How to connect an Alliance or eAlliance to MassLynx, with or without a UV detector - WKB1277

OBJECTIVE or GOAL

Set up the system with the correct software and triggers so it can start collecting data.

ENVIRONMENT

• Alliance HPLC system
• 2695 Separations Module
• 2795 Separations Module
• MassLynx, National Instruments Drivers
• Any Waters mass spectrometer
• PCI GPIB card and IEEE cable, Ethernet cables, contact closure cables

PROCEDURE

1. Install the National Instruments (NI) GPIB card in the PC.

2. Connect the IEEE cable from the GPIB card to the Alliance/eAlliance, and then daisy chain the IEEE cable to the detector (if the detector is IEEE-controlled). 
   If the detector is Ethernet-controlled, connect its ethernet cable to the switch box/hub.

3. Install National Instruments Drivers:
   Note: On the Waters image, these are in the Drivers folder (e.g., C:\Drivers\ni-488.2 GPIB v2.8.1).
   Note: For the new "P" series PC, you need to install the latest NI drivers (NI-488.2 15.5.0). 
   
   Open NI Measurement and Automation Software.
   Select the GPIB card and scan for instruments (instruments switched on); verify that the instruments show in the lower section.
   Exit the Measurement and Automation software.

4. Configure MassLynx Inlet Editor > Instrument Configuration > Configure for the Alliance and Detector (make sure you click the Right arrow to put the detector in the Configured Detectors column.

5. Load any ICS software required for the detector (Alliance ICS is built into MassLynx, so it does not need to be loaded separately).

6. Events and Triggering:
   Select Event in 1
   Pump: trigger by software
   Detector: trigger by software

7. Cables:
   Connect contact closure cables from the Alliance I/O strip B "inject start" (position 1 and 2) to both the mass spectrometer inject start and the detector inject start.
   This requires two cables doubled up in the Alliance. Ensure that both blacks are in the same slot and that both reds are together, or the system will short.

8. Click the Change Mode (pylon) button in the Inlet Editor to set the Alliance to remote (MassLynx) control.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

In MassLynx, the 2695, 2795, e2695, and e2795 are always connected using GPIB / IEEE. This includes the newer Ethernet-capable eAlliance systems.