Connecting & communicating with HP 5890 series II GC

[avh00]

Hi all,

Until quite recently, my company used a HP 5890 series II GC. We used Empower 2 to control the device.

However we would like to donate the machine to a local school. Since our Empower system is server-based, we cannot provide the school with a computer with Empower to control the device.

Simply put, I would like to install a local software program that can be used to control the 5890. I have old floppies with ChemStation A.03.02 but the floppies are unreadable. I have copies of versions A.04.01, A.08.03 and A.10.02 as well but am unable to install either one of those because of memory errors, driver errors, license errors et cetera.

I tried Unichrom but it's unable to detect the device.

What makes things even more difficult is that the device is connected to an Autosampler Controller G1512A to an Equinox SST-8P PCI adapter in the PC. The controller is also connected to an 7673S autsampler and an 18593B tower.
According to Empower, the GC is connected to Port 3 of the Equinox, i.e. port COM5. Unichrom doesn't detect anything at COM5 though.

I've simply no clue how to even get started... I don't have a lot of experience with either the device or the connections.
Could anyone please help me out or at least get me started?

Thank you very much!

[antonk]

please send the logs from unichrom\log to unichrom@unichrom.com

[avh00]

Ok I have sent the log to the address you mentioned.

In the meantime I was able to get a copy of Chemstation B.04.03 from Agilent.

I tried using the Agilent Connection Expert tool to determine the problem.

However, I got the following screen:



In other words, it seems that the connections are detected, but the software is unable to communicate anyway.

Any ideas?

[DR]

Have you reset the IP address for the instrument to a Chemstation friendly one?

Waters wants everything to be 192.168.0.x (or one other mask), while Chemstation wants very different addressing - there is no overlap.

[avh00]

Have you reset the IP address for the instrument to a Chemstation friendly one?

Waters wants everything to be 192.168.0.x (or one other mask), while Chemstation wants very different addressing - there is no overlap.

No I haven't touched the settings at all. I can hardly imagine that this is needed for serial communication though? Or am I mistaken?

[shaun78]

Those equinox controllers assign IP addresses to the serial connections, so this may be required.

Another issue is that the equinox controller requires both Windows drivers to be able to function as well as drivers that are installed specific to the CDS, which enable the CDS to collect data from the specified port of the equinox box.

Basically, for Empower 2, you did not just install the windows drivers for equinox, you also had to install drivers for Empower to use it from Waters.

I am unfamiliar with how unichrom works, but would imagine it to be similar.

[antonk]

Chemstation will not work via RS-232

To specify right communication board type in UniChrom (Behavior page in device properties), you need to know which communication board is installed.

Open the rightmost cover of GC and check if you have
19242-xxxxx RS-232 communication board
http://www.unichrom.com/hpx890/19242-60030.jpg

or
19257-xxxxx HPIB-RS communication board
http://www.unichrom.com/hpx890/19257-80015.jpg

Determining this is crucial since they are using different communication protocols.

Btw if the 5890 GC is connected directly to the PC or via RS/Ethernet converter?

In both cases (RS or Ethernet) you need to know communication board type.

If it is too hard to open cover - just probe - you have only two options at "Behavior" page:
19257-60015;19257-80015 (HPIB/RS DICE)
or
19242-60030 (RS-232)

Just change the option and try to connect. It is harmless - instrument will not blow.

[KM-USA]

I'm currently in the process of removing our last working 5890 unit from service and discarding/selling its parts and all our other 5890 parts.

If me, I would use Chemstation, one of the A. revisions, and use a 82341 or 82350 GPIB board in the computer CPU, assuming that the GC itself already has the GPIB connection in the rear. I've used Chemstation for decades, and I'm weak at computers, but it does flow pretty intuitive for me. You'd still use the G1512A and the autosampler, wouldn't need any of that Equinox stuff.

[DR]

Have you reset the IP address for the instrument to a Chemstation friendly one?

Waters wants everything to be 192.168.0.x (or one other mask), while Chemstation wants very different addressing - there is no overlap.

No I haven't touched the settings at all. I can hardly imagine that this is needed for serial communication though? Or am I mistaken?

True - serial communication does not deal w/ IP addressing.

However, serial comms are also slow and not supported in Empower 3 with any hardware likely acquired during the reign of Empower 2. If you have, or can get your hands on a jet direct board that will work with Empower 2/3 as well as the GC, that's the best way to go.

Look into whether a G1369C is compatible w/ your GC...

[avh00]

Thanks for your replies everyone!

A colleague is currently trying to get the old Empower version back to work - he has a lot more experience with the device than I do.