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What This Guide Helps With
Troubleshooting shutdowns or restarts caused by facility power, connections, disconnects, circuit events, external devices, overheating, or internal electrical faults.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
1. Protect Staff, Patients, and the Interrupted Load
An interrupted cycle cannot be accepted as sterile.
Notify Sterile Processing leadership immediately.
Segregate the entire load for reprocessing.
Do not force the door or remove power again.
Allow automatic recovery and aeration to complete.
Redirect urgent loads to another verified sterilizer.
If smoke, burning odor, unusual heat, arcing, or liquid leakage is present, disconnect power only when safe and follow emergency procedures.
Expected outcome: Personnel are protected and no instrument from the interrupted cycle enters patient care.
2. Confirm the Exact Power Event
Determine whether the sterilizer:
Lost all power.
Restarted automatically.
Displayed a low-power or recovery message.
Shut down only during a specific phase.
Affected room lights or other equipment.
Tripped a breaker or facility disconnect.
Produced an alarm, sound, odor, or visible sign before shutdown.
Record the cycle phase and approximate time of interruption.
Expected outcome: The event is classified as facility-wide, circuit-specific, connection-related, or isolated to the sterilizer.
3. Allow Safe Cycle Recovery
If the sterilizer has power:
Do not initiate another cycle.
Allow the unit to complete any automatic recovery.
Observe door lock status and displayed instructions.
Preserve the aborted-cycle record.
Open the chamber only when the sterilizer indicates it is safe.
Expected outcome: The chamber reaches a safe state and the interrupted load remains clearly identified as failed.
4. Check for a Facility-Wide Power Issue
Ask whether:
Lights flickered.
Other equipment restarted.
Emergency power transferred.
Maintenance was performed.
A generator test or utility disturbance occurred.
The area experienced a brief outage.
Coordinate with Facilities to review the event.
Expected outcome: A facility power event is confirmed or ruled out. If power is stabilized, continue with required verification before returning the sterilizer to use.
5. Inspect the External Power Connection
When the sterilizer is idle and safe:
Verify the plug or hardwired disconnect is fully engaged and undamaged.
Inspect accessible cords, plugs, strain relief, and receptacles.
Check for looseness, discoloration, heat damage, or arcing marks.
Confirm the disconnect was not accidentally operated.
Do not use adapters, extension cords, or temporary power strips.
Expected outcome: The external supply connection is secure and free of visible damage. Damaged power components require immediate removal from service.
6. Check the Branch Circuit and Breaker Status
Coordinate with Facilities or qualified electrical personnel.
Determine whether the circuit breaker tripped.
Identify other equipment on the same circuit.
Do not repeatedly reset a breaker that trips.
Confirm the sterilizer is connected to the approved dedicated electrical source when required by the installation.
Document voltage-quality testing only when performed by qualified personnel using approved equipment.
Expected outcome: The circuit remains stable and appropriately supports the sterilizer. Repeated breaker operation requires escalation.
7. Inspect for Environmental or Ventilation Problems
Confirm ventilation openings are not blocked.
Remove external stored items restricting airflow.
Check for excessive room heat or recent HVAC failure.
Look for dust accumulation on accessible vents.
Do not remove panels to clean internal components.
Confirm required clearances around the sterilizer are maintained.
Expected outcome: The sterilizer has unobstructed airflow and a suitable environment. If correcting an external blockage resolves the issue, continue with complete test-cycle verification.
8. Disconnect Nonessential External Peripherals
When the sterilizer is idle:
Inspect connected printers, scanners, USB devices, and network accessories.
Disconnect recently added nonessential peripherals.
Check for damaged cables or liquid contamination.
Restart the sterilizer using its normal procedure.
Reconnect approved peripherals one at a time after stable operation is confirmed.
Expected outcome: The sterilizer remains powered without the suspect peripheral. If the shutdown follows one accessory, remove that accessory from service.
9. Perform a Controlled Restart
After facility power and connections are confirmed:
Start the sterilizer according to normal procedures.
Observe the complete startup sequence.
Record any fault or self-test message.
Confirm the display, door status, sterilant status, and peripherals initialize normally.
Stop if the unit restarts again, makes abnormal sounds, or develops heat or odor.
Expected outcome: The sterilizer reaches a stable ready state without restarting.
10. Run an Approved Test Cycle
Do not begin with a clinical load.
Run the facility-approved verification or empty test cycle.
Observe whether the shutdown repeats at the same phase.
Monitor external power stability and physical indicators.
Confirm the full cycle record is produced.
Stop further testing after one repeated unexpected shutdown.
Expected outcome: The sterilizer completes the test cycle without power loss, restart, alarm, or missing data.
11. Verify Recovery and Record Integrity
Confirm:
- The interrupted cycle is clearly recorded as failed or aborted.
- The test cycle is recorded separately.
- Date and time remained correct after the power event.
- Network and printer functions returned.
- The door locked and unlocked correctly.
Expected outcome: The sterilizer’s operational and documentation functions remain reliable following the event.
If the Problem Persists
If facility power, branch circuit, external connections, ventilation, environment, and peripherals have been checked and the sterilizer still shuts down or restarts, common external causes have been ruled out.
The remaining cause may involve an internal power supply, control system, wiring connection, thermal protection circuit, electrical load, software, or another internal component.
The sterilizer should be:
- Removed from service.
- Labeled Out of Service.
- Sent for qualified repair or field evaluation.
- Evaluated using appropriate STERIS documentation and approved electrical test equipment.
- Repaired only by qualified personnel.
Do not repeatedly restart the sterilizer, reset tripping protection, or run additional clinical loads. Complete electrical safety, operational, and sterilization-process verification after repair.
Knowing when to stop external troubleshooting is proper troubleshooting.
Clinical Use Tip
Every load interrupted by a power loss must be fully reprocessed, even when the sterilizer restarts and displays a normal ready screen.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"Sterile Processing reported that the V-PRO restarted during conditioning and the cycle was aborted."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Clinical Engineering and Facilities found a loose connection at the approved power receptacle that caused intermittent loss of supply power."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"Facilities repaired the receptacle, and Clinical Engineering verified stable startup, a complete test cycle, accurate records, and normal door operation."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Cycle phase at shutdown
- Display or alarm before restart
- Facility-wide power event
- Breaker or disconnect status
- Cord, plug, or receptacle condition
- Other equipment affected
- Unusual heat, odor, sound, or damage
- Ventilation condition
- Connected peripherals
- Restart behavior
- Test-cycle result
- Final service status
Final Thought
Treat every shutdown as both a load-validity and electrical-safety concern. Rule out facility power, external connections, circuit events, airflow, and peripherals before suspecting internal failure, and stop testing when the event repeats.
That is successful troubleshooting.