Agilent Cool on column ALS injector problems

Afternoon forum members,

 

I am hoping that someone might be able to shed some light on our injector issue. We had a COC injector port installed on the back inlet of our 7890a GC - FID.

 

When the autosampler (7963 plugged into back inlet port) lowers to inject the sample - the A/S stops with a shudder and goes into fault mode - the plunger remains depressed. I can manually inject the sample at this point and then raise the injector. Needle is not bent. I have loosened off the septa cap to ensure the needle is not getting pinched during the injection, and double checked that the syringe needle was not the problem by removing it altogether and trying another injection - ALS stops at point of injection.

 

Fault log reports 'Sampler error #901 Auto Injector back tower syringe error' and turret flashes red twice, which according to the manual indicates that I need to reinstate or replace syringe - both of which I have done

 

I have tried realigning the A/S using the automatic align on the turret - and all seems OK. I can manually inject a sample, so I am happy with the alignment of the 0.53um guard column and associated COC parts and we have the 0.53 on column nut with septa in place. I have also changed the needle guide 'foot' to the one that came with the kit.

 

The needle is a 5ul Agilent on column syringe (5182 0836) with 0.32 needle, inlet pressure is 10psi has a septum purge of 15ml/min.

 

Has anyone experienced this issue - or be able to shed some light on it please.

 

Many thanks,

 

Matt

Parents Reply
  • Hi Kristen,

     

    I may have found the solution. The needle guide for the COC injector needed

    modifying by removing 3mm of plastic from the upper cylinder to stop the

    needle barrel hitting it as the carriage came down. It would appear that

    the syringe and foot combination do not quite work in harmony on our ALS. I

    do now have a method that is happily injecting samples automatically.

     

    I did make a short video of the problem which I can upload if you would

    still like me to.

     

    Have a great weekend

     

    Matt

Children
Was this helpful?