Routine and Preventive Maintenance
_____________________________________________________________________________The Heater
The Heater
If the instrument is used primarily in APCI mode, it is recommended that
the heater be cleaned on a monthly basis. If used in ESI mode, the heater
will need cleaning less frequently.
Heater Removal
The starting point for this procedure is the source setup for ESI or APCI
operation, with the LC and gas flows off, and the probe cooled.
WARNING.
Allow the source block and probe heater assembly to cool
before performing any maintenance.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Remove the ESI or APCI probe. See ESI Probe Removal or APCI Probe
Removal.
Remove the source block cover.
Disconnect the heater connectors.
Using the 2.5 mm Allen key, unscrew the two M3 x 10 cap head
stainless steel screws (P/N FM103046). Remove the screws and the
screw insulators.
Remove the heater assembly (P/N FM102576).
Cleaning the Heater
1.
2.
Clean the inside of the heater tube with a cotton bud (Q-tip™) soaked in
[50:50] methanol:water.
For heavy contamination, the heater tube can be sonicated in a 1% v/v
solution of formic acid.
Caution.
If you are sonicating the heater, you must immerse only the tube
part of the heater. Damage will occur if any other part of the heater comes
into contact with the formic acid solution.
____________________________MSQ Hardware Manual ___________________________
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