Commands and Tips for Thermo Scientific Devices
Finnigan/TSP HPLC SpectraSYSTEM® Series: Troubleshooting

See also FL2000 and FL3000 Detectors: Troubleshooting and UV6000 Detector: Troubleshooting.

Why can't I start data acquisition?

Is an AS3500 or an AS3000 autosampler installed for which Inj Hold Active has been set to HI? Set this option to LO; otherwise, data acquisition cannot start.

Why does the batch abort?

a) The batch aborts due to a communication timeout.

b) A TSP device is not ready for communication.

In both cases, the reason may be that TSP devices communicate via the Start and/or Stop input. Make sure that no cables are connected to these inputs or remove them if necessary.

AS3500 and AS3000:
Why can it take some time until the program is started?

Chromeleon needs to Wait for the Equilibration Time or Wait for Temperature that is set on the instrument until the autosampler can inject. Reduce the Equilibration Time if your system needs less time to equilibrate or disable the Wait for Temperature option. For more information, refer to the device manual.

Why is an Inject command not executed on the autosampler?

Check the setting of the CycleTime property in the Chromeleon Commands box (select Command on the Control menu or press the F8 key to open the dialog box). If the property's value is set to 0, Chromeleon transmits the inject response to the autosampler but the device is not able to execute the command. In addition, the vial position is not displayed on the autosampler.

To fix the error, reset the CycleTime property to its default value (0.01 [min]).

Only UV3000:
Why doesn't the UV detector respond?

Due to the extensive communication during connecting the device (following the Connect command), it may take up to 1 min until the device finally responds. The respective message is logged in the Audit Trail.

UV2000, UV1000, P2000, P4000, AS3500, and AS3000:
How to cure a communication error?

The Communication error while sending may occur periodically in the Audit Trail. In this case, reduce the input buffer of the COM port to Low: Under Windows XP (or correspondingly under another Windows system), open the Device Manager via Settings>Control Panel>System>Hardware. Double-click the respective COM port and open the Advanced Settings dialog box by clicking Advanced on the Settings tab page. Reduce the input buffer as far as possible and confirm the input by clicking OK. Disconnect and reconnect the device in Chromeleon.

Communication problems may also occur when the device is connected via a USB-to-RS232 adapter. Verify that the device is connected to an RS232 port.

Only P2000, P4000 

Why is my pump using wrong flow rates when I have specified an equilibration phase?

When using a PGM containing an equilibration phase and using constant flow, the specified flow rate may not be reached. It is therefore necessary to add a line to the PGM at t=0.0, which specifies the desired flow at that time. For example if you want the flow to be constant at 2.00ml/min, specify the line "0.000 Flow = 2.00[ml/min]" in the PGM Editor.

Only UV1000:
Why is a command not executed?

Have 90 s passed since the last reset? Otherwise, the command cannot be executed because the detector is not yet ready.