Agilent Column Selection Valve

[bmoritz]

I was wondering if anyone can help with a problem I'm having. We just received a used 1159A 6-Way Column Selection Valve and I can't seem to get Chemstation to recognize it. We are using Chemstation A.10.01 and when we restart the computer the screen to add components doesn't show the selection valve. Do I need to update the firmware in the selection valve in order to have Chemstation recognize it? And if so how to I go about updating the firmware? Thanks in advance.

BM

[mardexis]

If you bought the valve recently you will more likely have to downgrade the firmware on the valve. It is most easily done by downloading the firmware to a computer and using the Agilent utility to do it. Check the agilent website under firmware.

[HPLCCONSULT]

The Agilent "Valve on a stick" product that you have (made by Rheodyne) requires a minimum of ChemStation Rev A.09.03 so you are OK there. Firware should be at least 5.06 or higher. The exact firmware version YOU need depends mainly on the ChemStation Revision (A.10.## in this case) since you are obviously using it with an 1100-Series (not 1200-Series). SOME of the Valve on a stick products require that a separate 24VDC power supply be plugged into the back of the valve to make it work (and be recognized by ChemStation). I can not remember if your does or does not as I would have to look it up in my notes (not at office right now). I do remember that many of the later products (B modules) were able to power them through the CAN cable, but earlier ones were not.
Make sure the valve is powered up along with the module it's CAN cable is plugged into (like the pump module) and you should see it in the ChemStation 1100-Configure screen list.

BTW: The 6-port valve used in that product has a large dead volume and I do not recommend them for use with "small" volume analytical columns (e.g. < 4.6mm x 15 cm). We use a valve from Chiralizer Services which has a delay volume of about 1 ul so is ideal for use with most HPLC columns and has little to no negative impact on your chromatography. Just my 2 cents

[Consumer Products Guy]

I swapped a column switching valve from one column compartment to another a few months ago, no problems. I couldn't just swap the entire modules on the 1100 because the firmwares were different. Did you try removing the column compartment from the configuration then restarting all the modules and the computer?

[HPLCCONSULT]

"Consumer Products Guy". He does not have a Rheodyne valve installed in the TCC unit like you do. He has a "Valve on a Stick" version which is a separate module with valve inside and this does not get installed into the column compartment. The G1159A is a separate module that runs off the CAN cable (plugged into another module). It is not the G1316 TCC unit which shows up as a separate module (this valve does not show up as a "Module" in the TCC). His valve DOES show up as a separate module in the configuration menu (reconfigure 1100 module screen).

I rarely see firmware issues with the valve on a stick product. In this case the user is operating it with an 1100-Series unit and A.##.## ChemStation. The firmware supplied on the ChemStation Rev A.10.01 CD-ROM should be correct for the valve in this case. Now, if someone downloaded 1200-Series firmware (B rev 6.11 or similar), then the valve module may not "see" ChemStation A.10.##. However, 98% of the time it does not work is because the user does not have the 24 volt power supply plugged into the valve on a stick, as I mentioned before.

"bmoritz": What system was the valve used on before you got it ? If it came off a 1200-Series or an 1100-Series system running ChemStation B.02.## or higher it probably has the wrong firmware installed. If not, get a 24 volt power supply (which you probably will need no matter what).
Let us know what you find out.