Why Autoclaves Should Be on a Dedicated Circuit

The autoclave is a critical piece of equipment in many settings: businesses, laboratories, and medical establishments, for example. Because the autoclave has to go through several phases in its cycle, it is recommended that the autoclave be on a dedicated circuit. There are several reasons for this, and in today’s blog article, we are going to explore why a dedicated circuit is a best practice for autoclaves. 

Prevention of Overloads 

An autoclave draws a significant amount of power. If you run any other electrical devices on the same circuit, you risk tripping the breaker and interrupting your sterilization cycle. Not only will this shut off the autoclave, but overloading any circuit is always a heat and fire hazard, which one will want to avoid at all costs. 

Time Wasting 

If your autoclave shuts off because of tripping a breaker, then whenever you realize that it has shut off, you will have to restart the whole process. If the shut-off happens during the night, then your equipment inside the autoclave may not be ready to start the day on the morning. If you have to restart the sterilization cycle, then you may have to spend twice as long for the sterilization process, a giant time waster. 

Damage Prevention 

By having a dedicated circuit for the autoclave and never allowing an overload of power to trip a breaker, you protect your autoclave and its sensitive components. This is why we put surge protectors on computers. A dedicated circuit protects your autoclave and your investment. 

Easier Troubleshooting 

If you do encounter a problem with your autoclave, a dedicated circuit allow you to eliminate one common problem. You will know at the outset that your circuit was not interrupted during a sterilization cycle, and any potential problem is not with the electricity coming into the autoclave. 

How much power is drawn by an autoclave will vary based on the make, model, and size of the autoclave. Check with your autoclave dealer, or the autoclave manufacturer to make sure that any dedicated circuit is rated for the power needed by your particular autoclave. A dedicated circuit is considered a best practice for autoclave users and owners.  

If you need help choosing, repairing, maintaining, installing, operating, or validating an autoclave, this is our business and area of expertise for many years. Give us a call, in western Canada at (888) 818-4847. We can help with every aspect of autoclaves including choosing the right one for you. 

Alpha Scientific supplies, installs, and services medical equipment in western Canada. If you have any questions about this article or would like to talk to us about medical equipment, please call our toll-free number, (888) 818-4847, or email us at sales@alphascientific.ca.