Van Guard 1200CM Series, Operation Manual

16

Troubleshooting

This chart may help resolve some of the more common problems associated with using a compound microscope.  

Simply follow the steps until your problem is resolved.  As always, you can  contact your dealer or VanGuard 

Microscopes if you ever need help.

I can’t get any light

Step #

Possible Cause

How to Check

Result

Solution

For More Info

1

Light not switched on

Visually inspect

Switched on

Go to next step

Not switched on

Move power switch to “|” position

Page 10

2

Not plugged in

Visually inspect

Plugged in

Go to next step

Not plugged in

Plug in

6

Variable lighting control (VLC)

turned all the way down

Visually inspect

VLC turned up

Go to next step

VLC turned down

Turn VLC up

Page 10

3

Not getting power

Plug in another electrical 

appliance

Getting power

Go to next step

Not getting power

Switch to different outlet

4

Bad fuse

Visually inspect                          

(see page 13)

Good fuse

Go to next step

Bad fuse

Install new fuse

Page 14

5

Bad bulb

Try different bulb

Good bulb

Contact dealer or VanGuard Microscopes Page 17

Bad bulb

Install new bulb

Page 14

I can’t get enough light

Step #

Possible Cause

How to Check

Result

Solution

For More Info

1

Variable lighting control (VLC) 

is turned down too far

Visually inspect

VLC turned up

Go to next step

VLC turned down

Turn VLC up

Page 10

2

Bulb not centered

Visually inspect                         

(page10)

Bulb centered

Go to next step

Bulb not centered

Center the bulb

Page 9

3

Condenser not centered

Recenter  the  condenser               

(page 8)

Centered

Go to next step

Not Centered

Center the condenser

Page 8

4

Condenser height not adjusted 

properly

Visually inspect

Adjusted properly

Go to next step

Not adjusted properly

Adjust condenser height

Page 10

5

Dirty condenser and/or 

substage illuminator

Visually inspect

Dirty

Clean condenser and/or substage 

illuminator with lens cleaner and lens cloth Page 15

Not dirty

Consider purchasing auxiliary lighting or 

Kohler Illumination kit.  Contact dealer or 

VanGuard Microscopes

Page 17

I can’t raise the stage

Step #

Possible Cause

How to Check

Result

Solution

For More Info

1

Up-Stop Mechanism is set 

too low

Visually inspect

Set incorrectly

Set to “no up-stop” 

Page 11

Set correctly

Go to next step

2

Stage is at maximum height

Visually inspect

At max height

Can’t be raised any further

Not at max height

Contact dealer or VanGuard Microscopes Page 17