Instrument failure with Perkin Elmer GC - WKB100952

SYMPTOMS

• Sample set stops after completion of an injection and starts next injection.
• Perkin Elmer GC fails with the message "Instrument Failure" in the message center

ENVIRONMENT

• Empower 3 FR4
• Driver version 3.3
• Clarus 580 GC

CAUSE

Thermostat time > GC cycle time + runtime

FIX or WORKAROUND

Increase the GC cycle time.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Example scenario:

Thermostat time = time required to heat the vial
GC cycle time = time required to cool the oven
For GC 500 series, it takes more than 10 minutes to cool
For GC 680 with cooler, it takes about 3 minutes to cool

Consider runtime is 24 minutes, GC cycle time is 10 minutes, and thermostat time is 35 minutes.
Here, thermostat time > GC cycle time + runtime
HS will go to extended thermostat.
Also, if oven does not cool down in 10 minutes, it goes to extended thermostat.
There are a few other parameters (for example, pressure) that if not reached, HS goes to extended thermostat.
You can find the same in the HS instrument module log.
This functionality is available in 3.3 driver onwards.
The next vial will go into the oven after 35 minutes.

It is suggested that GC cycle time should be extended 10 more minutes (i.e., 10+10).