PL-GPC 220 Pre-Installation Site Preparation Check List

Document No. 6/27184

Thank you for choosing Polymer Laboratories PL- GPC 220.

1. Purpose:
In order to accommodate your new instrument in your laboratory it is very
important that you first review carefully the following requirements for prepositioning the instrument, electrical service, and exhaust fume venting. It is
essential you position the instrument where it is to be operated, and that required
services are present in advance of the scheduled installation date. These
instructions also describe the required materials and reagents you will need to
provide before we can successfully commission the instrument.
Your local area service representative will call to schedule installation and
training date that is convenient to you. If you have any questions please call
Instrument Service Department at +44 (0) 1694 724333.

2. Bench Space and Positioning: The instrument is heavy, weighing 180Kgs (370 lbs.).
It is therefore essential to locate the system on a,
sturdy bench of suitable height, preferably fitted with
wheels facilitating access to the rear of the unit should
service be required.

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The standard instrument will require the following

bench space: Width 140cm (55), Depth 56cm (22),
Height 60cm (23).
Note: The oven and solvent module lids open
upwards to a full height of 97cm (38). Please be
aware of overhead obstructions.
If a Precision PD2040 or PL-BV 400HT is included in the instrument allow an additional
30cm (12) for each of these detector control systems on the width of the bench space.
3. Moving & Lifting
The instrument will be delivered in two, pallet type closed boxes. As our commissioning
engineers do not carry lifting or moving equipment, nor are they trained to use such
equipment, instruments must be positioned at the commissioning location before they
arrive.
If you do not possess the necessary resources to unpack, move &/or position the
instrument modules safely for commissioning, please contact us as soon as possible and
we will assist you in locating a suitable contractor to do this on your behalf.
4. Ventilation and Extraction Requirements:
Situate the instrument in a well-ventilated area. An
air change rate of at least 15 per hour is
recommended
The instrument is equipped with two fan-forced air
exhausts (4 dia) at the rear of each module, which
must be routed to a fume extraction system or vented
to a safe place via the supplied hoses. Both vent hoses
for the Instrument are 4 inches in diameter.
The air flow of the extraction system should be <1
SLM. Care must be taken that the efficiency of (LEV)
systems are compromised by the change in airflow
characteristics caused by the hose positioning and that
inhalation exposures to harmful substances are still
under control. If in doubt, please contact a qualified
ventilation engineer specialising in LEV and an
occupational hygienist.
5. Power:
230V (AC) 10%, 15A, 50/60 Hz, Single phase with
earth.
Two power outlets are required; one for the main oven
unit and one for the solvent module.
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For countries where 230V will have to be installed the

main power leads are provided with NEMA-15 type
plugs.
Ensure that the mains supply is fitted with a residual
current circuit breaker.
Please have a qualified Electrician arrange for the
proper electrical service.
6. Environmental Conditions:

Temperature 15 to 35C (59 to 86F)

At constant temperature
Avoid positioning in direct sunlight
Humidity 40-80%
7. Computer Specification:
Minimum Requirements :-

- Pentium 4 operating at 2GHz or greater microprocessor

- 512Mb or better minimum 256 Mb
- Nominally 500 Mb of free hard disk space required
- SVGA( 800 x 600) Resolution set to High Colour (16bit)
- Microsoft Windows XP Pro
- Microsoft compatible mouse
- One RS-232 serial communications port or minimum 2 USB ports.
- One serial (DTE to DCE) cable per instrument.
- Upgrade system to the latest MS Windows Service Pack
- USB to 4 serial port adaptor (high speed 230 Kbps)

8. PC Communication Options:

The PL-GPC 220 Integrated High Temperature GPC/SEC system uses a standard
serial port as the default means of communications.
Most computers are supplied with at least one serial port as standard. If your PC
does not provide a serial port e.g. you have a laptop or a low footprint Workstation
PC or you are already using the existing serial ports for other devices, then there
are a couple of options open to you

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!" Using the Standard Universal Serial Bus Interface (USB):

If your PC has one or more USB connectors, then our Instrument Control
software can take advantage of this and use a USB Serial Port adaptor.
These are third party devices that allow a Serial Device to be connected to a
PC via the standard USB interface. These devices can support one, two or
more Serial Ports in a small unit and provide a serial port connection to the PC
without the need of a physical Serial Port connector on the PC.

!" Using Multiple Serial Ports:

If your PC does not have a USB or the version of Windows does not support
USB, then Multiple Port Serial cards are available that allow 4, 8 and 16 extra
serial ports to be added to your PC using a single PCI card. This option
requires a Desktop PC with a spare PCI slot. For more information about
this option please contact Polymer Laboratories.

9. Chromatography Test Columns:

!" 1 x PLgel 5m MIXED-C, 300x7.5mm column is required for the
Tetrahydrofuran Low Temperature (40C) OQ tests.
!" 2 x PLgel 10m MIXED-B, 300x7.5mm columns are required for 1,2,4Trichlorobenzene High Temperature (160C) OQ tests.
Please state if available Prior to the Installation Date.

10. Chromatography Test Solvents:

All solvents can be purchased direct from your local Fisher Scientific supplier.
- THF (Tetrahydrofuran) GPC grade for Gel Permeation Chromatography
alternatively, HPLC grade
- TCB (1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene) GPC grade for Gel Permeation Chromatography
alternatively, HPLC grade
If the solvents supplied are of an HPLC grade, then a stabilizer will be required.
The stabilizer we recommend to use is BHT (2,6-DI-TERT-BUTYL-4METHYLPHENOL, 99%) and can be purchased from the same companies as
mentioned above. Below are quantities of stabilizer used for each Solvent:
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* For THF please use 25mg/Ltr and 12.5mg/Ltr for TCB *

11. Precautions:
!" High Temperature
The PL-GPC 220 is designed to control the temperature of the column
oven and autosampler at temperatures up to 220C therefore the surface of
the inner oven, autosampler and heated waste line will get extremely hot
during normal operation. Please handle these components carefully
wearing suitable protective gloves. Warning labels are affixed where
appropriate for your protection.

BEWARE HOT SURFACES

WARNING

!" Solvent Vapours

Vapour sensors are used in both modules of the PL-GPC 220 to alert the
operator to solvent leaks. Liberal use of organic solvents in close
proximity to the instrument may activate these vapour sensors, causing the
instrument to shutdown.
Please exercise care when using solvents close to the instrument:
vapour sensors are present in the modules

!
ATTENTION

!" Electrical

As part of the electrical safety regulations, forming part of the overall CE

compliance, the unit is fitted with two surge safe devices, one located in
the control drawer towards the rear and the other is hard wired behind the
solvent module back panel. This device protects the instrument from high
voltage line surges by filtering the incoming supply. This device will
cause the instrument to fail the insulation resistance test of the standard
portable appliance test (P.A.T Test) and therefore should be unplugged
before the P.A.T test is performed (please refer to the procedures below).

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In the case of the solvent module the surge safe is hard wired in and will
need to be disordered in order to be able to PAT test as per the procedure
below:
PROCEDURE:
Materials;
M4 Allen key
Pair of cutters (pliers)
Wire stripper
Cross head screwdriver
Crimping Tool
2 off Red bullet crimps

1. Please switch the

Instrument off and
remove the mains
plug from the back of
the instrument.
2. Remove the ten
fixing screws and tilt
the back panel to get
access to the surge
safe module

3. By using the cutters

cut the Live and
Neutral wires and unsleeve using the wire
stripper.
4. Crimp/fit the bullet
connectors to each
end of the live and
neutral wire. PAT test
the solvent module.

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5. Connect the bullet

connectors (ensuring
brown to brown and
blue to blue)and refit
the back panel,
replacing the ten
screws.
6. Reconnect the mains
plug and switch on
the solvent module
ready to be used.

As for the control drawer surge safe module, please do the following

7. Please switch the

main unit off and
remove the mains
plug from the
back of the control
drawer.
8. Remove the five
fixing screws and
withdraw the
control drawer
forward.
9. Unplug the surge
safe module and
perform the PAT
test.
10. Replace the surge
safe module.
Replace the five
screws and switch
the instrument on
and start using.

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READ ABOVE SECTION BEFORE ATTEMPTING A P.A.T. TEST

WARNING

Thank you for your attention to these matters. Please feel free to call the
Instrument Service Department at +44 (0)1694 724333 with any questions
you may have regarding the installation or operation of the Instrument. We
look forward to serving all of your GPC needs.

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