Error Occurs in Autotune After Filament Switch on Agilent GC/MSD

Answer

This Information Applies To: Agilent GC/MSD systems

Issue:

After a filament fails, there will be a system error message: "No emission current". Switching to the other filament (except for the CI ion source, which has just one filament), and then tuning the MS, may result in various error messages.

One of the error messages is “Tune action stopped: -310, "({sp00} :rmp:strt;): timeout waiting 1078760 usec for AE to process 1 scan(s)".

Resolution:

This error may be resolved by one or more actions in the following order:

Rebooting / Power Cycling the MS

Resetting the tune file and/or GC/MS instrument configuration

Replacing the filaments

Rebooting / Power Cycling the MS

Option [1] – Reboot from the MS instrument control panel

1. Close the acquisition software.

2. Reboot the MS. 

• For 5977A, and 5975:

From the MS instrument control panel press Menu several times until Controller is displayed. 
Press Item until Reboot Controller? is displayed.
Press Yes/Select.

• For 5977B, with LVDS communication enabled, reboot the MS from the GC instrument control panel.

  If LVDS communication is disabled see Option [2] to reboot the MS.

  • For 7890B GC with 5977B MSD, on the 7890B Keypad, press Config then press MS/Aux Det then scroll down and press Request MSD Reboot?  then press On/Yes. 
  • For 8890 GC with 5977B MSD, on the 8890 Touchscreen Display, click Setting > Configuration > Detectors then scroll down and click Reboot. 
  • For 8860 GC with 5977B MSD, on the 8860 Touchscreen Display, click Setting > MSD Info > Reboot.

3. Once the MS reboot completes, re-open the acquisition software and re-tune the MS.

Option [2] – Vent the MS and then power cycle to restart

1. Vent the system, see How To Vent (Shut Down) the GC/MSD - EI - MassHunter

Tips: To reboot the MS, do not open the Vent Valve to physically vent the vacuum. If the valve is opened, will significantly reduce the time to re-establish a low air and water background in the MS.

2. When the vent is finished, close the acquisition software and power off the MS.

3. Wait 60 seconds and then power on the MS to start a Pump Down of the MS, see How To Pump Down (Start) the GC/MSD - EI - MassHunter.

4. Once the power cycle is completed, start the acquisition software and monitor the progress of the Pump Down.

5. When the High Vacuum is ready, set the MS Temperatures to their usual operating values.

6. When the MS temperatures have reached their setpoints wait at least one hour, and then tune the MS.

Resetting the tune file and/or GC/MS instrument configuration

If rebooting the instrument does not resolve the issue, first follow the instructions from the article: How to Reset the Agilent GC/MSD Tune File to Default Values, then tune the MS.

Replacing the filaments

If the rebooting/power cycling the MS, resetting the tune file, and reconfiguring the instrument does not resolve the issue, then you will need to vent the MS and replace the filaments. It is recommended to also perform an ion source clean at this time.

If the error continues, contact your local Agilent support representative.

Learn how to effectively operate your software, please see the course below: Agilent 5977 GC/MSD with MassHunter Workstation e-learning course available from Agilent education.