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Waters 6000A Pressure Transducer

Discussions about HPLC, CE, TLC, SFC, and other "liquid phase" separation techniques.

6 posts Page 1 of 1
I have a Waters 6000A pump and I'm wondering if anyone knows where I can find a new pressure tranducer for it. I know, the pump is at least 25 years old, but it's a great pump and is still running strong.

Al

You can generally fix them yourself - they are very simple. They consist of a small incandescent bulb and a photocell with a pigtail ( I know, I know, it's a stainless steel squashed-tube bourdon device ) pressure arm between them.

Without disassembling anything, in a darkened room, from the front of the pump, you can look at the top gap between the sensor SS block and the front panel. You should see a small amount of incandescent light ( but you won't see the actual bulb ).

If it's totally dark, it's likely the bulb has gone. From memory, it's the same as used in the Waters RI-401 detector ( Waters 40722 ), but a supplier, such as Radio Spares, should have similar beasties, usually called " wire ended axial filament indicator lamps". They usually are larger, but the bulb doesn't have to be that profile though, as long as the bulb fits and is of similar voltage and illumination.

My intention is to replace the lamps with a resistor and white LED when they fail in my old Waters RI and 6000A systems.

If it's a calibration issue, you can withdraw the pigtail assembly and twist it slightly to make it work.

The electronics are all discrete and, from distant memory there are adjustments on the sensor circuit ( as well as the front Zero adjustment ) but you don't need to touch them usually.
Thanks for the info. It doesn't seem to be the bulb because I do see a light from the front of the instrument. The transdcer is reading a pressure, but the baseline jumps upwards of 500 psi. I think it might be a problem with the sensor electronics. I did find a company, Spectrofuge Corp., that refurbishes the transducers and they've agreed to take a look at it for me.

Al

One reason for baseline jumps can be that one of the two front recessed allen screws holding the pigtail assembly in place has become slightly loose. It's easy to check them.

Good luck with the refurbishment, and hopefully it's just a simple recalibration that is required, as these pumps are so robust. Depending on use, it's worth checking the hydraulic oil in the drive assembly and replacing it every decade or so, along with a blow-out of dust from the electronics.

Please keep having fun,

Bruce Hamilton

There are several third party instrument service companies that sell these transducers still. One is Delta Tecnical Products in Illinois. You can google them and order on line or call them. Or, google hplc instrument service, and several come up.
I have the same problem with Waters 510 pump. Baseline drift of 1000 psi in the meter. Light is seen as you described. First I tried to zero the meter from the trimmer potentiometer in lower part of the panel. However, turning the pot had absolutely no effect. Do you think there is some other problem also with the meter electronics (because it does not respond to the zeroing pot)? If it would work why just compensate the drifted baseline zeroing the meter? Why these are different?

Under the transducer (inside the motor cover) there is also a hole with a trimmer potentiometer. For what purpose is that one? For calibration? How could I make the pressure calibration myself? I have no money for any sercice company.

What actually means: "The Model 510 automatically monitors compressibility compensation values to maintain accuracy at high pressures"? If I plug out the transducer will the pump maintain a constant speed?
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