Operating guidance for the Elmasonic X-tra range of ultrasonic cleaning units,
taken from the Elma operating instructions supplied with the unit in New Zealand by Techspan.
Download: Elmasonic X-tra Operating
Instructions (PDF)
Two further X-tra manuals are hosted here for larger and older installations:
X-tra XL Operating Instructions (PDF)
and X-tra ST 1900S Operating Instructions (PDF).
Degassing — do this first, every time
This is the single most common reason an X-tra appears to be underperforming. Fresh cleaning liquid
must be degassed for approximately 10 minutes before you run any ultrasonic cleaning.
Air bubbles held in an undegassed bath absorb ultrasonic energy and prevent proper cavitation.
- Always degas without the basket and without the items in the tank.
- Degassing also stirs and mixes the bath, which is what you want after dosing a concentrate.
- Degassing can be carried out under another ultrasound mode if your unit does not have a dedicated
degas setting.
Only once the tank is full, the cleaning agent is dosed and the liquid is degassed should you load
the basket and start a cleaning cycle.
Frequency
The X-tra range operates at 37 kHz (tolerance −2.5 / +5.5 kHz).
Getting the best out of the bath
- Dose the cleaning concentrate at the manufacturer’s stated ratio — more is not better, and
over-dosing can foam the bath and damp the ultrasound. - Bring the bath up to working temperature before the cycle; heat and cavitation work together.
- Load the basket so items do not shadow each other or sit hard against the tank wall.
- Never place items directly on the tank base — always use the basket or an insert.
- Rinse and dry after cleaning so that carried-over chemistry does not dry onto the surface.
Which cleaning solution?
The right concentrate depends on the soil and the substrate. We supply the
Elma TEC CLEAN range in New Zealand and will match one to your
application — send us the details.
Checking your unit is performing
If cleaning results have dropped, verify the bath before assuming a fault. A
SonoCheck activity test vial changes colour when the bath is producing
useful cavitation, so you get a definitive answer in a single cycle.
Frequently asked questions
How long should I degas an X-tra?
About 10 minutes on every fresh fill, with the basket out and no items in the tank.
What frequency does the Elmasonic X-tra use?
37 kHz.
My cleaning results have got worse — what should I check first?
In order: is the bath degassed, is the concentrate dosed correctly and not exhausted, is the bath
at temperature, is the basket overloaded or shadowing items, and finally is the unit still cavitating
(test with SonoCheck).
Buy an X-tra unit
We stock the Elmasonic X-tra series and the floor-standing
X-tra ST series in New Zealand. For sizing advice call
0800 603 603 or email info@elma-ultrasonic.co.nz.