SRS Labs QMS 100 Series, User Manual

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Windows Software Error Codes 4-13
Technical Reference
Error Cause: The circuit that drives the primary of the RF Transformer is delivering an
unusually large current.
Troubleshooting: Check for a short in the quadrupole connections.
RF7
Type of Error: Quadrupole Mass Filter RF P/S.
Error Message: RF P/S Error. RF_CT exceeds (V_EXT-2V) at M_MAX.
(M_MAX=100 for the RGA100, 200 for RGA200 and 300 for RGA300)
Error Cause: The RF P/S goes out of regulation when the quadrupole mass filter is
programmed to M_MAX amu.
Note: When RGA Windows detects an RF7 error, it automatically tests the
RGA Head and quickly determines the maximum mass value at which the RGA
mass filter can be operated reliably (i.e. without the RF P/S going out of
regulation). If the available mass range is smaller than the user’s selected
scanning range, a warning is immediately displayed on the PC screen. The user
can then choose to proceed (i.e. ignore the problem at own risk) or can get
information on how to Troubleshoot the problem by pressing the Help button.
This problem should not be ignored since it can be associated to
erroneous readings at high masses
.
Troubleshooting:
•
Are the electronics warmed up?
The RF P/S is optimized at the factory in a completely warmed up ECU box.
Cold operation reduces the efficiency of the RF P/S and can, in some cases,
lead to an RF P/S error. To
completely warm up the RGA electronics (and
match the factory conditions) turn on the filament to the desired emission current
and let the electronics warm up for at least 15 minutes. Once the warm-up time
has elapsed, try to operate the RGA to see if the problem has disappeared (for
example, trigger a scan over a large mass range.) If the problem is still present,
warm up the unit further by performing one or more Degas cycles or setting the
quadrupole mass filter to
≥
50 amu for 15 minutes (see Programming the
Quadrupole Mass Filter in Chapter 6 of the manual). It is good practice to keep
the filament on as long as the RGA is turned on. Operating the filament keeps the
electronics and the probe
completely warmed up and assures reproducible
readings at all times. The filament is burn-out resistant and will operate