External Column Heater Options

[wrufai]

Good Day,

I'm currently running an Agilent 1200 Transcend UPLC system with an external column hot sleeve device made by Analytical Sales & Products. The issue I'm running into is that there's no way for me to tell the control module to turn the heater off when the run stops. I get in the lab the next morning and my column is completely fried! Does anyone know of a better external heater that contains a timer or software that allows it to be manipulated via computer? I need something that's small and that securely wraps around an 8cm column. Thank you!

[Noser222]

The column is fried? What's your normal temperature and type of column? I've run some methods at 55-80 C where the heat was on after the flow stopped for at least several hours, and they still were fine.
I use the Phenomenex Thermasphere, it's capable of timed operation or can take a stop signal, but I have never used those features.

[wrufai]

I'm running at 60 degrees but when the run finishes, all flow to the column stops and decreases the life of the column. I cuurently use a sub 2 micron Agilent Eclipse column. The Phenomenex Thermasphere is too bulky to fit over my column without me extending tubes and thus increasing my dead volume.

[Noser222]

Maybe something simple like an electrical outlet timer would work with your column sleeve.

http://sciencekit.com/product.asp?pn=IG ... 1201187873

[wrufai]

That is a wonderful idea, Noser222. Thank you very much!

[Consumer Products Guy]

I used to use traditional 3-prong home timers from Home Depot for stuff like this, they can handle up to 15 amps, under $10. I also think you may be able to use the external contacts of the Agilent autosampler (or maybe other modules) to turn it off.

[Victor]

wrufrai,

I am interested to know why you didn't just buy the Agilent column heater? Was it too expensive, or did you not like the design?

[promochrom]

The stop pin of Agilent LC remote port will give a 50-mili second pause when it stops. It can trigger start stop of otehr device. It is troblesome to make the remote cable though. They also sell an event control board. You can add it to a 1200 LC module. it is easier to make connection and control.

Waters UPLC is very easy to trigger other device. There are several event port behind the instrument. You can set the out put event in their software. It should be able to control most column heaters. If your heater does not have a remote port, you may use your event signal to trigger a relay and let relay to start and stop the heating power.