RF2000 Fluorescence Detector: Installation

Installing Dionex Devices
RF2000 HPLC Fluorescence Detector: Installation

Device Type:

Device Driver:

Dionex HPLC: Summit Systems: RF2000 Fluorescence Detector (for analog data acquisition)

Dionex HPLC: Summit Systems: RF2000 Fluor. Detector (digital)

Restrictions:

The RF2000 Fluor. Detector (digital) driver can only be used with detectors with firmware version 9.80 or later.

The firmware cannot be updated to version 9.80 in existing instruments via Chromeleon. A new EPROM must be installed by a Dionex service engineer.

What is required?

License:

Timebase Class 1

Connection:

A free RS232 port and the following components (depending on the PC connection):

(for analog data acquisition only) A/D converter; for example, a UCI Universal Chromatography Interface, with the corresponding signal cable (part no. 6000.1004)
RF2000 RS cable (included in shipment - part no. 8914.0115)
RS adapter (for 25-pin connection to the PC, included in shipment - part no. 8914.0110)

Control Panel:

To control the instrument, use the RF2000.pan (fluorescence detector only) or, for example, UV-Fluorescence.pan when the detector is part of an HPLC system.

Hardware Installation

Device Connection:

First, install Chromeleon software, and then connect the instrument to the RS232 port on the Chromeleon server PC.

Also refer to Connecting Devices via RS232.

If you are using a detector with analog data acquisition, connect the signal cable to the signal output; depending on the requested full scale shall be 1 V, 10 mV, or 1 mV.

Device Settings:

Press the func key (SHIFT+func) repeatedly, until the following command appears on the display:

EX(nm) EM(nm) Data

RS-232C

Press Enter to display the commands for setting the RS-232C parameters. When you press func, the parameters successively appear on the display in the following order. (When you press SHIFT+func, the commands appear in the reverse order.)

Set the parameters as follows:

BAUD: 6 (for a baud of 9600)

DATA BITS: 7

PARITY: 0 (none)

STOP BIT: 1

Activating the Remote control mode:

Press func (o rSHIFT+func) until the following messages appear on the display:

EX(nm) EM(nm) Data

RS-232C

Press Enter and the func key (or SHIFT+func) again until the following message appears:

EX(nm) EM(nm) Data

CONNECT

Press Enter. The RF2000 is now controlled externally via the RS-232C interface.

For details, refer to the detector manual.

Remote Mode

In Remote mode, the excitation wavelength, the emission wavelength, and the emission intensity are displayed on the RF2000. The RF2000 outputs the analog signals of the emission intensity (Fluorescence).

To enable Remote mode, turn on the instrument. Turning the power ON again enables the remote mode. To disable Remote mode, press Shift+CE for a minimum of 3 seconds.

Software Installation

In the Chromeleon Server Configuration, add the driver to a timebase. For details, see Adding, Configuring or Deleting Devices. After you add the driver, the configuration dialog opens automatically.
On each configuration page, select the desired settings. For information about the settings on a page, click the Help button on a page or press F1.

Troubleshooting

Error: The RF2000 does not pass OQ/PQ

Cause:

After certain commands, the autozero command is automatically performed by default. However, the RF2000 can pass OQ/PQ only when automatic autozeroing is disabled.

Remedial Action:

To disable automatic autozeroing, set the ZWAVE parameter to '1'. For any setting other than '1', autozero is performed whenever the wavelength, the sensitivity, or the gain has been changed.

To set the ZWAVE parameter to '1':

Disable the keyboard lock by pressing SHIFT+CE.
Press func (or SHIFT+func) until the following command appears on the display:

EX(nm) EM(nm) Data

RS232C

Press Enter and then press func (or SHIFT+ func) again until the following command appears on the display:

EX(nm) EM(nm) Data

ZWAVE

Press 1, and then press Enter.
To enable Remote mode again, press Enter and the func key (or SHIFT+func) until the following command appears on the display:

EX(nm) EM(nm) Data

CONNECT

Press Enter to control the RF2000 by Chromeleon again.

Note:

Follow the same steps if you want to disable automatic autozeroing after each change of the wavelength, sensitivity, or gain for purposes other than OQ/PQ.

Further Information

For detailed installation instructions, refer to the operating instructions for the instrument.

For an overview of the different Dionex devices, refer to Installing Dionex Devices.