Chromatography Forum

Hello,

I need to atach a second detector to my HPLC system. Agilent 1100 series. New detector from 1200 series. Program Chemstation. Just as service and support in our area is quite complicated and expensive thing, I would like to find out: can I perform it myself (attach and install) or I should request service technician to do it for me? Thing is we have a system we have never used but with no warranty already to be a detector donnor.

And one more.
How often do you reinstall software for HPLC and PC in your computers? My two GC systems (on same Chemstation) are run for ~7 years now without any change and I get software problems from time to time. IT specialist can't find any visible causes.

Yes, you can do it yourself.
Which type of the LC-detector? DAD, MS or another?

Thanks, Russian,

it is MWD. Almost DAD but not so quite.

Connect your detector to the LC-system.
Open Configuration Editor - ADD NEW INSTRUMENT- Modular LC-system - select and ADD MWD detector and second detector.
If the system asks IP-address, entered 10.1.1.101
Try.
P.S. Sorry for my bad English

You ought to check the firmware compatibility first. Check at Agilent website and you should be able to find their firmware compatibility matrix. Depending upon your version of chemstation and the firmware residing in your old and new module you may need to downgrade the firmware on your new detector. They have a utility to help you do this somewhere near the matrix chart.

Anyway, you should just try it as per the last post. Just be aware that it may not work if the firmware is incompatible. It won't hurt anything though.

Agilent has a firmware utility on their website to change firmwares to match up, can download that. I've myself only used that to change one module (it did work).

The 1200 detector will work with an 1100 system; however you may need to set up that module as "1100-like", check its operating manual.

How often to we re-load software? Essentially never, would only do if we had a real issue, like changing computer/CPU. We still have a few systems running Windows 95 and A.06.

Thank you colleagues. I'll put my hands on equipment only next week, but you really helped.

Here I am again... Unfortunately I did not succeed.

ChemStation version is A.09.03[1417].

When I conect Lan to the MWD, ChemStation opens dialog box and allows me to include my MWD, but does not allow to configure it. If I connect Lan to the FLD, system CS does not find the MWD at all. In the first case, if CS finds the MWD it does not recognise all the other instruments: degaser, pump, thermostate, sampler and FLD.
I can't find any Configaration editors in this CS. Can't set up 1200 MWD as 1100-like.
Thank you in advance.

You have not described in what situation it recognizes the MWD or the whole system. My best guess is that you have tested the LAN cable in both detectors. If so, make sure all modules are interconnected via CAN cables - the white ones at the back of the equipment.

All modules are conected with Can calbes . Yes, I did connect Lan into one and then the other detectors. If I connect FLD, then whole (previous) system works and MWD is kind of found but prompts Power failure. If connected with MWD than Power failure for MWD plus all the system not detected.

Forgive the dumb question - but does your original detector contain the "jet card" which attaches to the computer? We had this issue when we added a second detector: that the non-used detector had the jet card. At first we swapped the jet card into the second detector. But the real solution was to remove the jet card (easy) and install that into the pump module (easy). Then we can use either detector, or both.

Ryklys - try what CPG suggested, and also make sure you've got the same firmware update on all the modules - if the firmware isn't the same, you won't see the module that is different from the module that connects to the acquisition computer.

http://www.chem.agilent.com/_layouts/ag ... whid=34884

Thank you coleagues,

now I am geting the grouds (I hope) somehow. It seems I need firmware A.05.11/13 or later ones. I did not understand CS and firmware versions.
Hopefully I do now.

Just to clarify: no, I have no jet card connections attached to neather of detectors or PC. Only CAN connections between the modules.

The Jet Card is in fact a LAN Communication board, which is inserted in the slot above the row of connectors (including the two CAN ones) - it must be inserted in one of the 1100 modules in case you want to use the LAN communication. The CAN connectors are physically the same, but serve for internal communication between the modules only. It surprises me you got any communication on it - does it allow to configure the FLD if connected to it?

As for Consumer Product Guy remark, putting the LAN card into a pump is asking for communication problems, Agilent says to put in the most communicating module, i.e detector. Experienced wih DAD detector and board in AS.

The Jet Card is in fact a LAN Communication board, which is inserted in the slot above the row of connectors (including the two CAN ones) - it must be inserted in one of the 1100 modules in case you want to use the LAN communication. The CAN connectors are physically the same, but serve for internal communication between the modules only. It surprises me you got any communication on it - does it allow to configure the FLD if connected to it?

As for Consumer Product Guy remark, putting the LAN card into a pump is asking for communication problems, Agilent says to put in the most communicating module, i.e detector. Experienced wih DAD detector and board in AS.

After repeated swapping the jet card between VWD and RID, Agilent telephone help told me to just put the jet card into either the pump or autosampler. But I'l keep that in mind in cae I have any issues. Otherwise, why would pump module have a place for a jet card?