An electrophoresis system separates DNA, RNA, or protein molecules by size and charge by pulling them through a gel matrix using an electric field, while a dedicated power supply provides the precise, controlled voltage or current that drives that separation. Molecular biology researchers, protein biochemists, laboratory directors, and quality control scientists across pharmaceutical, biotech, and clinical settings rely on this equipment to check sample purity, size, and identity. Browse new and used electrophoresis systems and power supplies from verified sellers on Machinery Masters.

What Is an Electrophoresis System?

An electrophoresis system loads a sample into wells cut into a gel, agarose for DNA and RNA work or polyacrylamide for proteins, and then uses an electric field to pull the charged molecules through the gel matrix. Smaller molecules move through the gel faster than larger ones, so the sample separates into distinct bands by size, which a researcher can then stain, image, or transfer onto a membrane for further analysis.

The power supply is what actually generates that electric field, and it needs to hold a steady voltage, current, or power output throughout a run since even small fluctuations can distort band separation or damage a gel.

Most power supplies let a user choose between constant voltage, constant current, and constant power modes and pair that with built-in safety features such as a lid interlock that cuts power the moment a gel tank is opened. Choosing the right combination of gel system and power supply depends heavily on the molecule being separated and the resolution a protocol needs.

Electrophoresis Systems & Power Supplies Brands

Bio-Rad Laboratories, known for its PowerPac power supplies and Mini-PROTEAN and Criterion gel systems
Thermo Fisher Scientific, whose Owl range covers both horizontal and vertical electrophoresis systems
Cytiva (formerly GE Healthcare Life Sciences), which supplies SE-series electrophoresis units and accessories
Cleaver Scientific, a UK manufacturer of vertical and horizontal electrophoresis systems
Hoefer Inc, a long-established name in protein electrophoresis and blotting equipment
Consort bvba, a Belgian manufacturer specialising in electrophoresis power supplies
Agilent Technologies, known for automated capillary electrophoresis platforms used in fragment sizing and quality control
Analytik Jena, which supplies nucleic acid electrophoresis and gel imaging systems
Major Science, a manufacturer of electrophoresis tanks and power supplies for general molecular biology
VWR (Avantor), which supplies its own branded electrophoresis systems and power supplies alongside third-party equipment

Please verify this brand list against current Machinery Masters marketplace inventory before publishing, as available stock changes over time.

Electrophoresis Systems & Power Supplies Product Types

Electrophoresis equipment splits into a handful of formats depending on the molecule being separated and how automated the workflow needs to be. Choosing correctly comes down to matching the gel format and power supply output to your sample type and throughput.

Horizontal Gel Electrophoresis Systems

Horizontal, or submarine, systems run an agarose gel submerged in buffer inside a flat tank, and this is the standard format for separating DNA and RNA fragments. Laboratories use horizontal systems constantly for checking PCR products, plasmid digests, and general nucleic acid quality control.

Vertical Gel Electrophoresis Systems

Vertical systems hold a polyacrylamide gel upright between two glass or plastic plates and are the standard format for protein separation using SDS-PAGE. This orientation gives sharper protein bands than a horizontal agarose gel can achieve, which matters for protein purity and molecular weight work.

Capillary Electrophoresis Systems

Capillary systems automate the separation process inside narrow capillaries or microfluidic chips rather than a manual slab gel, giving highly reproducible, quantitative results with minimal hands-on time. Genomics and quality control labs use these systems heavily for sizing DNA fragments and checking library quality before sequencing.

Blotting and Transfer Systems

Blotting systems transfer separated proteins or nucleic acids from a gel onto a membrane after electrophoresis, which is the essential next step for Western blotting and similar detection methods. Many manufacturers sell transfer tanks and semi-dry blotters as companion products to their gel systems.

Electrophoresis Power Supplies

Standalone power supplies range from simple single-output units for a single gel tank to programmable models that can run multiple tanks at different voltage, current, or power settings simultaneously. Higher-end models add stored programs and safety interlocks suited to busy, shared laboratory environments.

Electrophoresis Systems & Power Supplies Applications and Uses

Electrophoresis equipment supports a wide range of molecular biology and quality control tasks, with the right format depending on whether the sample is nucleic acid or protein based.

DNA and RNA Fragment Analysis

Researchers use horizontal gel electrophoresis to confirm PCR product size, check plasmid digests, and assess the quality of extracted DNA or RNA before moving on to downstream applications such as cloning or sequencing.

Protein Separation and SDS-PAGE

SDS-PAGE separates proteins by molecular weight on a vertical gel, giving researchers a way to check protein purity, confirm expected size, and compare samples during purification or bioprocessing work.

Western Blotting and Protein Detection

Western blotting combines protein electrophoresis with a membrane transfer step and antibody-based detection, letting researchers identify a specific protein within a complex sample rather than simply confirming its size.

Clinical Protein Electrophoresis

Clinical laboratories use protein electrophoresis to separate serum proteins for diagnostic purposes, including detecting abnormal protein patterns and identifying haemoglobin variants.

Genotyping and Molecular Biology Research

Academic and biotech research teams rely on electrophoresis daily as a routine check at almost every stage of molecular biology work, from confirming a cloning step worked to genotyping samples in a breeding or population study.

How to Choose an Electrophoresis System and Power Supply

A handful of practical factors determine which electrophoresis system and power supply combination suits a laboratory's work.

Match the gel format to your target molecule. Choose horizontal agarose systems for DNA and RNA work, and vertical polyacrylamide systems for protein separation and SDS-PAGE.
Confirm the power supply's voltage, current, and power range against your gel tank and protocol requirements, since underpowered or mismatched supplies produce poor band resolution.
Check safety features carefully, particularly a lid interlock and automatic power cutoff, which matter most for higher-voltage capillary or blotting applications.
Consider throughput needs. A programmable power supply that can run multiple tanks at different settings suits a busy, shared laboratory better than a single-output unit.
For used equipment, check the power supply's calibration, inspect cables and electrodes for wear, and examine gel tanks for cracks or buffer leaks before buying.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an electrophoresis system used for?

An electrophoresis system separates DNA, RNA, or protein molecules by size using an electric field, and researchers use it to check sample purity, confirm fragment or protein size, and prepare samples for downstream analysis such as sequencing or blotting.

What is the difference between agarose gel electrophoresis and SDS-PAGE?

Agarose gel electrophoresis separates DNA and RNA fragments through a horizontal agarose gel, while SDS-PAGE separates proteins through a vertical polyacrylamide gel using a denaturing detergent that gives proteins a uniform negative charge so they separate purely by size. Labs choose between the two based entirely on whether the sample is nucleic acid or protein.

What voltage or current does an electrophoresis power supply need to provide?

The right output depends on the gel format and protocol, since agarose gels typically run at lower voltages over longer times while protein gels often run at higher constant currents for a shorter, sharper separation. Always check the manufacturer's recommended running conditions for your specific gel type before setting a power supply.

What is the difference between new and used electrophoresis equipment?

New electrophoresis systems and power supplies come with a manufacturer warranty and current safety certification, while used equipment offers meaningful cost savings and suits labs that can confirm a unit's calibration status and physical condition, including cables, electrodes, and gel tank integrity. It is worth running a test gel on any used system before relying on it for critical work.

How can I find electrophoresis systems and power supplies on Machinery Masters?

Browse the Machinery Masters marketplace for new and used electrophoresis systems and power supplies from verified sellers, and use the filters to narrow results by brand, gel format, and configuration. Contact a seller directly to confirm specifications, service history, and pricing before you buy.