Cheap laboratory centrifuges in Britain?

[ffutures]

Anyone know of an inexpensive UK source for laboratory centrifuges? Ours is no longer legal (no safety interlocks etc.), we thought we were OK to continue to use it for demonstration work but we've now realised that the period of grace for that ended some time ago. So we're trying to find a museum or something that wants that one (we can't sell it or give it away otherwise since it's unsafe) and need to get a new one.

The snag is that this is going to be used VERY rarely, e.g. 2 or 3 times a year, so we really can't justify spending several hundred quid. They turn up occasionally on eBay, but there's currently nothing and I would greatly prefer to get something that comes with a proper warranty and safety certification! So I was wondering if anyone here has happened to buy anything recently, or might know of a lab that's upgrading and needs to get rid of something old but legal.

Basically, what we need is something pretty basic that will take 2 or more 15ml tubes, speed about 2800 RPM, proper safety interlocks so it can't be started while open or opened while the tubes are spinning. And 230v mains powered, of course, which rules out most of the new ones on offer from American vendors on eBay.

Any suggestions?

Comments

[draconin.livejournal.com]

And 230v mains powered, of course, which rules out most of the new ones on offer from American vendors on eBay.

Speaking in ignorance, wouldn't a transformer take care of that problem? Relatively cheaply, I mean?

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Not really - it would be a total sod to get electrical safety certification.

[uk-lemming.livejournal.com]

Would the Centrifuges that run on American voltages run directly off of the mains, or would there be an external transformer? If so then a cheap, sealed unit transformer plug from somewhere like farnell would probably do the job, and be easy enough to be tested for electrical safety.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Centrifuges draw a couple of amps - I've never seen one with an external transformer, they're always connected directly to the mains.