Base plate 135 mm Guardian 5000

Quick Answer: The Base Plate 135 mm Guardian 5000 is a round metal plate, 135 mm across as titled, that sits on the top plate of a Guardian 5000 hotplate or hotplate stirrer and carries sectional heating blocks. This Guardian 5000 base plate turns separate block segments into one assembly that heats evenly and can be lifted as a unit.

Role of the Base Plate in the Guardian Block System

Guardian 5000 is a range of hotplates, stirrers and hotplate stirrers from OHAUS, and it has its own family of heating accessories. Some of those accessories are one-piece blocks; others are sectional blocks, wedge-shaped segments that let one plate carry tubes and vials of different sizes at the same time. The 135 mm base plate is the part those segments rest on.

The listing photograph shows a machined, silver-coloured disc with a slightly raised outer rim, a round boss standing up at the centre and four small holes spaced near the edge. The sectional blocks sold for Guardian 5000 are shaped with a curved notch at their inner point, which matches a central boss of this kind, so the segments locate around the middle of the plate. The holes near the rim line up with the fixing points of the matching handles.

Using a base plate also protects the top plate of the hotplate: blocks are placed, swapped and lifted on the base plate rather than slid across the ceramic or metal heating surface.

Specifications

What the Base Plate Is Used For

• Assembling a mix of sectional blocks for tubes and vials on one Guardian hotplate
• Lifting a whole set of heated tubes off the hotplate in one movement, with handles fitted
• Keeping sectional blocks aligned so every well sits over the heated area
• Protecting the hotplate’s top surface from scratches when blocks are changed often

Care & Handling

• Seat the base plate centrally on the top plate before adding blocks
• Handle the plate by its handles, or with heat-resistant gloves, after heating
• Keep the underside flat and clean so contact with the hotplate is complete
• Store the plate flat to avoid bending the rim

Why Choose LabEquip

The base plate is ordered by labs building up a Guardian 5000 block set, usually together with sectional blocks and handles. LabEquip can put the complete set on one quote from our general lab products range and check model compatibility if you contact us.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Guardian 5000 base plate used for?

It is the round plate that sectional heating blocks sit on. It holds the segments together on the Guardian 5000 top plate so they heat evenly and can be lifted as one assembly.

Do I need the base plate for one-piece blocks?

One-piece uni-blocs are made as a single disc and are generally used on their own. The base plate is mainly needed for the wedge-shaped sectional blocks.

What does 135 mm refer to?

It is the diameter of the base plate given in the product title. It is sized to suit the top plate and block family of the Guardian 5000 range.

Can the base plate be used on a hotplate from another brand?

It may physically sit on another flat hotplate, but the blocks and handles are made for Guardian 5000, and performance on other hotplates is not stated. Use it with the range it is listed for.

How do the handles attach?

The photographed plate has four holes near the rim that line up with fixing points on the handle brackets. Fit the handles while the plate is cool.

Can the base plate go in a dishwasher?

Hand washing is safer. Wipe the cooled plate with a mild detergent and water, rinse and dry it, and keep the underside free of residue.

Last Updated: September 2026