B-BOX Blue Light LED Epi-Illuminator
1. Why do we use blue light and safe dye to view and/or cut gel?
Traditional methods involve the use of EtBr/UV light to view gel. These traditional methods have been replaced with safer dyes and imagers like SMOBIO’s B-BOX™ blue light epi-illuminator. Using SMOBIO’s B-BOX™ / SMOBIO fluorescent dye (DS1000, NS1000, DL5000) you can improve your cloning efficiency up to 100 times. It’s easy to use, and blue light is safer for users compared to UV light.
2. What is the service life for B-BOX™ and the lamp life of the LED bulb?
B-BOX™ can last up to five years under regular use. The lamp life of the LED bulb is approximately 50,000 hours.
3. Can EtBr-stained agar gel be visualized in B-BOX™?
Yes, you can view EtBr stained gel with B-BOX™ and the results will appear red in color. However, you will experience reduced sensitivity because EtBr’s optimal wavelength of excitation lies in the range of UV light.
4. How can we match B-BOX™ to a conventional UV gel imaging system?
For the purpose of taking pictures, the whole B-BOX™ epi-illuminator can be directly placed inside a conventional UV gel imaging system. If the B-BOX™ acrylic sheet filter is placed, the filter of the imaging system can be removed. However, we suggest using a general digital camera or smart phone for convenient and efficient imaging.
5. Can B-BOX™ be used without a power supply cord?
Yes, B-BOX™ can be used without the use of a power supply cord when you purchase a specialized battery box that uses AA batteries.
6. When using the cordless battery box of B-BOX™, which battery type is recommended for use?
We recommend using 8 pieces of 1.2 V NiMH rechargeable batteries. It is also possible to use alkaline batteries which can last up to 24 hours under continuous operation. Using B-BOX™ for 8 minutes per day will give you the equivalent of 6 months of battery use.