Chromatography Forum

Hi all I am purchasing an hp 5890 with FID and HPIB communications card.
I am planning on purchasing a cheap dell computer or utilizing an old office computer and installing PeakSimple software. However I am unsure as to what kinds of card i need or cables such as GPIB cables?, as well as a analog to digital converter. Does anyone have experience with running PeakSimple setup with an HP 5890? Thanks.

AZBiodiesel,

You can use the signal out port on the upper RHS of the 5890 GC to give you a 0-1 volt analog out. Will work with any software that measures voltage at that point. The down side is that you run the risk of either not seeing the little peaks or clipping the big peaks because you are range limited, but it is do-able (I have done it myself.)

You don't need an A/D if you buy Peaksimple (comes with it) but if you have not bought it yet I would suggest you look at other software well.

Best regards.

Thanks for the input. I called SRI the makers of PeakSimple, they say their software uses the analog out signal from the machine in conjunction with a digitizer box, which they sell for $1,500. My dilemma here is that i am buying this machine for a startup company, cash is limited. The crux is that the folks who are selling us the GC want to sell us their computer/licensed software (Chemstation) combo for roughly $2,500. I was trying to bypass that cost and just utilize an old office computer with peak simple. However the HPIB card connects with GPIB cables to an 83250 card in the computer, which is proprietary to HP/Agilent. So PeakSimple can't use the digital signal.

SO now it would seem my options are to pay 2,500 for chemstation or pay 1,500 for the digitizer/PeakSimple with USB line out (this does allow for greater flexibility as we can use any computer with a USB port, but it loses some precision).

You do know that the 5890 has been out of support for quite a few years, right? 5890s are fine units, but even though money is tight does it make sense to start with such a unit? We still operate a few 5890 systems ourselves, but they aren't "new to us". With an 82350 GPIB board, I think you'd need to have Windows 2000 and Chemstation A.06.03 to A.09.x, you can check on Agilent website for specifics of what works.

If memory serves, we had to use a CD for A.08.01 to get the computer to recognize the 82350 board, then downgrade back to our legal A.07.x.

AZBiodiesel,

If you choose to go with Peaksimple you will use the analog out from the 5890 on the upper RHS. You then do not use the HP-IB connection in the back of the GC and in fact can buy the GC without it.

In my opinion, it is worth the extra $1k to get the Chemstation equipped computer with the HP-IB board that gives you much more control over the data and the GC.

Best regards.

thanks for all the help everyone. money is very tight so we chose the 5890 because they are cheap refurbished and because we are running only one test on it for quality control purposes. but i think you are right AICMM it is worth it to buy chemstation because peak simple won't give full control of the gc and the autosampler. there are a couple other threads on this board from a couple years back with others trying to do the same thing.

AZBiodiesel,

You can use the signal out port on the upper RHS of the 5890 GC to give you a 0-1 volt analog out. Will work with any software that measures voltage at that point. The down side is that you run the risk of either not seeing the little peaks or clipping the big peaks because you are range limited, but it is do-able (I have done it myself.)

You don't need an A/D if you buy Peaksimple (comes with it) but if you have not bought it yet I would suggest you look at other software well.

Best regards.

Hello

i am searching that but not get the proper response
& it doesn't work on the signal out port

Clarkden

There is an upgrade kit that provides HPIB and RS 232 outputs for a 5890.
I can't remember the part number. I have installed a few if the kits in the past and is not difficult.

Can you spring for a used 6890? They are not the current model sold by Agilent so maybe you could get a deal somewhere. They are very easy to use especially if you arre doing split.

This is what we used for our 5890.

http://srigc.com/2005catalog/cat97.htm

I would try to find a used SS420X interface. I can't help with a source of supply. Agilent bought SSI and apparently they discontinued these boxes.

Agilent bought SSI and apparently they discontinued these boxes.

Another independent bites the dust - but PeakSimple is made by SRI.

Peter

clarkden,

Please clarify your post. I have used this signal output on a number of systems to get 0-1V output from the 5890 so I am confused by your statement.

Best regards.

worst comes to worst, you can go old school and buy one of the old integrators.