Communication timeout UV detector in Chromeleon

[looslik]

I am running chromeleon 7.3 on a spectrasystem HPLC (all parts model numbers: degasser SCHM1000, pump P100, autosampler AS3000, UV detector UV6000LP).

When I try to run a sequence the UV connection suddenly goes off after a warning message that says: "A communication timeout occurred while waiting for device answer in OnStoreMeth". This doesn't always happen, sometimes 1-2 samples run without a problem and it only appears when starting the 3rd sample. It seems that the error occurs not only at the start of a run but can also happen in-between (one of my runs of 13min stopped after only 4). The system retries to establish connection and the same message appears like 4times. Then an error message appears: "A communication timeout occurred while waiting for device answer in TaskSetMeth". The method is aborted.

This has only started to happen today and I am not sure why. The cables are fine and the UV reconnects within seconds, but will disconnect again if I try to resume the sequence and will produce the same messages again.

Does anyone have an idea why this can happen? Or even just what the error/warning messages really mean?

[DR]

PC's USB or NIC being allowed to time out to save power?

[looslik]

@DR thanks for your answer, but I already checked that. My instrument is old, so it’s connected through a COM port.

This whole thing is a mystery to me…