1
Introduction
5975/5977 Series MSD Operating Manual
17
Electrostatic discharge is a threat to MSD
electronics
The printed circuit boards in the MSD can be damaged by electrostatic discharge.
Do not touch any of the boards unless it is absolutely necessary. If you must
handle them, wear a grounded wrist strap, and take other antistatic precautions.
Many parts are dangerously hot
Many parts of the GC/MSD operate at temperatures high enough to cause
serious burns. These parts include but are not limited to:
•
The GC inlets
•
The GC oven and its contents including the column nuts attaching the
column to a GC inlet, GC/MS interface, or GC detector
•
The GC detector
•
The GC valve box
•
The foreline pump
•
The diffusion pump
•
The heated MSD ion source, interface, and quadrupole
Always cool these areas of the system to room temperature before working on
them. They will cool faster if you first set the temperature of the heated zone to
room temperature. Turn the zone off after it has reached the setpoint. If you
must perform maintenance on hot parts, use a wrench and wear gloves. Whenever
possible, cool the part of the instrument that you will be maintaining before you
begin working on it.
WARNING
Be careful when working behind the instrument. During cool-down cycles, the
GC emits hot exhaust which can cause burns.