Leak - Agilent Technologies 1100 Series Reference Manual

3 Troubleshooting and Test Functions

Leak

A leak was detected in the detector.
The signals from the two temperature sensors (leak sensor and
board-mounted temperature-compensation sensor) are used by the leak
algorithm to determine whether a leak is present. When a leak occurs, the leak
sensor is cooled by the solvent. This changes the resistance of the leak sensor
which is sensed by the leak-sensor circuit on the detector main board.
• Loose fittings.
• Broken capillary.
• Leaking flow cell.
Detector leak error may be caused by the Aligent 1100 sampler. In each
sampler injection sequence, step# 2 ejects the mobile phase stored in the
metering head during the previous injection. This mobile phase is ejected
through the short plastic tube connected to port# 4 of the sampler switching
valve. The output of port# 4 is integrated into the sampler's contingency leak
drain system, which eventually terminates in the leak pan of the bottom
module of the stack - the detector. With normal injection volumes and run
times, the output of port# 4 is small, and evaporates right in the sampler leak
pan. However, the output of port# 4 is significant, and a substantial volume of
ejected mobile phase reaches the detector leak pan.
There are two possible fixes. Select the one which is most convenient.
1 The waste drain plumbing orientation, shown in step 4 on
2 If it is desired that the system has only one leak drain tube, then it's
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Probable Causes
Suggested Actions
Ensure all fittings are tight.
Exchange defective capillaries.
Exchange flow cell components.
Additional Information
eliminates the possibility of any leak drainage from above reaching the
detector leak pan. The leak drain for the detector can be connected to the
detector's leak drain fitting, and taken to waste separately.
possible in increase the length of the small plastic tube which is connected
1100 Series DAD and MWD Reference Manual
page 26,