Flashing Detector Module Light

[mgm]

I have an Agilent 1100 that has a G1313 contact closure board in the G1314A detector module that I don't need. What I do need is to insert a LAN card in that slot. However, when I remove the contact closure board, the status light on the front of the detector module flashes red. If I put the LAN card it, the LAN card never powers up live. The detector seems to want to have this board installed. I've attempted resetting the module, which works until you connect the CAN cables back. Any ideas on how to fix this situation and get the LAN card installed?

[HPLCCONSULT]

First of all the part number for contact closure board is G1351A not 'G1313'. G1313 is the part number for an Agilent 1100/1200-Series AutoSampler. G1314 is the Agilent Part Number for a VWD.

Now, if you do not have any use for the contact closure board you can of course remove it from ANY Agilent module and the module will work 100% fine (as no Agilent module comes with this board from the factory. Agilent makes you buy them separately). If the module does not operate correctly with the contact closure board out of the instrument, then you obviously have a problem with that module (make sure you test it by unplugging all interface cables first). A flashing RED LED indciates a serious error (A huge list of errors will cause this. You must investigate to finid the cause). The included manual for the module has a list of many of these errors.

Regarding the LAN card. Their are about five different versions of the MIO/LAN cards used in the Agilent 1100/1200-Series (I will not go into all the versions here as it has little to do with your problem). I will assume you have a working and fully tested card to start with (???). The card slides into the back of an unpowered (you did unplug it first?) module (Due to memory issues, it is usually installed in the detector module, but will work in most other modules). The card should power up once it has been installed in the module. You must configure your computer and sometimes the card to wirk with your system (network).

You have now provided any information as to if this system used to work on the LAN or if it is a new installation. What CDS sofware are using (Type/Revision) ? Some background info would be helpful. *BTW: You must fix the problem with module that has a flashing red light before you try and install any secondary cards into it.

[mgm]

Thanks for responding.

The number on the board is, in fact, G1313-66511. There are no connections on this card. Agilent support identified it as a contact closure board. Yes, I know that G1313A is the autosampler. Have one of those, too.

With the board out, and the CAN cables disconnected, the G1314A VWD shows solid yellow. But, with the CAN cables connected, it flashes red. The module does work properly with the board in. I have tried different CAN cables, so that isn't the problem.

By the way, the pump module, G1311A, also has one of these G1313 cards in it, and it has the identical problem as the VWD, i.e., it won't work with the card out.

There's also a A3550-01151 card in the G1313A autosampler. It also has the same issue, i.e., won't work with the card out.

As I alluded to, I took the cards out, disconnected them from each other, set the DIP switches to 11000001, and started them up to to reset them. Then, returned the DIP switches to their defaults. Looks fine (solid yellow) until you connect the CAN cables.

The LAN card isn't the issue. They are new (well, refurbished), have been proven to work in other 1100's in this application, and I didn't even get to the point of the card, since the VWD was flashing red.

The system is an older one that got transferred from another site, and it has been working (both places) without a network (just the Game Boy for control).

And, yes, the modules were powered off for any changes that were done. Don't know about their previous histories, though.

Agilent support says we need a service visit. Management says we aren't going to spend the money and to forget digital acquisition and control. We can use analog acquisition without control for awhile, but we need to move to digital control.

[HPLCCONSULT]

OK, I think I have a better idea of what may be going on. This is why I asked if the system was working and then stopped working or what the history was ... IN fact it sounds like you are trying to do something new with an old system (critical info). You are trying to add the LAN interface to a system that never had a LAN interface before. This is the key bit of information... Two things:

(1) Quick answer is that you probably have very old modules. Please check the serial numbers to see if they were made prior to 1997 (I have a table around here somewhere with the exact cut off dates, but am sure you can get the info from Agilent). The very early systems used a mainboard that was not compatible with any of the more recent add-on features (Features such as the LAN/MIO boards which did not exist at that time and the G1351A ECI boards). You probably need to purchase the newer mainboards to take advantage of the features added in 1997. *** What is the Serial number of the exact module you would like to add a LAN/MIO board to (found on the front of the module) ?

(2) I am still confused by some of the statements about when the red light starts flashing (when you plug the CAN cables in). These imply that you have not setup the network or are using the wrong type of RJ-45 cables (straight through for connections to hubs/switches and crossover for direct connections to PC). If the problem only appears when you connect the cables, then I would check your network configuration/cable types first.

You confused me a bit with your erronous part numbers at first, but now I see that you have been reading the wrong part numbers off of the boards. HP/Agilent provides several "numbers" on their boards, but only one is the actual P/N. The others are lot numbers or part numbers of subcomponents/subassemblies (e.g. the A3550- number you mentioned). We do not use these numbers. *Some say they do this just to confuse the customers from finding out which part they really need ?

[mgm]

Thanks once again. I think you may be getting ahead of me, though, regarding the LAN card...

If you forget about the LAN card (I haven't gotten to the point of putting it in, yet)... the modules flash red if you simply just remove those cards I mentioned from the backs, if the inter-module CAN cables are connected (not the LAN cable). But, they don't flash red if the CAN cables are not connected.

The serial number of the G1314A VWD is JP55100543.

[HPLCCONSULT]

Lets start over with some basics as I think something is getting lost here.

(1) Yes, your VWD is an early model. It does not support LAN communication. You will need the revision 2 Mainboard (P/N G1314-65520).

(2) Forget the LAN/MIO card (not installed). The module should power up and work with NO CAN Cables plugged into EITHER of the two CAN bus jacks on the back. Can you confirm this is true ? NO CAN CONNECTIONS equals no problem... right. Plug a CAN Cable from module into another and then blinking RED light ? Please confirm.

[mgm]

Regarding your comment number 2:

Yes, that is correct.... UNLESS that additional card is installed, at which point it doesn't blink.

To summarize... With that additional card installed and CAN cables connected, no problem. With card removed and CAN cables connected, blinks red. With card removed and CAN cables disconnected, solid yellow.

[HPLCCONSULT]

OK, the old mainboard design used the "extra" card to operate. Newer versions used this slot for accessory cards (G1351A or LAN/MIO). I think that all of your problems revolve around use of the early mainboard which requires that the "extra" card be plugged into your detector to operate. This is one of the reasons that the old design was dropped. ** Before LAN control was offered, all of the modules were connected via HPIB to a primary module and CAN cables to the other instrument modules. No need to add a LAN card to the system as it did not exist yet. HPIB control worked fine and was driven by an interface card in the client's PC. Most customer's upgraded their mainboards when they migrated to full LAN control via Ethernet.

[Anthony_Ng]

Well, I may share the HPIB option experience with you:

We have HP1050 bundled with Pentium II, working under Windows 3.1NT. The HPLC works fine but the computer (no CD-Rom, USB, broken files in OS) and Chemstation is old (version A.03).

Of course 1050 do not support LAN but we can buy a HPIB-PCI (82350B) interface card. Plug it into a newer PC work under Windows2000 and Chemstation A.10. After installing IO library and config everything, now all things works fine.

Agilent can offer HPIB-PCI, HPIB-USB or HPIB-PCIe interface card. Engineers said HPIB-PCI is more stabe than HPIB-USB and it will not use the precious PCIe slot. (but PCI slot will phase-out is questionable) We cannot use Chemstaton B version because it is no longer support 1050.

If I recalled correctly, HPIB can control 14 module. Hence, with 1 interface card, you may control 2-3 instruments.

[mbicking]

Just a wild random thought here, but would upgrading the firmware make any difference in compatibility?

[HPLCCONSULT]

"mbicking": Firmware is not the issue. Two versions of mainboards were used in the 1100-series modules and must be exchanged. The very first versions of the 1100-Series looked the same on the outside, but were different electronically. They did not accept the upgrades and accessories that later model 1996/1997 modules did. Many of the accessory boards that we are all used to now did not exist when these modules were first introduced. "HP" had to change the mainboard for them to work.

[mgm]

Does anyone know where I might find a Revision 2 Mainboard (P/N G1314-65520)?

Also, once I subsequently install the LAN card, will I be able to upgrade the firmware on the other modules, other than the VWD, to more recent versions? Or will they also be too old to accept updated firmware?