Were you able to join us on August 15th for our Agilent GC Live session? If so, we would like to hear your thoughts and questions. If you missed it, please see the video below.
Were you able to join us on August 15th for our Agilent GC Live session? If so, we would like to hear your thoughts and questions. If you missed it, please see the video below.
Questions and answers with time stamps:
15:16 What happens if I exceed a warning limit? Will the GC stop running?
Indicators will show on the touch screen, the browser interface, and the instrument status panel in Agilent CDS offerings. If a warning limit has been exceeded, software may alert via pop-up window that a counter has been exceeded, then prompt for further action. However, the GC will continue to run and collect data.
18:02 Can I set a leak limit of less than 2mL/min (for the Leak and Restriction Test)?
No, the test limit of 2mL/min is coded into the test. However, you may apply a lower limit to your system based on trending performance and historical tests.
19:10 Do EMFs move from system to system or are they unique to the GC?
EMFs are not method parameters, but are stored within the GC. There is no file containing the counters that can be moved from system to system.
19:56 Can I use EMFs if I don’t have a new GC?
Absolutely. EMF counters are available in Agilent data systems. GCs earlier than the 7890B will only have software access while the 7890B to present can be operated either through the GC locally or through software.
21:10 How do you access the Maintenance counters from ChemStation?
21:46 Can we use EMFs and trending with Chromeleon?
Yes. EMFs and trend plots are stored directly on the GC. This means we can pull them up through either the touch screen or browser UI (see Episode 1 for more details). GC data systems are not required to use these features on touch screen based instruments.
23:35 Do we have to input limits for the consumables?
No. There is not requirement to use any of these features. They are merely tools to help manage your maintenance routines and keep your instruments running well.
25:55 Are consumables still tracked if you don’t set limits?
Yes, the trackers are counting, but will not be reset without user actions.
27:08 Are previous episodes available on demand?
Yes. All recorded episodes are available on the Agilent Community under the Gas Chromatography/Forum. They should all have the tag ‘GC Live’.
27:45 Do I have to use guided maintenance to get the plots?
To get the Consumables counting plots, no. It is an option to do a manual reset and zero the counter after a maintenance action.
To get the diagnostic plots, it depends. If you can remember to run the diagnostic test (e.g. Leak and Restriction test) after each liner change, you will get a trend of your results trend. The guided maintenance automatically runs the appropriate diagnostic and zeros the applicable counter, so you don’t have to remember all the extra steps to make sure you can take advantage of these trend lines. For more information on the diagnostics, check out Episode 2
29:33 Can I use EMFs if I have a GCMS system?
Yes. GCMS systems also include EMF counters. As of today, we don’t have specific MS-related consumable counters, but the software provides User Defined counters that can be activated to track electron multiplier or filament lifetime, set time reminders to exchange rough pump oil, or set reminders for routine source cleanings. If the preference is to use counters through the touch screen or browser interface, a user could associate another counter with the consumable. Rough pump oil change and source cleaning could be associated with a gas trap counter, for example.
32:05 How many data points do you recommend before establishing limits?
Our best advice will depend on what the consumable is and what kind of sample the system is running. For customers that run fairly clean samples (solvent analysis, headspace injections, volatiles, etc), we would look at 5 consecutive consumable lifetimes before establishing limits. For heavier matrix samples, we would increase that number to 8 to get a better picture of the sample impact to consumables. Adjusting the thresholds as needed is simple and trackable over 10 data points, so if something changes, it is easy to update.