MRC MHK-4D User manual

3, Hagavish st. Israel 58817 Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone]com.mrclab@mrc
Digital Ceramic Hotplate
With Stirrer
MHK-4D
Operation Manual

3, Hagavish st. Israel 58817 Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone]com.mrclab@mrc
Important Before using this product, read this
entire operation manual carefully. Users should
follow all of the operational guidelines contained in
this manual and take all necessary safety
precautions while using this product. Failure to
follow these guidelines could result in potentially
irreparable bodily harm and/or property damage.
Caution All internal adjustments and maintenance must be
performed by qualified service personnel.
Material in this manual is for information purposes only. MRC is
committed to a continuing program of product development and
improvement, and reserves the right to change information, such as
specifications, appearance, and dimensions, described in this
document without notice. MRC makes no representations or
warranties with respect to this manual. In no event shall MRC be held
liable for any damages, direct or incidental, arising out of or related
to the use of this manual.
This manual contains important safety and operation information.
You must carefully read, understand, and follow all the instructions in
this manual prior to operating this instrument. Keep this manual in a
safe place nearby for reference and make it easily available to all
users.
1) This manual highlight DANGER/WARNING/CAUTION/NOTICE
alerts to prevent injury or property damage and also to achieve
optimum performance of your instrument.
2) These alerts are classified into four types in this manual
depending on the importance and the risk levels as described
below
3) The claim which is out of the quality guarantee published by
the Manufacturer is out of Manufacturer’s responsibility.
4) The damage which is from unexpected fault or damage of user
by Acts of God is out of Manufacturer’s responsibility.

3, Hagavish st. Israel 58817 Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone]com.mrclab@mrc
Table of content
Section 1 Warning and Cautions………….…..……………………………1-1
Section 2 General Description ………….………………..…………………2-1
Features
Safety
Convenience
Construction
Section 3 Unpacking and installation…………………….……….………3-1
Installation environment
Connecting to Power Supply
Location Condition
Connecting to the main power
Section 4 Operation……………………………………….…………………….4-1
Power On
Change the Set Value (SV)
Change the Alarm Value
Autotuning (AT)
Temperature Offsetting (OFFSET)
Stir Control Knob
External Temperature Probe Input (optional)
Section 5 Maintenance………………………..…………….……….….………5-1
Cleaning Product
Relocation
Keeping Product
Section 6 Troubleshooting …………….……………………………….….…6-1
Section 8 Warranty Information………….…………………………..….….7-1

3, Hagavish st. Israel 58817 Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone]com.mrclab@mrc
Section 1 Warnings and Cautions
DANGER
Ignoring the following warnings could cause serious injuries or
even fatal accidents.
Understand all alert labels prior to operating this equipment.
Never remove or damage the alert labels.
Never move this equipment while under operation.
Never install or use this equipment in explosive or flammable
atmospheres.
Never use or store flammable or hazardous substances near to
this equipment.
Never use the equipment to heat flammable or hazardous
substances.
Always wear proper protective gear (such as goggles, gloves,
masks or an apron) when using this equipment.
Never allow water, organic solvents, dust, or corrosive gases to
get inside the equipment.
Never immerse this equipment in water or operate it under
water.
Never reach for this equipment if it has fallen into water.
Check electrical requirements described in this operation
manual or on the ID plate of this equipment before use.
Connect this equipment to a dedicated power outlet nearby.
Connect this equipment only to properly grounded power
outlets to protect you and your instrument. Do not ground to
gas pipes or water pipes.
Never install this equipment closer than 30 cm (12 inches) to a
wall of combustible material. Observe minimum distances (in
general, 30 cm) from other devices.
If you observe strange smoke, odor or noise from the
instrument, unplug the power cord immediately and turn off
the main power switch. After the smoke or odor disappears,
contact your dealer or MRC if any repair is required.

3, Hagavish st. Israel 58817 Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone]com.mrclab@mrc
Never disassemble, repair, or modify this equipment on your
own. Doing so will void your warranty and may result in injuries
or product damages.
Do not heat any substances above temperature which will
cause hazards of explosion, implosion or release of toxic or
flammable gases from the material being heated.
Do not use in the presence of pressurized or sealed containers.
Fire or explosion may result causing injury or death
Do not operate the plate with external temperature probe
in the air or out of the liquid.
The external probe must be properly placed into a liquid
on the top surface during the whole process, to prevent
damage to the ceramic plate
DO NOT cover ceramic plate with metal foil.
DO NOT use metal pots, sand bath or other insulating
material.
To avoid electric shock, always use a property grounded
electrical outlet of correct voltage, and correct handling
capacity equipment
CAUTION
Ignoring the following cautions could cause injuries or property
damages.
Keep away the power cord from the hot plate, to prevent
melting and damages.
Do not touch the top plate or any object near it even when the
heater is turned off. You may get burned due to residual heat.
After using this equipment, make sure to turn off the main
power switch and also to disconnect the power cord from the
power outlet for the safety of other users.
Do not place heavy objects, including this equipment, on top
of the power cord and do not strip, scratch, bend, twist, pull, or
heat the power cord. A damaged power cord is a fire and
electrical shock hazard.

3, Hagavish st. Israel 58817 Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone]com.mrclab@mrc
Make sure to set up this equipment on a flat, stable, clean,
non-slip, dry, and fireproof surface inside a lab with proper
safety measures.
Do not touch the power outlet, power socket, or power cord
with wet hands. And make sure to connect the power cord
directly and firmly to the power outlet and power socket.
Do not put or insert any objects (especially if conductive or
flammable) inside this equipment.
Do not expose this equipment to any heat sources including
direct sunlight.
Mechanical shock or vibration can damage this equipment. Pay
extra attention while moving it. Damages caused by
mechanical shock or vibration may result in injury or fire.
Do not impact the top plate or heat sink. You can damage the
equipment or get injured.
Do not install this equipment near any device that generates
high frequency noise such as high frequency welding
machines, high frequency sewing machines, or SCR power
controllers.
Before cleaning, make sure to unplug the power cord to avoid
electric shock or fire.
Do not use chlorine bleach, ammonia-based cleaners,
abrasives, ammonia, or metal scouring pads. Wipe with a soft
damped cloth or a sponge soaked in water or diluted neutral
detergent.
The user shall be aware that, if the equipment is used in a
manner not specified by the manufacturer, the protection
provided by the equipment may be impaired.
The instrument should be placed so, that handy operation of
the ON-OFF Switch is possible.
Service only by a qualified Service engineer.
Always disconnect from power supply prior to maintenance
and servicing.
Connect the instrument to a ground mains outlet, after
ensuring that the Voltage is the same as given on the name
plate

3, Hagavish st. Israel 58817 Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone]com.mrclab@mrc
The Instrument must be connected to an earthen (grounded)
supply

3, Hagavish st. Israel 58817 Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone]com.mrclab@mrc
Section 2 General Description
Congratulations of your purchase of MRC hotplate which is specially
designed to provide maximum benefit for your investment with
respect to performance, safety, ease of use, and durability.
Item/Model MHK-4D
Dimension (W x D x H, mm) 200 X 250 X 130
Top plate dimension (mm) 175 X 175 mm
Maximum heating capacity 800W
Current consumption (110V) 7.3A
Temp. range Up to 500°C
Temp. control Digital
Magnetic stirrer 100 – 1200 rpm
Features Performance
Microprocessor PID Feedback Control
Fast and precise temperature control is provided by the
microprocessor PID controller
Auto-tuning (AT)
Automatic tuning of the PID parameters provides more
accurate temperature control.
Temperature Offsetting
In case your own thermometer is to be used for temperature
control for specific applications, there can be some differences
between the temperature of your thermometer and the
displayed temperature of this unit.

3, Hagavish st. Israel 58817 Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone]com.mrclab@mrc
Safety
High and Low Temperature Limits
The high temperature limit of the top plate is set to 500°C to
protect you and your media. However, you can set your own
high and low temperature limits to reduce operation time and
also to avoid inadvertent mistakes.
Convenience
Two large digital displays on the control panel clearly show
both set and actual temperatures of the top plate side by side.
You can easily set your own temperature limit at any value
between 0 and 500°C.
Heating rate can be set from 0 to 100% at 1% interval for
delicate temperature control.
One support rod (optional) can be attached to hold various
kinds of devices such as temperature sensors, thermometers,
and so on.
The ceramic top plate is highly resistant to heat and corrosion.
In addition, its white color is optimal for monitoring color
changes of the media during operation.

3, Hagavish st. Israel 58817 Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone]com.mrclab@mrc
Construction
(1) Ceramic Top Plate
(2) Main Power Switch
(3) FY-401 Temperature Controller
(4) Stirring Control Knob
(5) Stirring Switch
(6) Socket for Temperature Probe
(7) Identification Label
(8) Threaded Holes for Support Rod (Optional)
(9) Power Cord

3, Hagavish st. Israel 58817 Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone]com.mrclab@mrc
Section 3 Unpacking and Installation
Upon receiving the instrument, check to ensure that no damage has
occurred during shipment. It is important that any damage that
occurred during shipment must be detected before unpacking. If
such damage is found, notify the carrier immediately.
After unpacking, check to ensure that all the following parts and
accessories are included in the package. If not, contact your dealer or
MRC immediately.
Item Quantity
Main Body 1
Operation Manual 1
External Probe 1
Stirring magnet (option) 1
Support Rod (option) 1
RS232 or RS485 Communication (option) 1
Programmer (option) 1
Separate Control box (option) 1
Installation Environment
It should be installed in suitable environment as described below.
Avoid direct sunlight.
Room temperature should be 5°C ~ 40°C
Relative Humidity (RH%) should be less 80%.
Altitude should be less than 2,000m.

3, Hagavish st. Israel 58817 Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone]com.mrclab@mrc
Location Conditions
DANGER
Never install or use this equipment in explosive atmospheres.
Never install or use this equipment with or near to hazardous
or flammable substances.
Never expose this equipment to any heat sources including
direct sunlight.
Never install this equipment closer than 20 cm (8 inches) to a
wall of combustible material.
Never install this equipment near any device that generates
high frequency noises.
Set up this equipment on a flat, stable, clean, non-slip, dry, and
fireproof surface inside a lab with proper safety measures.
Observe the minimum distances (in general, 30 cm or 12
inches) from other devices. In addition, any device which can
be affected by the motor vibrations should not be placed near
this equipment.
Connecting to Power Supply
When connecting power, use only the power cord that came with
your instrument. The power connection procedures are as follows:
(1) Before connecting the power cord, make sure that the main
power switch is turned off.
(2) Plug the other end into a properly grounded and dedicated
power outlet nearby.

3, Hagavish st. Israel 58817 Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone]com.mrclab@mrc
Connecting to Main Power
DANGER
Check electrical requirements in the operation manual or on
the ID plate attached to the back of this equipment before use.
Make sure to connect this equipment only to properly
grounded as well as dedicated power outlets to protect you
and your equipment.
In order to prevent fire or power cord damage due to
overloading, do not use power strips or improper extension
cords.

3, Hagavish st. Israel 58817 Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone]com.mrclab@mrc
Section 4 Operation
FY-401 Digital controller
SYMBOL NAME FUNCTION
PV 1
Measured value
(PV) display
Displays PV or various parameter symbols
(Red)
SV 2
Set value
(SV) display
Displays SV or various parameter set values
(Green)
3 Set key Used for parameter calling up and set value
registration
4 Auto/Manual key Switches between Auto (PID) output mode and Manual output mode.
5 Shift key Shift digits when settings are changed
6 Down key
*Program hold
Decrease numbers (-1000, -100, -10, -1)
* Program hold (Programmable controller)
7 Up key
*Program run
Decrease numbers (+1000, +100, +10, +1)
* Program run (Programmable controller)
OUT1 8 OUT1 lamp Lights when OUT1 is activated
OUT2 9 OUT2 lamp Lights when OUT2 is activated
AT 10 Auto tuning lamp Lights when Auto tuning is activated
AL1 11 Alarm 1 lamp Lights when Alarm 1 is activated
AL2 12 Alarm 2 lamp Lights when Alarm 2 is activated
AL3 13 Alarm 3 lamp Lights when Alarm 3 is activated
MAN 14 Manual output lamp Lights when manual output is activated
PRO 15
*Program running
lamp *Flashes when program is running (Programmable controller)
OUT1% 16
OUT% bar-graph
display
Output% is displayed on 10-dot LED.
AUTO

3, Hagavish st. Israel 58817 Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone]com.mrclab@mrc
Operations
Power On
Controller will display as below
Change the Set Value (SV)
Change SV for example from 0 to 100
NOTICE
You can change the temperature setting even during
operation.
Changing the temperature setting is allowed only within the
low and high temperature limits.

3, Hagavish st. Israel 58817 Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone]com.mrclab@mrc
Change the Alarm Value
Change AL1 value for example to "5.0" (AL1 active, if PV exceeds SV
over 5.0)
Autotuning (AT)
Temperature control using digital PID controllers have automatic
auto-tune functions. During the auto-tune period the PID controller
controls the power to the process and measures the rate of change,
overshoot and response time of the plant. This is often based on the
Zeigler-Nichols method of calculating controller term values. Once
the auto-tune period is completed the P, I &D values are stored and
used by the PID controller.
Use AT function to automatically calculate and set the optimize PID
value for your system

3, Hagavish st. Israel 58817 Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone]com.mrclab@mrc
Temperature Offsetting (OFFSET)
The temperature shown on the Actual Temperature Display is
measured by a temperature sensor inside the unit. However, this
temperature can be different from the temperature of your own
thermometer which you may use as a standard for your specific
applications. If needed, you can offset such temperature differences
at 0.1°C interval
NOTICE
If, for example, the actual temperature of the top plate is 100°C but
the displayed temperature is 98°C, you can match the displayed
temperature with the actual temperature of the unit by selecting the
offset value of +2°C
Stir Control Knob
Turn it clockwise to set desired stirring speed.
Turn it all the way counterclockwise to turn off stirring function.
Stirring Instructions
1. Fill vessel with liquid to be stirred.
2. Place stir bar into vessel.
3. Place vessel in the center of the top surface.
4. Turn Stir Control Knob
5. Stir bar to cease rotation before removing the vessel from the
unit.
NOTICE
Please note that the viscosity of the stirred material will affect the
ability of the stir bar to remain coupled to the rotating ring magnet.
Materials of high viscosity must be stirred at slower speed
settings.

3, Hagavish st. Israel 58817 Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone]com.mrclab@mrc
External Temperature Probe Input
Connect the K type optional External Temperature probe into the
back socket.
To Connect the External Temperature Controller
1. Turn the Stir Control Knob and the main switch to the OFF
position.
2. Disconnect power cord.
3. Connect the External Temperature probe to the socket on the
back of the unit.
4. Fill vessel with liquid to be heated.
5. Place vessel in the center of the top surface.
6. Place stir bar into vessel.
7. Put the temperature external probe in vessel.
8. Reconnect power cord.
9. Turn the main switch and the stirring switch to the ON
position.
10. Product is now ready for use with External Temperature
Controller.
11. Repeat the above process when disconnecting the
temperature controller.
CAUTION
Do not use the plate with external temperature probe in
the air or out of the liquid.
The external probe must be properly placed into a liquid
on the top surface during the whole process, to prevent
damage to the plate
The top surface and the vessel used may be at substantially
higher temperatures than indicated by the setting on the
Heating Temperature Display as the controller regulates
the liquid temperature inside the vessel.

3, Hagavish st. Israel 58817 Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone]com.mrclab@mrc
Section 5 Maintenance
Inspection
Interval
Item
Daily Weekly
Connection status of power cord or plug 
Damages in power cord or plug 
Cleanliness of top plate 
Cleanliness of main body and accessories 
Damages in plate, switches, buttons, Controller 
Heating capability check (up to 500℃) 
Stirring capability check (up to 1200 rpm) 
Assembly status of all parts or accessories 
Cleaning Product
WARNING
Never immerse this unit in water or any other liquid.
Do not allow any liquid or wet material to get inside the unit
when cleaning.
Do not reconnect this unit to power outlets until all cleaned
surfaces have dried.
CAUTION
Do not use chlorine bleach, ammonia-based cleaners,
abrasives, ammonia, or metal scouring pads when cleaning.
During cleaning and general operation take care not to scratch
the surface of the ceramic-coated top plate as this could result
in subsequent thermal breakage.

3, Hagavish st. Israel 58817 Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone]com.mrclab@mrc
The ceramic top may break during use if not properly
maintained.
Keep the ceramic top clean. A nonabrasive cleaner may be
used to clean the ceramic top
Inspect the ceramic top for damage during cleaning.
Discontinue product use if the ceramic top is chipped, etched,
or shows excessive scratching.
Cleaning Product (continued)
Always make sure to keep top plate, main body, and accessories
clean. Dirt and other foreign substances can cause fire or electric
shock. Before attempting cleaning,
(1) Disconnect the power cord from the power outlet and ensure
that the equipment is cool enough,
(2) Wipe with a soft dry cloth first to remove any foreign matter
and, if not enough,
(3) Wipe with a soft damp cloth or a sponge soaked in water or
diluted neutral detergent when necessary.
Relocation
If you need to move the equipment to another place,
(1) Disconnect the power cord from the power outlet,
(2) Pack the equipment and its accessories into the original
packaging or any other suitable container before moving.
CAUTION
Pay attention to avoid mechanical shock or vibration while
moving the instrument. Damages caused by mechanical shock
or vibration may result in injury or fire.