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eVOLVER
  • eVOLVER Documentation Wiki
  • General
    • About Us
    • eVOLVER Community
      • Code of Conduct
  • Getting Started
    • Buying eVOLVER
    • Part Sourcing
    • Unboxing and Setting Up
    • Software Installation
      • DPU Installation
      • Electron App (GUI) Installation
    • Configuring Computer and Networking
      • Router Setup
    • Calibrations
      • Temperature Calibration
      • Optical Density Calibration
      • Pump Calibration
      • Manual Calibration - calibrate.py
  • Upgrade Base eVOLVER Hardware
  • Experiments
    • Starting an Experiment
      • Carboy Media Prep
      • Preparing Vials
      • Setup Waste Carboy
      • Sterilizing Lines
      • Loading Vials and Setting Initial Conditions
      • OD Blank
      • GUI Start Guide
      • Command Line Start Guide
      • Cleaning Up After Experiment
    • Growth Curve
    • Chemostat
    • Turbidostat
    • FAQs
    • Tips and Tricks
  • Guides
    • Use the GUI to Control Parameters
    • Building a Smart Sleeve
    • Making media bottles and splitters
    • Emergency Efflux
    • View the Server Log and Restart Server
    • Updating the eVOLVER Server
    • Change Your conf.yml File
    • Arduino Software Installation
    • Raspberry Pi Configuration
    • Command Line Usage
    • Millifluidics Guides
      • Designing Millifluidics Using Eagle
      • Constructing Laser Cut Millifluidics
      • Constructing Millifluidics via SLA Printing
      • Calibrating IPPs
      • Operating Millifluidics
  • Troubleshooting
    • Troubleshooting Overview
    • Experiment Troubleshooting
      • Contamination
      • Vial Overflow, Pump Failure, and Spills
      • Tubing and Connector Blockage and Bursting
    • Optical Density (OD) Readings
    • Vial Troubleshooting
      • Replacing Photodiodes and LEDs
      • Heating Element
      • Stirring
    • Server Troubleshooting
    • Vial Platform Troubleshooting
      • Motherboard Troubleshooting/Replacement
      • 12V Power Supply Troubleshooting/Replacement
    • GUI Troubleshooting
    • eVOLVER Maintenance
  • Hardware
    • Overview of Hardware Architecture
    • Overview of Fluidics
      • Tubing and connectors
      • Peristaltic Pumps
      • Fluidics box
    • Overview of Millifluidics
      • IPPs (Integrated Peristaltic Pumps)
      • Pressure Regulator
    • Vial Caps
      • Universal Vial Cap Construction Guide (Luer Connectors Only)
      • 5 and 7 Port Nylon Tubing Caps Construction Protocol
    • Smart Sleeve
      • Vial Board
      • 🌪️Stirring
      • Temperature
      • Optical Density
        • OD90 vs OD135
    • Motherboard Layout and Circuitry
      • 🌡️Arduino
      • Sensor/Actuator Board Slots
      • Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) Boards
      • Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) Boards
    • Raspberry Pi
    • Chassis
    • Light Blocker / Splash Guard
    • Known Issues
  • Software
    • Overview of Software Architecture
    • DPU
      • Calibration
      • custom_script.py
      • Experiment Data Files
      • eVOLVER.py
    • Arduino
    • Server (Raspberry Pi)
      • Calibration Files
      • Configuration Files (conf.yml)
    • Known Issues
  • Extensions
    • Adding A New Experimental Parameter
      • Power Supply
      • Specific Applications
      • Custom Calibration Code
    • Custom Experiments
      • ePACE
        • ATTiny1634 Writing
        • LUX Board Troubleshooting
      • Morbidostat
      • Extractor Column
        • Extractor Volume Maintenance
        • Experiment Start
          • Sterilizing Extractor Fluidics
          • Setting up your experiment
          • Using the extractor script
        • Extractor Analysis
        • Troubleshooting
        • Example protocols
      • Phototroph Growth
        • Setup Phototroph eVOLVER
        • Photo-eVOLVER Smart Sleeves
          • Photo-eVOLVER Smart Sleeve Construction Guide
        • Experiment Guide
    • Custom Fluidics
      • Adding a Third Pump Rack
      • Bubblers / In-Vial Aeration
        • Bubbler Construction Protocol
        • Bubbler Cleaning Protocol
      • Running the slow pumps
    • min-eVOLVER
      • About
      • min-eVOLVER Construction
        • Parts
        • Construction Protocol
      • Fluidics Setup
      • Software Installation and Startup
      • send_command.py
      • Calibrations
      • Starting an Experiment
      • ePACE with min-eVOLVER
        • [v1.1] ePACE with min-eVOLVER
      • Troubleshooting
    • Interfacing with Other Systems
  • Contributing
    • Guidelines for Contribution
    • Reporting a Bug / Hardware Failure
    • Documentation
      • Making a Forum Post
      • How to Edit the Wiki
    • Software Development
    • Hardware Development
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On this page
  • Troubleshooting Workflow for Overflow
  • Inspecting internal components
  • Old evolver pumps (solid black plastic head)
  • Relevant Forum Posts

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  1. Troubleshooting
  2. Experiment Troubleshooting

Vial Overflow, Pump Failure, and Spills

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Last updated 1 year ago

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Vial overflow is one of the most common problems to plague eVOLVER experiments. Overflow events can cause damage to internal components such as the PCB motherboard, sensor actuator (SA) boards, power supplies, etc. If you experience overflow during an experiment, it is important to immediately stop the eVOLVER and evaluate potential causes of overflow, as well as any damage that the overflow may have caused.

If you catch an overflow that happened recently (i.e. an overflow that happened overnight), the best thing you can do after stopping the experiment is turn off and unplug the eVOLVER, determine the extent of overflow spilling, and wash any components that have media on them. There are no components on the vial board or motherboard that retain significant charge (i.e. no batteries or large capacitors), so they are safe to wash gently in soap and water. Once clean, they should be dried quickly with a paper towel.

The main reason for electronics failure after an overflow is current shorting through media (most microbial media is salty and conductive), or connections and copper corroding from media that has been left to dry. If you can clean off all the media immediately after an overflow, you will have a much better chance of saving electrical components, and saving yourself many headaches down the road.

If you did not catch an overflow quickly, or a large amount of media spilled, follow the workflow below.

Troubleshooting Workflow for Overflow

Inspecting internal components

Overflowed media can enter into the vial platform through the ports that connect the Smart Vials to the motherboard. This can cause damage to the internal circuitry, which is should first be evaluated by visually inspecting the motherboard, SA boards, power supplies, and Raspberry Pi. Damage to any of these components can look like burned or melted spots or loose/broken connections. If you see visible damage to any of these parts, they will need to be fully replaced. See pages below for specific instructions on how to replace these various parts.

Motherboard Troubleshooting/Replacement

12V Power Supply Troubleshooting/Replacement

Old evolver pumps (solid black plastic head)

Relevant Forum Posts

Pump is not actuating / spinning
Pump failure and spill, lessons learned