Chromatography Forum

Hi all,
I'm not a chemist, but the IT guy at my business. To say I know little about gas chromatography would be an understatement. I know more about PC's than most here so that's why setting this up has fallen on me.

I have a HP5890 series II that I set up with a 18593B auto sampler. The pc attached is running windows XP and Agilent Chemstation A.10.4. I have everything talking well and manually running samples works fine. The auto sampler works well also until after it injects the sample. The GC does not automatically start running the sample. I can manually start the run and when it's done the auto sampler will take over and pull the next vial and inject it, but once again will not start the run. Is there something I'm missing? It's like a semi-automatic sampler, but really not useful at all in this state. I have been through the method and sequence in chemstation but I can't find anything relating to when the sample should auto run.

I realize the Chemstation A.10.4 is circa 2003 and my equipment is pretty aged, but if anyone has had this experience and knows a fix I could sure use the help.

Sounds like the GC is not getting the start signal from the Autosampler, or the autosampler is not sending the start signal.

Are you using a G1512A controller interfaced to the GC and the ChemStation Software? I'd check the cabling and the switch settings on the back of the controller box. You can find the manual online, the cabling and switch settings are on pages 17-19. Hope this helps, good luck!

There is a manual posted here:

http://www.meadowshplc.com/sites/defaul ... s/7673.pdf

He could also have a 5890 control box instead of the later G1512A.

la_donz27 -

1. Are you also using a tray, or just injecting from tower only?

2. Are you using Run Sequence to start the try for multiple injections, or using Run Method ? Run Method is meant for 1 injection only.

3. If using a tray, does the vial get returned to its place?

Yes I have the auto sampler's control box, also have both the tower and the tray. I didn't realize there were setting switches on the control box so that is likely my issue. I'll check that and see what I find. Thank you very much, and I'll reply with what I find.

Alright... in the G1512a manual I see no mention of the 5890 series GC in the comm settings. It mentions the 6890 series, 3365 chemstation, synhronous and asynchronous modes, 35900 Loop, and RS-232, so I guess I can assume it's incompatible with the 5890 series GC.

It does work with a 5890 GC. Are you using a PC or integrator? What type of cables do you have...HPIB, INET, or serial?

2. Are you using Run Sequence to start the try for multiple injections, or using Run Method ? Run Method is meant for 1 injection only.

Consumer Products Guy has a good point above. Did you set up a Sequence of several samples using the ChemStation software? If the single injection starts the GC temperature program, it can''t be a case of the Start In/Ready Out not being sent.

You may just need some assistance with the software.

It does work with a 5890 GC. Are you using a PC or integrator? What type of cables do you have...HPIB, INET, or serial?

Sorry, vegged out. See that you are using a PC so you probably have HPIB cables. You need to use "3365 ChemStation MSD ChemStation (rev 3.65 and below) HP-UX ChemStations" for the 5890 with chemstation. This will give you address 8 (usually used for autosampler). The configurations are listed in the manual (as la_donz27 said) and on the underside of the controller (flip it over). You also have to have the autosampler enabled in the instrument configuration file in the chemstation software with the same address (usually . You'll find that in file manager under hpchem msconfig. Make sure all of your cables are tightly connected. If you have some piggybacked, use duct tape or tie wraps to make sure they are tightly connected. And you should use sequence to run multiple samples as Consumer Products Guy said.

I figured it out. Our older model injector controllers apparently send the start signal to the pc and chemstation via HPIB. I never had to have a serial cable attached to them for a trigger. I finally found a manual for the G1512A that showed cable attachments and saw that I was missing a serial cable. Unfortunately the injector came off of a 6890 GC and it has a nine pin serial port on it, the 5890 I have here does not. I found the cable I need though, it has a nine pin D plug to a 16 pin bus plug. I got the pinout and made a cable so all is working well now.

It does work with a 5890 GC. Are you using a PC or integrator? What type of cables do you have...HPIB, INET, or serial?

I am using a PC with HPIB. I got it working. Didn't want to be rude and not answer you. Thank you.

Good.

It does work with a 5890 GC. Are you using a PC or integrator? What type of cables do you have...HPIB, INET, or serial?

I am using a PC with HPIB. I got it working. Didn't want to be rude and not answer you. Thank you.

Thanks for letting us know you got it working.

I figured it out. Our older model injector controllers apparently send the start signal to the pc and chemstation via HPIB. I never had to have a serial cable attached to them for a trigger. I finally found a manual for the G1512A that showed cable attachments and saw that I was missing a serial cable. Unfortunately the injector came off of a 6890 GC and it has a nine pin serial port on it, the 5890 I have here does not. I found the cable I need though, it has a nine pin D plug to a 16 pin bus plug. I got the pinout and made a cable so all is working well now.

Hi, I know this is super old post but could you please share your cable schematics?

Thanx



EDIT:
I figured it out:

5890 Series II _____________ RS232 APG Remote (G1512A)

4 --------------------------------------------- 1
8 --------------------------------------------- 3
5 --------------------------------------------- 7
1 & 10 JUMP
2 & 6 JUMP
7 & 11 JUMP