Agilent 1260 instrument failure in Empower when running sample set - WKB73813

SYMPTOMS

• Agilent LC communicates with Empower without issue
• Empower posts an instrument failure in the Run Samples window when system goes to Prepare for Injection when running a sample set
• The instrument method is not new and has worked in the past
• Creating a new instrument method gives the same error
• The instrument method sets up and monitors without an error
• Both the existing sample set and the new sample set display the failure when making an injection
• No physical error state is found with the Agilent LC hardware
• Nothing has changed with the system configuration
• Nothing is new in the way the system is being run in Empower

ENVIRONMENT

• Empower 3 Feature Release 3
• Agilent ICF v3.0
• Agilent 1260

CAUSE

The physical sample tray inside the Agilent ALS had an intelligent sensor within it and the tray was not making contact to its end point within the sample manager compartment. This caused the ALS to not recognize the tray, resulting in an instrument failure when preparing for injection. The sample tray appeared to be inserted fully into the sample compartment. However, a push on the tray to confirm it was fully inside the compartment resolved the issue. The sample tray itself moved only slightly (1-2 mm) for the tray to be recognized and for the injection to then run successfully.

FIX or WORKAROUND

1. Open the door to the Agilent ALS and push on the sample trays to ensure they are fully seated within the sample compartment.
2. Restart the system to clear the instrument failure and repeat the injection to confirm that no further issue occurs.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

A request for better error reporting has been raised and noted in greater detail in the article linked below. CRI-494 has been entered as a defect per that article.

Article link: https://support.waters.com/KB_Inf/Empower_Breeze/WKB63382_Agilent_LC_G7129_does_not_give_a_specific_error_if_a_plate_is_not_recognized