HP 3396A integrator and 5890 GC

[slovro]

HI--I use a 5890 series II GC with a HP 3396A Integrator. We recently had a power failure, in as which, it was off for quite sometime and the battery back up failed. After retarting the GC,the integrator didn't work and we have since replaced it. I am very new to using this type of instrument and the person who I replaced says she never really had to do anything with it. So my question is----after running a standard---I get the peaks printed out--but I have no report so as I can calculate the results. After the peaks are run, I get the message that there are "no peaks stored". I want the report to show the Area%, RT, etc. I have read the manual but not sure if I need to recalculate or just change some settings. Thanks a bunch if someone can guide me through.

[Consumer Products Guy]

HI--I use a 5890 series II GC with a HP 3396A Integrator.

That's a good system - if you are assaying samples from the 1980s...

Anyway, memory serves that you need to set stuff like Area Reject and Integration stuff up before the injection, cannot make changes after and recalculate. And maybe easier to just get peak areas and throw the numbers onto that newfangled Excel to calcualte automatically.

[aidnai]

Hi,
I have used an HP3396 integrator with an old GowMac (Series 400 isothermal/TCD -- anyone remember these? at least mine had the digital display haha...) within the past 5 years. As CPG says, it is an appropriate set up for the 1980's. He is also correct that all integration events need to be programmed before a run. Any method development is a slow process of repeated injections to get the scale/range right, then the integration event timing, then the actual integration parameters (slope and area reject etc).

Since you have a series II, there's a decent chance you have the dual RS232/GPIB connector in back. Research how to set the jumpers to use RS232 and connect to a PC with UniChrom. UniChrom is certainly more targeted to GCMS but will nevertheless be a vast improvement over what you are attempting now I believe.

Regards,
Aidan