Empower does not "listen" for inject start trigger

[RadOnc_Investi_Gator]

When running a sample on a Waters HPLC, I will click the button that says "prepare" then I insert the syringe into the injector in the "load" position, inject the sample and rotate the injector into the "inject" position. It is my understanding that this action should send an "inject start trigger signal" to the system (we have it wired up this way at least) and initiate data acquisition. Instead the system waits for me to click "inject" on the Empower interface. I feel like there must be some setting to enable Empower to "listen" for that contact closure signal with manual injection like it does with autosamplers. Any ideas?

below is a quote from the empower manual :

Injector Connections
Detectors and system controllers that are not controlled by an Empower system (for example, 2690/2695, 600 Series controller, and GC) require an inject start trigger signal (contact closure) from the injector as each injection occurs. The inject start trigger signal instructs detectors and system controllers to acquire data or run methods.
Waters autosamplers transmit the inject start signal over the IEEE-488 bus or by trigger wire. If you connect a Waters 2690/2695, 717, or 717plus to an IEEE-488 interface, you do not need to make any additional connections for an inject start signal.
When under IEEE-488 control, the 2690/2695 Sample Management System, 717, and 717plus Autosamplers transmit the inject start signal directly over the IEEE-488 bus during data acquisition. All controlled devices are triggered simultaneously when an injection is made by these instruments. Trigger wires are not required when all instruments in a chromatographic system are controlled over the IEEE-488 bus and the busSAT/IN Module.
Note: Any instrument that is not controlled by Empower requires an inject start trigger wire connection.

[nkg]

have you tried pressing inject on the empower run samples window, before switching the inject valve? if so does it display waiting for injection or does it start acquiring? i have done this in the past and i think that if you only have a pump /detector configured then empower will wait for a start signal

[RadOnc_Investi_Gator]

have you tried pressing inject on the empower run samples window, before switching the inject valve?

Haven't tried it yet but I will give it a go next run!

[RadOnc_Investi_Gator]

Tried clicking inject without closing the injector and it starts acquiring right away. Too bad I guess. Any other ideas?

[cody84]

The system I used at school was like this, we had to get someone to start the software as soon as another person injected.

[nkg]

what is your system setup?

the only other thing I can remember is that if you have a zero volume injection on the run samples window then this can start the system without an 'injection', I think

[RadOnc_Investi_Gator]

we have waters pumps A and B in line with a waters 996 PDA and Fluorometer (470) on one side and pumps A and B in line with a waters 2996 PDA with Low Temperature Evaporative Light Scattering Detector (Shimadzu) on the other side. The injectors have been changed out and they do supply the closure trigger but it seems like the acquisition system won't act on it in manual mode.

[AA]

You do have an inject start cable going to the 2996 right?

[RadOnc_Investi_Gator]

You do have an inject start cable going to the 2996 right?

We have the inject cable going into the waters pump control module at the far right contacts (where it says INJ. + - ). I wish it were as easy as "Oops, forgot to plug the cable in!". no dice.

[AA]

Empower wont start without the detector receiving that start signal as well.

[DR]

Empower wont start without the detector receiving that start signal as well.

^ right - even w/ our systems (2695/2487 or 2489 or any other Waters detector) - there's a cable going from the injector to the detector to mark the start of each injection.

[Betty]

Some of the trouble may also be attributed to the use of the prepare and inject button --
When using Prepare - it instructs the instruments an injection is about to occur when making a single injection - using a manual injector or an autosampler that is not connected by IEEE-488 or a contact closure.

Use of Inject instructs the instruments to make a single injection and then synchronizes the run time clock with the injection.
When this is used with an autosampler connected by IEEE-488, or with an injector or autosampler connected to the pump and detector by contact closure, clicking Inject starts the acquisition process.

Proper use of "Inject" button with a manual injector OR with an autosampler that is not connected via IEEE OR a contact closure:

Click Prepare first.
Click Inject when the injection is made which will start the run time clock.

[RadOnc_Investi_Gator]

I'm going to assume this is my answer and say that the contact closure inject start trigger is only operative when using an autosampler, NOT when performing manual injections as I suspected. The original purpose of this post was to find out if I really NEED to click the "inject" button when using manual injection. It sounds like the answer is YES, most certainly. Ah well . . .

[Karen01]

I'm going to assume this is my answer and say that the contact closure inject start trigger is only operative when using an autosampler, NOT when performing manual injections as I suspected. The original purpose of this post was to find out if I really NEED to click the "inject" button when using manual injection. It sounds like the answer is YES, most certainly. Ah well . . .

I've done it using a SAT-IN module.

- karen