Chromatography Forum

Hi All

I am in the process of installing a Gerstel MPS-II to a 6890N-5975N GC/MS system. I have the sampler, a Gerstel 505 controller, I am running Chemistion MSD E02 and ordered Maestro software. I've used a sampler like this before but never had to set one up.

I am confused a bit on the cabling and everything. The interface cable came with the mounting hardware. It is a 15 pin male that apparently hooks to the back of the autosampler unit and a 9 pin cable that Attaches to the Remote Y cable from the GC/MS? is that correct?

Do I need to have the 505 controller?

Finally there is a CTC flier that talks about altering the Prepare run signals. Could someone elaborate?

Hi,
On the rear of the MPS
Ser 1 : Is the serial port for communicating with the PC. (unless you're using LAN)

Interface 1: Is the Signal Port for Injection signals (goes to GC remote).

You need a User ID for the MPS software install that is linked to the MPS serial number, plus you will probably need to flash the firmware for the C505 too.

For the C505, you have it for a CIS injector (PTV), TDU, Cryo valves etc...

A Remote Signal Manager Box (RSM) can be used to connect the MPS,GC,MS & C505 together.

In the Maestro Config. manager, remember to select the integrate check box, for the Instrument number from the Chemstation installation, otherwise when you start Chemstation, it won't load the Maestro addons.

Thanks so I should hook up serial two or three to the instrument network hub. How do I assign the MPS an IP address?

Interface 1 goes to the Y cable.

The MPS-II we have doesn't use LAN so I don't know.

My connections on the rear of the MPS are as follows:

Ser 1: Connection to PC via 9 pin rs232 comm port. via a USB2Serial adapter.
Ser 2: empty
Ser 3: Gerstel LCD display (green screen, big knob in the centre).

Interface 1: Goes to the RSM box , to which all signals from GC, MS, C506, MPS go.
Interface 2: empty

Aux 1: SPME heater/stirrer.

The Interface can be connected to the Y-Connector, or in the Remote 2 port on the rear of the GC.

The GC uses TTL signals to send and receive events eg injection, system readiness etc...

Thanks again I think I have it.

I have an rs232 port on my instrument computer so I'll go with that and SER 1 and save the networking headache.

My 6890N GC has one remote and one male RS-232 port (for a 7673ALS G1512A box) So I'll go with the Y cable.

The C505 seems to connect with a circular 3 pronged connector cable which must also supply power to the sampler. Is that just a power connector or is it sufficient for the 505 and sampler to communicate as well.

I have a C506, and it doesn't have any circular plugs.

On my system, the MPS is powered by a stand alone power supply unit (PSU) made by Gerstel, the PSU has mains power going into it, and two round circular plugs on the rear, one is name AUX, and the other PAL.

The PAL circular plug is connected to the MPS power plug.

The PSU writes that the output is 36V DC and 4.16 A Part# MN 01-00

Indeed. I found the PSU. The circular plugs on the 505 are much larger. How does the 505 or 506 connect? Does It have a cable that goes from interface 2 to the C505 or 6's rs-232 port?

Thanks again. I was lucky enough to get the sampler and enough money to buy the needed parts so I need to figure out how to set it up myself.

On the C506, communication is via the PC's comm. port using the RS232 port on the C506.

The C506 signal cable is connected to a Remote Signal Manager Box (RSM), the RSM doesn't have any power connected to it, so I would guess all connections are simply wired in parallel.

I needed to flash the firmware on the C506 too, for the latest Maestro version.

That will complicate matters. My PC has only 1 rs-232 port. I can always buy a card though or I can do the network for the sampler but the C505 does not look to have a network jack only rs-2232.

I don't really need it though. I am just doing ALS and headspace with probable SPME in the future. No CIS though possible in the future.