Chromatography Forum

Last night my 5973 foreline pump took a header! It started to make an awful noise and then stopped running. Luckily, my coworker heard it and vented my instrument. Due to construction and the fact that it's 5 degrees F outside, the temperature in my lab has been fluctuating from 70F during the day to down to 45F in the evening while they do the construction.
Does anybody else correlate the temperature fluctuations (and extrememly low temps) to the demise of my pump?
Thanks!

45F is rather low but I would think the pump is generating enough heat to not be killed by the cold.

What type was it? Pfeiffer or Edwards?

I have honestly not had that great of luck with either of the small pumps that come with the 5973 and 5975 units. I have switched all of mine to old E2M2 pumps that have all been running at least 20 years now with no problems. I have kept them since the days of running my 5995 and 5970 units and just keep moving them to the newer instruments as the little pumps die.

It was an Edwards 1.5.

I have had some of those little Edwards pumps that have been running for 10-13 years pretty much nonstop. However, we've had some die too. I doubt the low temperature has anything to do with your problem either. I'd bet it's time to get a new pump.

Or just send the E2M1.5 out for a rebuild. There are several companies that rebuild these pumps and sell refurbished pumps for under $1k.

I have two instruments running on refubished E2M1.5's and 5975 turbo and 5973 diff.

As for the temperature it is probably not an issue. They generate a fair ammount of heat. I think to high an ambient termp is worse than too low.