DataApex GC2010 APC/AFC, GC2014 APC/AFC, GC2014C APC/AFC User Manual

Clarity Controls

Shimadzu GC-201x

GC ENG

Code/Rev.: M113/70A

Date: 21.4.2016

Phone: [phone] DataApex Ltd.

Fax: [phone] Petrzilkova 2583/13

[e-mail] 158 00 Prague 5

www.dataapex.com The Czech Republic

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DataApex reserves the right to make changes to manuals without prior notice. Updated manuals can be
downloaded from www.dataapex.com.

Author: JK

Shimadzu GC-201x Table of Contents

Contents

1 Shimadzu GC-201x Control module 1
2 Requirements 2
3 Installation Procedure 3

3.1 Hardware - Wiring 3

3.2 Shimadzu GC-201x setup - communication 3

3.3 Clarity Configuration 4

4 Using the control module 7

4.1 Hardware Configuration 7

4.2 Method Setup - GC 8

4.2.1 Method Setup - GC - Oven/Zones 8

4.2.2 Method Setup - GC - FLOW 1(2) 9

4.2.3 Method Setup - GC - DET 1 (..4) 12

4.2.4 Method Setup - GC - Time Events 15

4.2.5 Method Setup - GC - Pre Run 17

4.2.6 Method Setup - GC - APC 18

4.2.7 Method Setup - GC - AMC 19

4.2.8 Method Setup - GC - Other 20

4.2.9 Method Setup - GC - Gradients 21

4.3 Method Setup - Acquisition 22

4.4 Device Monitor 23

4.5 Shimadzu GC-201x Setup 24

5 Report Setup 30
6 Troubleshooting 31

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Table of Contents Clarity Controls

To facilitate the orientation in the Shimadzu GC- 201x manual and Clarity chromatography
station, different fonts are used throughout the manual. Meanings of these fonts are:

Instrument (blue text) marks the name of the window to which the text refers.

OpenFile (italics) describesthe commands and names of fields in Clarity, parameters that can
be entered into them or a window or dialog name (when you already are in the topic describing
the window).

WORK1 (capitals) indicates the name of the file and/or directory.
ACTIVE (capital italics) marks the state of the station or its part.

The bold text is sometimes also used for important parts of the text and the name of the Clarity
station. Moreover, some sections are written in format other than normal text. These sections are
formatted as follows:

Note: Notifies the reader of relevant information.

Caution: Warns the user of possibly dangerous or very important

information.

▌ Marks the problem statement or trouble question.

Description: Presents more detailed information on the problem, describes its causes,

etc.

Solution: Marks the response to the question, presents a procedure how to remove it.

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Shimadzu GC-201x 1 Shimadzu GC-201x Control module

1 Shimadzu GC-201x Control module

This manual describes the setting of the Shimadzu GC- 201x control
module. The control module enables direct control of chromatographs of
Shimadzu GC2010, GC2014 , GC2014C and GC2014 APC/AFC types
over serial line.

Fig 1: Shimadzu GC-2014C (with AOC-20i autosampler)

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Shimadzu GC-201x 2 Requirements

2 Requirements

l Clarity Installation CD ROM with GC Control module (p/n A23).
l Free serial COM port in the PC.

Note: Modern computers usually have only 1 (if any) serial (COM) port installed.

To use more devices requiring the RS232 port, the MultiCOM adapter
(p/n MC01) is available.

Caution: Models 2014C and 2014C AFC/APC require manual setup.

l Serial cross DB9F-DB9F cable (p/n SK01).

Note: Cables are not part of Clarity Control Module. It is strongly

recommended to order required cables together with the Control Module.

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Shimadzu GC-201x 3 Installation Procedure

3 Installation Procedure

3.1 Hardware - Wiring

Start and Ready signals are communicated with Clarity through the Serial
cross DB9F- DB9F cable, so it is not necessary to connect additional
starting cables. The signal cable has to be connected according to the
following scheme.
In a set with the Autosampler synchronization cables might be necessary.

Note: Typicalconnections of a set with Autosampler can be found in the Getting

Started manual (chapter Device Setup and Wiring).

Typical serial cable wiring is described in the picture.

Fig 2: Serial cross cable DB9F - DB9F

3.2 Shimadzu GC-201x setup - communication

The GC must be fully configured prior to connecting to Clarity. No special
settings have to be made on the Shimadzu GC-201x chromatograph, only
the communication protocol of the instrument (set on the FUNC key
screen by using 6. GC CONFIGURATION - 3. TRANSMISSION
PARAMETER) has to be set to LEVEL3 . Baud rate set in the instrument
must correspond to the Baud Rate set in the Shimadzu GC-201x Setup
dialog. For locally connected instruments with short interconnecting cable
the Baud Rate set as default (115200 ) is recommended. With the rising
length of the cable or when connected via the network the Baud Rate
should be set lower. Maximum Baud Rate depends on the length of cable
and its capacitance. For standard type of cable recommended maximum
Baud Rate is following:

Length of the cable Maximum recommended speed

3 m 115200 bps
6 m 57600 bps
15 m 19200 bps

Note: When controlling Shimadzu AOC20 autosampler, a separate serial line

is required, connecting the autosampler directly to PC.

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3 Installation Procedure ClarityControls

3.3 Clarity Configuration

Fig 3: System Configuration

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Shimadzu GC-201x 3 Installation Procedure

l In the System Configuration dialog press the Add button ① to invoke the

Available Control Modules dialog.

l Select the Shimadzu GC- 201x in the GC section and press the Add

button.

l The Shimadzu GC-201x Setup dialog will appear.

Fig 4: Shimadzu GC-201x Setup

l Fill in the Port, Baud Rate and Name according to the settings and the

connection of the GC (for more details see the chapter Shimadzu GC­201x Setup on pg 24)..

l Press the Autodetect button to read all settings from the instrument and

apply them in the Shimadzu GC-201x Setup dialog.

Note: It is strongly recommended not to change the settings gained through the

Autodetect function. When opening the Instrument window, those

settings are checked against the settings of the GC and in case they are
not the same the warning message is issued and no control is possible.

Note: Only GC2010 and GC2014 models are autodetected properly. When

using GC2014C or GC2014 APC/AFC , the exact type used needs to be
selected after autodetection.

l Switch to the Signals tab (for more details see the Shimadzu GC- 201x

Setup dialog section later in the manual), select the correct number of

signals you want to acquire, name them and possibly check the This
Device Starts the Run in Clarity / Clarity Starts This Device radiobutton.
The Clarity Starts This Device option should be checked only when the
GC will not start the acquisition (that means it will not be triggered by the
GC Start button, external start contact or autosampler). Press the OK
button.

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3 Installation Procedure ClarityControls

l The Shimadzu GC-201x item ② will appear in the Setup Control Modules

list of the System Configuration dialog.

l Drag the GC icon from the Setup Control Modules list on the left side to

the desired Instrument tab ③ on the right side ④ , or use the button ⑤
to do so.

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Shimadzu GC-201x 4 Using the control module

4 Using the control module

New GC tab appears in the Method Setup dialog, enabling the setting of
the GC control method.

From GC

Reads the actual values from the GC and loads them into the method.

4.1 Hardware Configuration

Fig 5: Hardware Configuration

This dialog is invoked by pressing the GC Status button in the Method

Setup - GC dialog. Hardware Configuration dialog displays the type of the

chromatograph and the COM port to which it is connected.

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