Interface card problems HP 5890 II GC w. Hp 5971 MS

[MathiasChristensen]

Hello Chromforum.

I am new to this forum and hope you can help me. I hope i posted in the correct place. Otherwise please advice.

I am using a HP 5890 II GC with a HP 5971 MS.
Chemstation version B.02.06
The system was installed recently and worked. However after a necessary reboot of the computer problems with communicating with the MS occured.

When I try to activate the MS via "Initialize MS interface" or "Vacuum diagnostics" the program promts: "Interface card not active".

How can I activate and the interface card? I should mentionthat i have not trouble loading commands to the GC.

The pressure in the MS is 1.4*10^-4 Torr measured via an HP 59822B IGC.

Thanks in advance.

Kind regards

Mathis

[Consumer Products Guy]

I'd check Configuration Editor to make sure that the MSD is listed, and has the correct "Address code".

I should mentionthat i have not trouble loading commands to the GC.

Well, this appears to confirm that the HPIB/GPIB board in the computer is working properly.

Our 5890/5971 used software 1034C and was Windows 3.1.

[James_Ball]

That pressure should not keep the interface from initializing, but if your flows are correct it would be rather high to begin running samples once it does initialize.

5971 running B version software I believe is using SmartCard II or SmartCard III, so there could be a problem with that. Also try switching the HPIB cables and see if the problem follows the cable. It could be as simple as dirty connections on the cable ends.

Also visually check what the HPIB interface number is set to on the MS and see if it matches what is in the setup file of the instrument on the computer. It may not have saved it or returned to a default for some reason and now does not match. I can't remember if the switches for setting the HPIB address are visible on the outside of the 5971 or not, but if they are they should be right next to the connector. You read the address by adding up the numbers on the switches that are in the ON position. I believe the switches are numbered 1-2-3-7-14-30 so if 1 is ON the address is 1, if 1 and 3 are ON then the address is 4, if 7, 1 and 3 are on the address is 11 ect. I think maybe the last switch is used to set RS232 mode or something.

[MathiasChristensen]

Hey James_Ball and Consumer Products Guy

Thank for your replies.

I finally had the time to climb behind my GCMS and check for the HPIP port as suggested. There are no apperant markings on the back besides the connectors. Is there a manual where i can look up the port numbers?

I did check MS configure and solved a problem i didn't realise i had, it was looking for an HP 7673 injector with tray that is not mounted on our system. So i fixed that.

However it is still not possible to initialize the MS in anyway. It is connected to port 20.

A little extra information: I am on a windows 98 PC. I don't know what iteration of smartcard it has though.

[James_Ball]

Hey James_Ball and Consumer Products Guy

Thank for your replies.

I finally had the time to climb behind my GCMS and check for the HPIP port as suggested. There are no apperant markings on the back besides the connectors. Is there a manual where i can look up the port numbers?

I did check MS configure and solved a problem i didn't realise i had, it was looking for an HP 7673 injector with tray that is not mounted on our system. So i fixed that.

However it is still not possible to initialize the MS in anyway. It is connected to port 20.

A little extra information: I am on a windows 98 PC. I don't know what iteration of smartcard it has though.

I found my 5971 manual and finally found where the HPIB address is set. The DIP switches are located on the HPIB/MS control card inside the electronics cage. You have to remove the cover, then remove the aluminum shield over the electronics on the outer side of the instrument(away from the GC). You will see a flat cable that leads from the HPIB connector to the control board, just below that connector are the switches that set the address. If those are set to 20 then it could be that that card has gone bad. That card is the same one used in the 5970(DOS/Windows Chemstation version) and the 5971 and 5972 instruments. You can a card from any of those and it should work. Just don't get one from a 5970 with the Pascal or RTE Chemstation, those are different.

[MathiasChristensen]

Hey James_Ball

I found manuals through a friend and arrived at the same conclusion. I don't like the idea about taking it apart though. I will try to understand what I did wrong better before proceding with this.

I am puzzled though. Could a simple reboot of the computer really damage the smart card? Is there anyway to confirm if it has gone bad?

I should mention that wrote the wrong pressure in the original post. The current pressure in the MS is 1.2*10^-2 not 1.4*10^-4. Will this pressure prevent the interface card from activating? I can't see how a leak shoud have occured.

[James_Ball]

Hey James_Ball

I found manuals through a friend and arrived at the same conclusion. I don't like the idea about taking it apart though. I will try to understand what I did wrong better before proceding with this.

I am puzzled though. Could a simple reboot of the computer really damage the smart card? Is there anyway to confirm if it has gone bad?

I should mention that wrote the wrong pressure in the original post. The current pressure in the MS is 1.2*10^-2 not 1.4*10^-4. Will this pressure prevent the interface card from activating? I can't see how a leak shoud have occured.

I wouldn't think it would keep the interface card from initializing but at that pressure you will not be able to scan if it does. If the card is not initializing maybe the diffusion pump is not heating and that is what is causing the high pressure. You may be only getting vacuum from the roughing pump and that is why the vacuum is high. Does the diffusion pump on the rear of the instrument feel warm if you put your hand near it?

I have had the card in the computer go bad and it would only talk to one piece and not the other(talk to MS and not GC or just the opposite) so maybe the fault is in the card in the computer.

[MathiasChristensen]

Hey James_Ball

Thank you for being so helpfull

I think you are right in assuming that the pressure shouldn't prevent the card from initializing. Actually I've once had the interface tell me that the pressure in the MS was to high for measurements.

The diffusion pump on the back is not warm at all. Which is likely why the pressure is high. I think that makes sense though, if it isn't possible to communicate with the MS, how would the software tell the pump to start up? As far as i understand diffusionpumps require low pressure to operate.

[James_Ball]

Hey James_Ball

Thank you for being so helpfull

I think you are right in assuming that the pressure shouldn't prevent the card from initializing. Actually I've once had the interface tell me that the pressure in the MS was to high for measurements.

The diffusion pump on the back is not warm at all. Which is likely why the pressure is high. I think that makes sense though, if it isn't possible to communicate with the MS, how would the software tell the pump to start up? As far as i understand diffusionpumps require low pressure to operate.

There is an interlock that uses the gauge tube in the forepump line where it connects to the diffusion pump. I believe the upper limit is 300mTorr before it will allow the diffusion pump to begin heating. There are also high and low temp sensors on the diffusion pump itself to control the temperature of the oil.