Chromatography Forum

We routinely have unexpected power outages. Upon the return of power, what should we be doing to ensure the instrument is operating properly? What is everyone doing - running check solutions, nothing, etc.? Has anyone come across manufacturer guidelines for bringing an instrument back up? We currently have Agilent GC-FIDs and GC-MSs.

I'd look into an Unterrupted Power Supply for these. Remember, the biggest current draws will be the GC ovens and the MSD. And the vacuum pumps, but they don't have electronics that can be damaged.

I get power outages all the time. Occasionally a board blows. We have UPS units on everything now but that doesn't seem foolproof. My first task after I get power back, and after pumping down the MS, is to look for leaks. Even if the thing was sealed up well before, ferrules tend to need a bit of retightening. Sometimes the source ends up oxidized from losing vaccum while still hot. And if you're particularly unlucky, the backflow preventer on the foreline pump can fail and you end up with oil all over the inside of the analyzer chamber. By the time you're done cleaning that you have a pile of cotton swabs big enough for a campfire.