NPI ELECTROPORATOR ELP-02D Operating instructions

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS AND
SYSTEM DESCRIPTION FOR THE
ELECTROPORATION AMPLIFIER
100 V / 10 mA max.
VERSION 1.0
npi 2020
npi electronic GmbH, Bauhofring 16, D-71732 Tamm, Germany
Phone [phone]; Fax: [phone]
[email protected]; http://www.npielectronic.com

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Table of Contents
1.Safety Regulations .............................................................................................................. 3
2.Special Safety Notice for High Voltage Instruments .......................................................... 4
3.ELP-02D Electroporator Unit ............................................................................................. 5
3.1.System Description ...................................................................................................... 5
3.2.Description of the Front Panel ..................................................................................... 5
3.3.Description of the Rear Panel ...................................................................................... 8
4.Operation ............................................................................................................................ 9
5.Technical Data .................................................................................................................... 10

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1. Safety Regulations
VERY IMPORTANT: Instruments and components supplied by npi electronic are NOT
intended for clinical use or medical purposes (e.g. for diagnosis or treatment of humans)
or for any other life-supporting system. npi electronic disclaims any warranties for such
purpose. Equipment supplied by npi electronic must be operated only by selected, trained
and adequately instructed personnel. For details please consult the GENERAL TERMS
OF DELIVERY AND CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS of npi electronic, D-71732 Tamm,
Germany.
1) GENERAL: This system is designed for use in scientific laboratories and must be operated
by trained staff only. General safety regulations for operating electrical devices should be
followed.
2) AC MAINS CONNECTION: While working with the npi systems, always adhere to the
appropriate safety measures for handling electronic devices. Before using any device,
please read manuals and instructions carefully.
The device is to be operated only at 115/230 Volt 60/50 Hz AC. Please check for
appropriate line voltage before connecting any system to mains.
Always use a three-wire line cord and a mains power-plug with a protection contact
connected to ground (protective earth).
Before opening the cabinet, unplug the instrument.
Unplug the instrument when replacing the fuse or changing line voltage. Replace fuse only
with an appropriate specified type.
3) STATIC ELECTRICITY: Electronic equipment is sensitive to static discharges. Some
devices such as sensor inputs are equipped with very sensitive FET amplifiers, which can
be damaged by electrostatic charge and must therefore be handled with care. Electrostatic
discharge can be avoided by touching a grounded metal surface when changing or
adjusting sensors. Always turn power off when adding or removing modules,
connecting or disconnecting sensors, headstages or other components from the
instrument or 19” cabinet.
4) TEMPERATURE DRIFT / WARM-UP TIME: All analog electronic systems are sensitive
to temperature changes. Therefore, all electronic instruments containing analog circuits
should be used only in a warmed-up condition (i.e. after internal temperature has reached
steady-state values). In most cases a warm-up period of 20-30 minutes is sufficient.
5) HANDLING: Please protect the device from moisture, heat, radiation and corrosive
chemicals.

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2. Special Safety Notice for High Voltage Instruments
HIGH VOLTAGE!!
RISK OF ELECTROCUTION!!
Observe extreme caution when working with this instrument!!!
1) Always connect high voltage power supplies to protective earth!!
2) Do not touch connections unless the instrument is turned off and the capacitance of both
the load and power supply are earthed!!
3) Allow adequate time for discharge of internal capacitance of the power supply!!
4) Do not ground yourself or work under wet or damp conditions!!
5) Servicing should be only done by qualified personnel aware of the hazards!!
6) If in doubt, return to supplier for servicing!!

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3. ELP-02D Electroporator Unit
3.1.System Description
The ELectroPORATOR unit is designed for application of voltage and current stimuli for
electroporation of cells.
The output signal is not isolated from ground and can either be a voltage up to 100 V or a
current up to 10 mA.
Figure 1: ELectroPORATOR front panel view
3.2.Description of the Front Panel
(1) POWER switch
Pushbutton to switch the amplifier ON (pushed) or OFF (released).
(2) POTENTIAL/RESISTANCE switch
This switch selects whether the POTENTIAL or the RESISTANCE is displayed at #3. The
electrode resistance is determined by square pulses of ±1 µA.
(3) POTENTIAL/RESISTANCE display
This display shows either the POTENTIAL (XXX.X V) or the electrode RESISTANCE
(XXX.X MΩ), as set by switch #2.

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(4) OUTPUT SCALING rotary switch
Rotary switch for selecting how the output signal is scaled relative to the input signal at #16.
Voltage output: x 0.2 V/V
x 2 V/V
x 20 V/V
Current output: x 2 mA/V
x 200 µA/V
x 20 µA/V
(5) CURRENT/POWER display
This display shows either the CURRENT or the POWER, as set by switch #6.
(6) CURRENT/POWER switch
This switch selects whether the CURRENT (XXX.X µA / XXXX µA / XX.XX mA depending
on setting of OUTPUT SCALING switch) or the POWER (XXXX mW in all voltage modes ;
XX.XX µW / XXX.X mW / XXXX mW in current mode [depending on setting of OUTPUT
SCALING switch]) is displayed at #3. See also technical data.
AUDIO MONITOR unit
(7) VOLUME potentiometer
Potentiometer for adjusting the output volume for the internal loudspeaker and the
headphone jack #8.
(8) HEADPHONES connector
3.5 mm headphone connector providing the audio monitor signal. The internal
loudspeaker is disabled if a headphone is connected.
(9) SOURCE SELECT switch
Toggle switch for selecting the signal source for the audio monitor:
POTENTIAL, CURRENT or RESISTANCE.
Caution: THIS INSTRUMENT HAS A HIGH VOLTAGE OUTPUT (UP TO 100 V)!!!
Do not touch these pins or bare wires connected to these pins. Always turn power off if you
manipulate devices connected to these pins.
(10) CAPACITY COMPENSATION potentiometer
The CAPACITY COMPENSATION potentiometer compensates for the input capacitances in
CURRENT output operation only. Capacity compensation is achieved by turning the
potentiometer clockwise, until the current signal at the oscilloscope is as square as possible.
Important: If the CAPACITY COMPENSATION is overcompensated in CURRENT MODE
the electroporator will ring and not work properly!

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(11) OFFSET CURRENT potentiometer
Potentiometer compensate for the CURRENT OFFSET of the electroporating electrode. It is
recommended to compensate the offsets only in a completely warmed up condition, i.e. after
30 minutes warm-up time (see below). Offset range is dependent on current scaling. See also
technical data.
(12, 13) HIGH VOLTAGE OUTPUT plugs
The output signal is available at two banana plugs (red and black, 4 mm).
(14) OFFSET VOLTAGE potentiometer
Potentiometer to compensate for the VOLTAGE OFFSET of the electroporating electrode. It
is recommended to compensate the offsets only in a completely warmed up condition i.e. after
30 minutes warm-up time. Offset range: ±1 V
(15) MANUAL TRIGGER button
Button for triggering the function generator or data acquisition system connected to SIGNAL
INPUT manually.
(16) SIGNAL INPUT (±5 Vmax) connector
BNC connector for the input of an analog signal.
(17) TRIGGER OUTPUT (TTL) connector
BNC connector providing a TTL HIGH signal (length: 400 µs) when the electroporator’s trigger
unit is activated. This TTL signal is used for triggering the function generator or data acquisition
system.
(18) EXT. TRIGGER INPUT (TTL) connector
BNC connector for the input of a TTL external trigger signal for triggering the function
generator or data acquisition system connected to SIGNAL INPUT.

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3.3.Description of the Rear Panel
Figure 2: ELectroPORATOR rear panel view
MONITORING OUTPUT connectors
(1) POTENTIAL 0.1 V/V connector
(2) CURRENT 100/10/1 mV/µA connector (scaling dependent on current scaling)
(3) RESISTANCE 1 V/MΩ connector
(4) POWER 10 V/W connector
(5) REMOTE connector
BNC connector with active low logic. A passive footswitch or a remote button can be connected
here.
(6) GROUND connector
Banana plug providing internal ground (see below).
(7) CHASSIS connector
Banana plug providing mains ground (see below).
(8) FUSE holder
Holder for the line fuse. For changing the fuse rotate the holder counter-clockwise using a screw
driver.
(9) LINE SELECT switch
Switch for selecting the line voltage. Switch to the right for 230 V AC, to the left for 115 V
AC. The selected voltage is indicated on the switch.
Caution: Before turning on the instrument, make sure that the correct line voltage is selected.

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(10) Mains connector
Plug socket for the mains power-plug.
Important: Check line voltage before connecting the ELectroPOATOR to power. Always use
a three-wire line cord and a mains power-plug with a protection contact connected to ground.
Disconnect mains power-plug when replacing the fuse or changing line voltage. Replace fuse
only by appropriate specified type (one spare fuse is supplied). Before opening the cabinet
unplug the instrument.
4. Operation
The instrument is operated by connecting a signal generator or data acquisition analog output
to SIGNAL INPUT. This signal is transformed into an output signal at HIGH VOLTAGE
OUTPUT and scaled according to the settings at the OUTPUT SCALING switch.
The ELectroPORATOR has a trigger unit for starting the function generator or data acquisition
system connected to SIGNAL INPUT. This trigger can be set manually by the MANUAL
TRIGGER or a footswitch/button connected to REMOTE LOW ACTIVE TTL at the rear panel.
It can also be set externally by connecting an external trigger to TIGGER INPUT (TTL).
Activating the trigger unit leads to a TTL HIGH signal at TIGGER OUTPUT (TTL).
SIGNAL INPUT and HIGH VOLTAGE OUTPUT are always connected and an electroporation
signal is generated as soon as the function generator or data acquisition system connected to
SIGNAL INPUT is activated.
Before using the ELectroPORATOR compensate for OFFSETS (VOLTAGE and CURRENT
separately) and for electrode capacity (in current output mode).

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5. Technical Data
Output modes:
voltage source, current source
selectable with rotary switch
Scaling:
Voltage output: x 0.2 V/V
x 2 V/V
x 20 V/V
Current output:
x 2 mA/V
x 200 µA/V
x 20 µA/V
Displays:
Potential:
XXX.X V
Current:
XXX.X µA in x20 µA/V scaling
XXXX µA in x200 µA/V scaling
XX.XX mA in x2 mA/V scaling
Resistance:
XXX.X MΩ
Power:
XXXX mW in all scalings (voltage output)
XX.XX µW in x20 µA/V scaling (current output)
XXX.X mW in x200 µA/V scaling (current output)
XXXX mW in x2 mA/V scaling (current output)
Trigger Unit:
Trigger Input front panel: TTL, active high, 10 kΩ, max. 2 kHz
Trigger Input rear panel (REMOTE): TTL, active low
Push button
Trigger Output front panel: TTL, active high, 50 Ω, length: 400 µs
Offset Ranges:
Potential: ±1 V
Current: ±400 nA in x20 µA/V scaling (current output)
Current: ±4 µA in x200 µA/V scaling (current output)
Current: ±40 µA in x2 mA/V scaling (current output)
Monitors Scaling:
Potential: 100 mV/V
Resistance: 1 V/MΩ
Current (depending on mode and scaling):
1V/mA in all voltage outputs
100 mV/µA in x20 µA/V scaling (current output)
10 V/mA in x200 µA/V scaling (current output)
1 V/mA in x2 mA/V scaling (current output)
Power: 10 V/W

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Input voltage range: ±5 V
Output voltage: ±100 V max.
Output current: ±10 mA max.
Dimensions: 245 x 260 x 90 mm³