Hello all,

We're having two separate problems on our Finnigan MAT Delta S system.

Problem 1.  I have recently and successfully upgraded our ISODAT
software to version 7.5 (running in Real/32) and that software is now
running the instrument.  I did this because the 486 computer that ran
v5.2 was in danger of failing and now we have a dual boot system with
Windows 2000 on a second partition so that we may network this computer
and archive data more effectively.  I printed out the Cup Configurations
and methods and entered that information into the v7.5 software.

However, under Instrument Control, the Delta S is having trouble finding
the peaks in our CO2 reference gas (BTW, our system ran fine before I
switched the software).  For example, the voltage on m/z 44 was ~2.5
volts.  Now, it reads ~0.003 volts.  I notice that runing a magnetic
scan on the reference gas produces peaks that appear to be shifted to
higher masses, compared to a previous magnetic scan before I switched
software and computer.  That is, the 44 peak (plotted and normalized for
Cup 1) actually comes out closer to 49; the 12 peak near 13; 28 peak
near 32, etc.

Further, I ran a HVDAC scan (HVDAC was 2040 before the switch) and I
obtain a flatline for cups 1 and 2.  Cup 3 begins to show a peak at
2100, gently rises, and then the scan stops at 1700.  This also looks as
if the peak shifted.

Problem 2.  I have a Fisons EA that I am trying to get up an running for
EA-IRMS; this instrument has been dormant for many months.  I have
recently traced and reduced a He leak, replaced the oxidation column,
and set the approrpiate flow levels for the EA and for the Conflo II
that we have attached.  However, the Eager 200 software is not
communicating with the instrument.  If I try to run an acquisition, the
software "beeps" and runs the acquisition, but the instrument does
nothing.  The connection between the EA and the computer with the Eager
200 software is intact, but I know of no way to troubleshoot this
problem and determine if the software is communicating with the EA.  Is
there any way to use the software to advance the autosampler tray, or
some other tell tale command, that does not involve a complete
acquisition run?

Frustrated in DC,

Chris

--
Christopher Osburn, Ph.D
NRC Research Associate
Naval Research Laboratory
Code 6115
4555 Overlook Ave. SW
Washington, DC  20375
202.767.1700 - phone
202.404.3371 - lab
202.404.8515 - fax
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