controls, and samples. In this
case, the blank value that will be subtracted is the average value of all blanks.
% Transmittance
%Transmittance is the ratio of transmitted light to the incident light for absorbance reads.
T=I/I0
%T=100T
where Iis the intensity of light after it passes through the sample and I0is incident light
before it enters the sample.
Optical Density and %Transmittance are related by the following formulas:
%T=102–OD

Chapter 1: Introduction
5032018 C 10
OD=2–log10(%T)
The factor of two comes from the fact that %T is expressed as a percent of the transmitted
light and log10(100)=2.
When in %Transmittance analysis mode, the instrument converts the raw OD values
reported by the instrument to %Transmittance using the above formula. All subsequent
calculations are done on the converted numbers.
Applications of Absorbance
Absorbance-based detection is commonly used to evaluate changes in color or turbidity,
permitting widespread use including ELISAs, protein quantitation, endotoxin assays, and
cytotoxicity assays.
Endpoint Read Type
For the Endpoint read type, a read of each plate well is taken in the center of each well, at a
single wavelength or at multiple wavelengths.
Kinetic Read Type
For the Kinetic read type, the instrument collects data over time with reads taken in the
center of each well at regular intervals.
The values calculated based on raw kinetic data include VMax, VMax per Sec, Time to VMax,
Onset Time, and more. Kinetic reads can be single-wavelength or multiple-wavelength reads.
Kinetic analysis can collect data points in time intervals of seconds, minutes, hours, or days.
Kinetic analysis has many advantages when determining the relative activity of an enzyme in
different types of plate assays, including ELISAs and the purification and characterization of
enzymes and enzyme conjugates. Kinetic analysis can provide improved dynamic range,
precision, and sensitivity relative to endpoint analysis.

5032018 C 11
Chapter 2: Setting Up the Instrument
Before you unpack and set up the instrument, prepare a dry, flat work area that has
sufficient space for the instrument, host computer, and required cables. To provide access
for disconnecting power from the instrument, maintain a 20cm to 30cm (7.9in. to 11.8in.)
gap between the rear of the instrument and the wall. To ensure sufficient ventilation, do not
block the ventilation grid on the right side of the instrument.
The package contains the instrument and accessories to set up the instrument:
SoftMax Pro Software, product key, and installation guide
EMax Plus Microplate Reader Installation Guide
USB computer connection cable
AC power adapter
For a complete list of the package contents, see the enclosed packing list.
Install the SoftMax Pro Software on the computer that operates the microplate reader. See
the SoftMax Pro Data Acquisition and Analysis Software Installation Guide.
The packaging is designed to protect the instrument during shipment. You must remove the
transport locks before you power on the instrument.
Note: Retain the shipping box and all packing materials for future transport needs.
CAUTION! When transporting the instrument, warranty claims are void if damage
during transport is caused by improper packaging.
To unpack the instrument:
1. Check the box for damage that occurred during transportation. Inform the supplier
immediately and keep the damaged packaging.
2. Open the top of the box.
3. Lift the accessories tool box and the instrument from the package and place the
instrument on a level surface.
4. To remove the red transport lock (A), place one hand on top of the lock, and then use
your other hand to carefully pull the bottom of the lock until it comes free of the
instrument.
5. Remove the padded plastic bag that covers the instrument (B).
2

EMax Plus Microplate Reader User Guide
12 5032018 C
6. Follow the orange string attached to the red transport lock to a screw located
underneath the instrument. Carefully move or tilt the instrument away from the table to
access the screw.
7. Use your fingers to remove the transport lock screw.
Connecting Instrument Cables
The power cord and USB cable connect to the ports on the rear of the instrument.
Illustration Part Number Description
VZ 000 014 USB computer connection cable, 3meter (9.8foot)
4400-0002 or 4400-0036 Power cord, 1meter (3.3foot)
Note: Before you connect or disconnect the power cord, make sure that the power
switch on the rear of the instrument is in the Off position.
To connect the instrument cables:
1. Make sure that the power switch on the rear of the instrument is in the Offposition.
2. Connect one end of the supplied USB cable to the USB port on the rear of the instrument
and the other end to a USB port on the computer.
3. Connect the supplied power adapter to the power port on the rear of the instrument
and then connect the other end to a grounded electrical wall outlet.

5032018 C 13
Chapter 3: Getting Started
Now that you installed the SoftMax Pro Software on the computer, removed the transport
locks, and connected the cables, it is time to get started.
Before you operate the instrument or perform maintenance operations, make sure that you
are familiar with the Safety Information on page 4.
1. Set the power switch on the rear of the instrument to the On position. The instrument
performs a start up sequence where the indicator lights on the front of the instrument
illuminate and the plate drawer opens.
2. Start the software on the computer. To start the software under normal conditions, wait
for the instrument to complete the start-up sequence, and then double-click the
SoftMax Pro icon on the desktop to start the program.
When you first set up the instrument it might be necessary to install USB drivers included
with the SoftMax Pro Software.
Power off the instrument when not in use.
Selecting the Instrument in the Software
If the instrument is properly connected and turned on, the icon for the instrument displays
on the Home tab on the SoftMax Pro Software main window and the correct instrument
displays as selected.
Note: It is not necessary to be physically connected to an instrument to create a
protocol. If you are not connected to an instrument, you can work offline or in
simulation mode. See the SoftMax Pro Data Acquisition and Analysis Software User
Guide or the application help.
The instrument icon displays the connection status between the software and the
instrument.
Icon Status
InstrumentConnected
InstrumentDisconnected
InstrumentSimulated
If the instrument status displays as disconnected, check to make sure that the instrument is
powered on and that the connections between the instrument and the computer are secure.
3

EMax Plus Microplate Reader User Guide
14 5032018 C
To select the instrument:
1. Select the Home tab and click the Instrument icon to display the Instrument Connection
dialog.
2. From the Available Instruments list, select the communication port to which you
connect the instrument.
If the communication port does not appear in the list, click Refresh.
3. Click OK.
SoftMax Pro Protocol Settings
The SoftMax Pro Software Settings dialog enables you to define the instrument settings to
read the plate.
1. Turn on the instrument and start the SoftMax Pro Software. See Getting Started on page
13.
2. Select an instrument. See Selecting the Instrument in the Software on page 13.
3. In the Navigation tree, select a Plate section.
4. On the Home tab, click Acquisition Settings to display the Settings dialog.
5. Select a read type.
6. Select the Wavelengths category:
a. Click the Number of Wavelengths drop-down and select to use up to six
wavelengths.
b. Click the drop-down for each wavelength and select the wavelengths from the list of
installed filters.
7. Select the Read Area category:
To read all the wells in the plate, select the Select All check box.
To select a contiguous, rectangular region on the plate, drag the cursor to select the
wells to be read. Columns do not need to start with “1” but must be contiguous. If
you select a subset of wells, the instrument reads the entire plate, but reports the
data for the wells you select only.
8. For the Kinetic read type, select the Timing category:
In the Total Read Time field, enter the amount of time for the total run.
In the Interval field, enter the amount of time to wait between reads.
The software calculated the minimum interval when calibrating based on the total
run time and the interval you enter and displays the interval before the first read,
before each read, and the number of reads. The calculation depends on many
factors including the number of wavelengths, the number of wells to read, and the
distance the instrument filter wheel must move.
OR
Click Single Point Read to set the Total Run Time and the Interval to the same value.
Use this to only read one time point.
9. Click OK.

Chapter 3: Getting Started
5032018 C 15
10. Save the settings as a data file or a protocol file. See the SoftMax Pro Data Acquisition
and Analysis Software User Guide or the application help.
Data files contain the experiment settings, the raw data the instrument collects, and
the data analysis you define for the experiment.
Protocol files contain the plate well layout assignments and all other instrument
configuration settings, but no data.
After you create and save the settings for the experiment, you can insert the prepared plate
in the plate carrier and start the read. See Loading and Unloading Plates on page 15.
Loading and Unloading Plates
The plate carrier on the EMaxPlus moves in and out of the read chamber during the read,
and then returns to the home position after the read ends. When the plate carrier is in the
home position, the round key on the front of the instrument fits into the front of the carrier
to open the plate clamps. When the carrier moves toward the read chamber, the clamps
hold the plate securely in the carrier. See the SoftMax Pro Data Acquisition and Analysis
Software User Guide or the application help.
To load a plate into the instrument:
1. Make sure that the plate carrier is in the home position. If the plate carrier is not in the
home position, select the Operations tab and click Initialize.
2. Insert the prepared plate in the plate carrier with well A1 in the upper-right position.

EMax Plus Microplate Reader User Guide
16 5032018 C
3. Select the Home tab and click . The instrument calibrates the lamp and then moves
the plate carrier into the read chamber to start the read.
4. After the read ends, the plate carrier returns to the home position. If the plate carrier is
not in the home position, select the Operations tab and click Initialize.
Note: Between multiple-wavelength or kinetic reads, the carrier
waits in the home position before the read continues. Do not try
to remove the plate until the software indicates that the entire
read is complete.
Plate Recommendations
The instrument can read 96-well, clear-bottom plates and strip wells. For most applications
use plates with flat bottom or round bottom wells.
You should not use V bottom plates unless an application specifically requires their use.
Irregular plastic density in the tip of the well can cause inaccurate measurements.
The type of plate and the way you handle it can have an effect on the measurement
performance of the instrument. Select a plate type with properties suited for the application.
CAUTION! To prevent damage to the instrument, the height of the plate must not
exceed 15mm.
General plate handling guidelines:
Never touch the clear well bottom of plates.
Visually inspect the bottom and rim of the plate before use to make sure that they are
free of dirt and contaminants.
Keep unused plates clean and dry.
Make sure that the strips on strip plates are inserted correctly and level with the frame.
Do not use V-bottom plates unless the performance has been tested and validated with
this instrument. Irregular plastic density in the tip of the well can cause inaccurate
measurements.

5032018 C 17
Chapter 4: Maintenance
Perform only the maintenance tasks described in this guide. Contact a Molecular Devices
service engineer to inspect and perform a preventive maintenance service on the instrument
each year. See Obtaining Support on page 21.
Before you operate the instrument or do maintenance operations, make sure you are
familiar with the safety information in this guide. See Safety Information on page 4.
CAUTION! Maintenance procedures other than those specified in this guide must be
performed by Molecular Devices. When service is required, contact Molecular Devices
technical support.
To ensure optimal operation of the instrument, perform the following preventive
maintenance procedures as needed:
Wipe off visible dust from exterior surfaces with a lint-free cloth to avoid dust build-up on
the instrument.
Wipe up all spills immediately.
Follow applicable decontamination procedures as instructed by your laboratory safety
officer.
Respond as required to all error messages displayed by the software.
When the instrument is not in use, keep it covered with the supplied dust cover.
Power off the instrument when not in use.
Cleaning the Instrument
WARNING! BIOHAZARD. It is your responsibility to decontaminate components
of the instrument before you request service by a service engineer or you return
parts to Molecular Devices for repair. Molecular Devices does not accept items
that have not been decontaminated where applicable to do so. If parts are
returned, they must be enclosed in a sealed plastic bag that states that the
contents are safe to handle and are not contaminated.
WARNING! BIOHAZARD. Always wear gloves when operating the instrument
and during cleaning procedures that could involve contact with either hazardous
or biohazardous materials or fluids.
Do the following before you clean equipment that has been exposed to hazardous material:
Contact the applicable Chemical and Biological Safety personnel.
Review the Chemical and Biological Safety information contained in this guide. See
Chemical and Biological Safety on page 6.
4

EMax Plus Microplate Reader User Guide
18 5032018 C
CAUTION! Do not use abrasive cleaners. Do not spray cleaner directly onto the
instrument or into any openings. Do not let water or other fluids drip inside the
instrument.
Always turn the power switch off and disconnect the power cord from the main power
source before using liquids to clean the instrument.
Periodically clean the outside surfaces of the instrument using a lint-free cloth that has
been lightly dampened with a 70% ethanol or 0.5% bleach solution.
If needed, clean the plate carrier by placing a lint-free cloth that has been lightly
dampened with a 70% ethanol or 0.5% bleach solution on the mechanism and letting it
soak for approximately 30 minutes.
If a bleach solution has been used, wipe the instrument using a lint-free cloth that has
been lightly dampened with water to remove the bleach residue.
After you clean the instrument with a liquid, always wipe the surface dry with a lint-free cloth.
Replacing the Halogen Lamp
During a plate read, the halogen lamp flashes to read each well. When the instrument is not
reading a plate, the lamp remains off. Over time, the halogen lamp decreases in brightness
and must be replaced. You can order a replacement halogen lamp assembly (part number
5032335) from Molecular Devices. See Obtaining Support on page 21.
The halogen lamp assembly is located behind the cover plate on the bottom of the
instrument.
WARNING! HIGH VOLTAGEPower off the instrument and disconnect the
power cord before you do maintenance procedures that require removal of a
panel or cover or disassembly of an interior instrument component.
CAUTION! Do not touch or loosen screws or parts other than those specifically
designated in the instructions. Doing so could cause misalignment and possibly void
the warranty.
1. Switch the power switch on the rear of the instrument to the off position.
2. Disconnect the power adapter from the power port on the rear of the instrument.
3. Disconnect the USB cable from the USB port on the rear of the instrument.
4. Carefully tilt the instrument onto its right side.
5. Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the six screws that attach the cover plate to the
bottom of the instrument.

Chapter 4: Maintenance
5032018 C 19
6. Carefully set the cover plate on the workbench. Some wires remain attached to the cover
plate.
WARNING! WARNING! The halogen lamp can become hot when in use.
Before touching the area near the lamp, make sure that the lamp has had time
to properly cool to a safe temperature.
7. Disconnect the white wire connector between the halogen lamp assembly and the power
supply.
Item Description
1 Wire Connector
2 2 Screws on halogen lamp assembly
Wire Connector and Halogen Lamp Assembly

EMax Plus Microplate Reader User Guide
20 5032018 C
8. Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the two screws that attach the halogen lamp
assembly to the instrument.
9. Remove the old halogen lamp assembly from the instrument.
10. Place the new halogen lamp assembly into position, being careful not to touch the
halogen lamp.
CAUTION! Placing foreign objects such as oils from the skin on the surface of the
halogen lamp can cause premature failure of the lamp.
11. Use a Phillips screwdriver to attach the two screws to the halogen lamp assembly and
the instrument.
12. Connect the white wire connector between the halogen lamp assembly and the power
supply.
13. Place the cover plate into position being careful not to damage the attached wiring.
14. Use a Phillips screwdriver to attach the six screws to the cover plate and the bottom of
the instrument.
15. Carefully place the instrument upright on the workbench.
16. Connect the USB cable to the USB port on the rear of the instrument.
17. Connect the power adapter to the power port on the rear of the instrument.
18. Turn on the power to the instrument.
19. Start the SoftMax Pro Software and do a lamp adjustment.
Note: After you replace the halogen lamp, if the new lamp does not flash during a
read or the lamp adjustment fails, contact Molecular Devices technical support. See
Obtaining Support on page 21.
Adjusting the Lamp
To adjust the halogen lamp, select the Operations tab and click Configure to display the
Configuration dialog. You can adjust the intensity of the lamp for each of the installed filters
in the instrument. You can view the positions and wavelengths of the installed filters. This
dialog lists other instrument information including the serial number and firmware version.
The installed filters are available for selection in the Settings dialog.
To adjust the intensity of the lamp for each of the filters, click Adjust Lamp. The software and
instrument step through each filter one at a time to adjust the lamp intensity for the best
implementation of the filter wavelength.
Note: The Configuration dialog must remain open until the lamp adjustment
completes.