Applied BioSystems API-2000 Communication

[ChromStud5.0]

I am trying to get an Applied BioSystems API-2000 system up and running. Currently, it is a standalone MS with electrospray ionization source. The system has been sitting idle for several years, and I have been tasked with evaluating it.

In any event, I have powered the instrument on. The foreline pump seems to be ok, and the API-2000 comes back with the green ready light. I just can't seem to really connect to the instrument. The PC is running Win2000. Upon startup, I ensure to start the Analyst server. It gives no error message, so that part looks ok. Then, I open Analyst 1.4.2. Under the configuration tab, within hardware if I have it search for the mass spec, I am able to see the mass spec. I created a profile for it as a standalone MS with GPIB address 1. I am just not convinced that I'm actually talking to the API-2000 as I never see any of the zones such as turbo %, ion source temp, etc. Everything looks setup properly in the configure mode but evidently it's not. If I go to the tune mode, and try to "reserve the instrument for tuning", I'm still not able to see any of the instrument zones. Are these not viewable in Analyst or am I simply not talking to the instrument? I can't say I hear the turbo pump spinning down inside the MS.

The control panel says the PC's PCI-GPIB device is working properly. In the national instrument software, I'm not convinced they are actually talking. Is the national instrument software capable of finding the API-2000 if I "search for connected", and if so will it come back identified as such?

Thanks for any pointers on where to start. It seems the help menu for Analyst 1.4.2 isn't all that user friendly.

[Davidantony]

You have to activate MS only or MS+HPLC in hardware configuration if the profiles are created early or create a new profile on clicking new profile.Then there is small icon in yellow colour showing the vacum status,temperature etc.If you have to run then proper vacum is below 1.0x10-5.