Plasma won't stay lit, getting drain error

Verifications

When a drain error occurs it often needs an instrument hard reset to clear it. Before igniting, perform the verifications below.

1. Verify you are using a wet sample introduction, not Hydride Gas Generator, Ultrasonic Nebulizer (USN), SSEA solid sampling or Laser Ablation.
   1. Check sample introduction including the peripump windings for condition, proper clamp pressure, and proper routing through the drain sensor (lower cabinet pass thru hole).
   2. Pump tension adjustment is basically covered in the Hardware Manual. If using a concentric self siphoning nebulizer, with the plasma lit and neb gas on, from the Plasma Control Panel turn pump off, loosen clamp tension adjust screw to allow free aspiration, introducing an air bubble will aid visual, tighten the tension adjust to stall then one turn tighter than the stall point.
      1. The sensor is looking for consistent bubble stream in the tubing. You may need to replace dirty capillary tubing affecting the ability of the sensor  to see bubbles through.
      2. The drain sensor may have trouble seeing bubbles if the sample is dark in color. Try pulling the milky colored drain teflon capillary back to the left out of the drain sensor port hole so that instead the clear PVC/Tygon pump tubing is in the sensor area.
2. Verify proper drain flow / try turning OFF the drain sensor monitor, go to iTEVA Control Center, Tools > Instrument Options > Sample Introduction tab, remove checkmark, Enable Drain Sensor.
   1. Another thing you can do to make sure your sample pump and drain are functioning properly prior to plasma ignition is to turn ON the pump, set 50 and Apply, and turn on the Neb gas, set .5 or .7 and Apply. Verify chamber is wetting and draining properly for about a minute. Then turn OFF or set the Neb gas and pump back to zero (Apply) and try ignition again.

Basic iCAP setup and starting problems

1. Verify comms, run Help and About iTEVA, verify window data fills in. If not, reset / initialize the system, exit or close iTEVA, power OFF instrument for ~1 minute, power ON instrument, wait another minute, then open iTEVA software and wait for initialization, this will seem very slow (three processors and mechanical Fore Optics mechanisms must synchronize).
2. Verify proper argon pressure to instrument. Torch and Purge input gas set up - argon gas line pressure must be set to 87 - 90 psi. If set to 70 psi, the plasma may go out and many other error messages can occur.
3. Verify exhaust venting is not marginal and tripping out with high winds causing atmospheric pressure drops. Exhaust flow minimum Spec. thru 5" duct, 33 ft/sec (10m.s-1)(265 CFM)

• iCAP DUO: ~19 mph or 228 CFM (8.5m.s-1)
• iCAP Radial: ~10 mph or 120 CFM (4.5m.s-1)

4. Check for argon / air leaks. (leaks contaminate the argon with oxygen and will defeat argon ionization and plasma formation, minor leaks will make it unstable and easy to blow out with sample loading). Snoop all the way to the main argon tank. Look closely at torch assembly alignments and o-ring condition and how seal engagement feels.
   
   CAUTION: When checking torch assembly o-ring always remove center tube FIRST, before attempting to remove torch from the base.
5. Verify black igniter cable position, should be just touching the torch.
6. Verify fiber optic is not damaged, clean, un-obstructed view, pointed toward the center line of the torch just above the coil (this is not adjustable in the iCAP). Symptom: Plasma lights but goes right out with Plasma not detected or failed to light error.
7. Verify proper drain flow / try turning OFF the drain sensor monitor and leaving it OFF, go to iTEVA Control Center, Tools / Instrument Options / Sample Introduction tab, remove checkmark, Enable Drain Sensor.
   1. Some function changes are a little fussy, you likely need to exit iTEVA and re-open iTEVA in order for your Drain Sensor check box changes to be read properly.
   2. Also, to clear or reset a Drain flow sensor error like E9014, you likely need to exit iTEVA and power off reset the instrument as described in step 1. above.
   3. Another thing you can do to make sure your sample pump and drain are functioning properly prior to plasma ignition is to turn ON the pump, set 50 and Apply, and turn on the Neb gas, set .5 or .7 and Apply. Verify chamber is wetting and draining properly for about a minute. Then turn OFF or set the Neb gas and pump back to zero (Apply) and try ignition again.
8. Clean torch. Conductive deposits can cause hard starting and destabilize the plasma.
9. Contaminated RF chiller cooling water causes hard starting and destabilize the plasma. Check the cooling water resistance, should be greater than 100k/cm (probes suspended into the water reservoir). If less than this then it needs to be purged with DI water until resistance goes back up. Must then use the pink Scania inhibitor (5% by Volume, add 125ml / Merlin M33 tank OR  for the ThermoFlex TF900, with a half full reservoir add 225ml OR 415ml for a full reservoir) with Distilled water or DI Water in the range of 1 - 3 Mohm/cm. Distilled or DI with a little tap water will only work 3 to 6 months. Don't use DI by itself. Invoke more frequent PM's or customer level water purging.