Chromatography Forum

I have Varian GC CP-3380 with packed mole sieve column. For few days this GC is giving the air leak fault message.

When GC is turned on it comes to READY position but after 5 or 6 minutes, all the lights (not ready, ready, and run) comes on and gives a message: Hazardous fault: TCD detector (front) air leak fault. If I turn the GC off and on again. Same thing happens. I have checked all the connection of column to GC and carrier gas connection and does not seems to have any leaks.
Please suggest what would be the cause of it? and how to solve this problem? thanks.

You could have air purging off the column. I would turn the detector off and condition the column GENTLY.

Then see if it is ok. Of course, have you changed your septum lately?

You may have an air leak at the carrier gas supply or a contaminated supply.

Do you have an oxygen trap immediately before the connection to the GC? An indicating trap?

best wishes,

Rod

Thanks Rod
A very good suggestion. GC is working fine now.

You are welcome.

Glad to hear the good news.

Rod

I'm experiencing the same problem. But I ran a leak check with an electronic leak detector and didn't found any leak. Does someone knows what can I do?