Installing and Controlling Third-Party Devices
Rheodyne MXII Series Valves

Device Type:

Switching valve

Device Driver:

Rheodyne: MXII Valve

The driver was tested with a 10-position, 11-port valve using valve controller firmware revision 41.

Hardware Options
Supported:

  • 2-position, 6-port valve

  • 2-position, 10-port valve

  • 6-position, 7-port valve

  • 10-position, 11-port valve

 

What is required?

License:

Timebase Class 1

Connection:

The following items are required to connect the valve to the Chromeleon Server PC:

  • A free USB port for each valve

  • A standard USB cable (Dionex part no. 6911.0002; shipped with the valve).

  • FTDI USB (virtual) COM port drivers (provided on the Chromeleon software CD).

Control Panel:

To control the instrument, use the Rheodyne MXII Series.pan panel from the
Dionex Templates\Panels\LC_Other folder in the Browser.

 

Hardware Installation

Device Connection:

  1. Install the Chromeleon software.

  2. Plug one end of the USB cable into the USB port on the Chromeleon computer and the other end into the USB port on the valve.

  3. Install the virtual COM port driver. To install the virtual COM port, use the FTDI driver application (version 2.08.24 or later) provided on the Chromeleon Service Release DVD in the Drivers\USB Virtual COM Port directory. As a result, the USB device will appear as an additional COM port in the Windows Device Manager. For information on how to install the FTDI driver, refer to the installation instructions provided with the FTDI driver on the Chromeleon DVD.

  4. Stop and then restart the Chromeleon Server.

Device Settings:

The following settings are supported:

 Baud rate 19200

 Data bits 8

 Stop bits 1

 Parity None

 Handshake Off

Tip:

For additional information on USB control, refer to the MX Series II Quick Start Guide 2321507B provided with the valve.

 

Software Installation

For details about how to add timebases and device drivers to the Server Configuration, refer to Adding, Configuring or Deleting Devices. When you add a driver to the timebase, the configuration dialog or wizard opens automatically. For information about the settings, click the Help button on a page or press F1.

Troubleshooting

The following error may occur:

After switching the valve into position 2, the valve changes back to position 1. This is followed by the subsequent error message:

{Valve} A timeout occurred while waiting for the device to reach specified position in TaskSetPosition

and the valve is disconnected. 

Remedy: Power-cycle the device and reconnect once with Chromeleon.

Further Information

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

For an overview of manufacturers whose instruments can be controlled by Chromeleon, refer to  Installing and Controlling Third-Party Devices.