Varian Saturn 2000 - Ionization Failed not reaching 100uA

[newbie1]

Hi

Our varian saturn 2000 is failing ionization test reporting not able to set maximum emission current to 100uA, which is maxing out at ~80uA. I have checked filaments they were ok but still I changed the filament cleaned the trap but still failing. It is throwing following errors.

"The emission current can not be set to its maximum value of 100uA. Only 82.7uA is available. The likely cause includes. (1) Power control board is defective (Emission regulator) or (2) Filament is defective or 3) Manifold electronic assembly is defective (Filament select relay or connection)"

I have tried switching between filament 1 and 2, which switches fine as I can hear the relay clicking and I see ionization in manual control.

Please share your thought on this problem.

Thank you!

[Jonezy_Lothos]

Newbie1,

That sounds like a bad lower manafold board. but check a few things before you go spending $1500 at Agilent.

1. How is you auto tune? Intergator zero should be around 128 (+/- 30), Multiplier voltage is lower than 2000, and all the cal gas compounds are close

2. Open up the trap. there are some small gold springs that ground the electrodes. If they look tarnished/dull swap them out.

3. Check the inner electrode spring thingy (scientific name...). It will be at one end of the electrodes and looks like a thin wavy washer. if that has small amounts of corosion change it.

4. what is the turbo current at? Should be below 300ma. If its above you might have a leak that is throwing ions in the trap and giving a false reading

Good Luck,

Jones