Chromatography Forum

Hi every one. I was working on Shimadzu LC connects with ABSiex 4000. MY last night batch was interrupted to stop and there was an error message showed at the front panel: err pump home. I did try power cycling and cleaning the pump glass rod but there was not improvement. Any suggestion is highly appreciated.

Check the optical sensor that helps the stepper motor determine its position. Probably a little fuzz needs to be blown out.

Hi DR,

Thanks for your advises. Would you mind to give me more specific instruction, like where those optical sensors are and how I check them?

Thanks;

Depending on the pump model , there is either reflective sensor , or optocoupler type sensor.

On reflective sensors , emitter and detector are side by side and there is a shiny surface at the motor cam, so the control circuit can detect the home position by the light reflected.

On optocouplers , there is a slot , emitter on one side ,and the detector at the other side and between there is the motor cam.The control circuit detects the home position by the light passing through the cam slot.

On both types ,if the light reflecting or passing is weak ,because of dirt accumulation , the sensor can not send the necessary voltage levels to the control circuit and an error state displayed.

Of course ,there are other possibilities , such as , broken sensor , faulty control board , faulty voltage levels etc , but first clean the sensor.

In order to reach the sensor , remove the cover of the pump , and locate the pump head . Also remove the pump head cover , the sensor located near the pump motor cam.

Hi Usman,

Thank you very much for your instruction and seems it is challenge to me. I will try to check and see whether I can fix it.

Thanks again.

NYMM11