Agilent Technologies G3183B, Installation And Operation Manual

Page: 37 / 56

Splitter Configurations
3
Installation and Operation Guide 37
Occasionally the ferrule will stick in the fitting. If this happens, use a pointed
object like a pen or a paper clip and insert it in the ferrule release hole in the
side of the fitting (
Figure 16 ). Press firmly. The ferrule will click when it
breaks free.
Protect the column and restrictors
Column and restrictor tubes with swaged metal ferrules can be disconnected
and reconnected several times. To protect the tubing end, use one of the
brass-sealing caps from the kit. Tighten to finger-tight plus 15 degrees.
Protect the splitter
Seal the ports of the splitter assembly with plugs when the splitter is not
connected. This keeps particulates and contamination out. To make a plug, cut
about 5 cm (2 inches) of the stainless steel wire and swage it as you would a
column. Use the metal ferrule that fits 0.25-mm id columns. After swaging, clip
the wire to within 0.5 mm of the ferrule end with a small high-quality wire
cutter.
If the splitter is not connected but the GC is to be used, either remove the
splitter plate from the oven or plug three of the holes and leave a restrictor on
the fourth. Leave the makeup pressure at 3.8 psig to provide a flow through
the splitter. Leaving an unplugged splitter in the oven when heating may
damage the deactivation layer inside.
Figure 16 Releasing a ferrule