Alliance Waters 2795 Separations Module with Waters 996 PDA

[hplc2012]

Hello, I was wondering if someone could help me with an issue related to "Instrument Failure Bad Data" message. I'm using Alliance Waters 2795 Separations Module with Waters 996 PDA. A few months ago, the status light was blinking but I was still able to get data. I know that a new PDA must be replaced and indeed I just replaced it. While waiting for a new PDA arrived, I ran a few injections and received a message stating "Instrument Failure Bad Data". When this message showed up, the Alliance system was still running but no data were recorded. After replacing a new PDA, the status light was stable - no more blinking as before. However, I was only able to obtain data for only one trial - trials after the first one did not have data due to "Instrument Failure Bad Data" message shown up after a few min of injection. I have tried to clean the whole system including the flow cell with 50/50 water/methanol over night (approximately 15 hours) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. I also shut down the whole system, then turned on the alliance system with PDA, then turned off the alliance system with PDA, then turned everything on, but couldn't get rid of this "Instrument Failure Bad Data". I've read somewhere that there might be an issue with communication among connection or perhaps with software. What should I have to do next in order to running the whole system without this trouble? The software I'm using is Empower. Thank you for all your help

[Bull76]

Hi,

The PDA did you just get it re-furbished or did you get a new PDA. Was the PDA 2996 for a 2996 or a 2996 for a 2998? Have you tried re-creating the IM in Empower and also create a new project and don't copy over any of the methods to see if the issue is resolved.
What testing was done when the New PDA was installed? You could have a faulty PDA...

[hplc2012]

Waters 996 PDA for 2795 Separations Module. After replacing a new PDA, PDA diagnosis was performed, and all parameters (such as CPU, timer, shutter, lamp, wavelength accuracy, communications, optics, ROM, DSP, RAM) passed. Creating a new method or IM did not change the result of this type of error (Instrument Failure Bad Data).

[Hollow]

1) did you shutdown your PC, unplug the power cable, press the on button, re-connect the power cable and restart your pc? (it's to get all capacitors and RAM emptied on the mainboard/lace-card)
then if PC is running, power on the hplc-system
(maybe Empower still associates an error with the PDA @XY within its RAM, until this RAM is cleared by power loss.)

2) are all entries in the system configuration (Empower Node and/or Systems) still valid for the new PDA?
->especially the port settings

3) when creating a new IM, what happens if you first delete the PDA-Module and then (re-)add one from the wizard? Would this clear the error?

[aceto_81]

Maybe it's a bad cell on the PDA, is it possible to minimize the range where you measure?
eg if you need 254nm, measure 252-257nm or something?

Ace

[Bull76]

Instrument failure bad data, sounds like the data been collected isn't in a format that is readable. The 996 isn't made anymore and it was upgraded to 2996 years ago. There is also a 2998 on the market, If you can let us know then we can maybe come up with another approach for you. When you say a new PDA, what model is it now? or did you get it Repaired and it is still the 996.

To me it sounds like the front end electronics are at fault....

[silmartras]

Try to check in the instrument method, section detector, which detector have you got installed. You can add/activate detectors.

[LC_labrat]

I ran a search on Waters website:
LAC/E 32 2996 bad data 190 to 500 nm

Primary Product:Empower 2
Content Type:Incidents
Category/Screen:Run Samples
Platform:LAC/E 32
Operating System:Not Applicable
PCS Number:42316
Product Version:Empower 2
Software Option:All
Version Corrected:Investigate for Future
Related Products:Empower 2

Abstract / Summary
The following defect has not been reproduced by Waters. In a system attached to a LAC/E 32 that includes a 2996, 2695 and an "occasional" 2414, Empower does not collect data correctly in 3D mode for the wavelength ramge 190 400 nm. The detector functions normally, except when collecting data in 3D mode from 190nm to 400nm. Using this range, when an injection is made there is no data displayed, and after about 1 min the run stops and goes to idle. The Empower message center error is listed as, "Instrument Failure, Bad Data". Interestingly, the detector acquires normally when collecting data from 190nm to 300nm and from 190nm to 500nm. The LAC/E 32 was replaced using an existing LAC/E 32 from a system that was not showing this behaviour and the symptoms disappeared.