ISQ User Guide - Write Frame of Mind

2 Confirming Your GC/MS System is Working
Verifying the Carrier Gas Flow Rate
Verifying the Carrier Gas Flow Rate
Once you confirm that the system is powered on, you need to verify that carrier gas rate is
what you expect it to be.
Note The TRACE GC Ultra beeps to indicate that the carrier gas is turned off or set
incorrectly.
To check the carrier gas flow rate:
1. Access the carrier gas menu. On the TRACE GC Ultra, press the Carrier button on the
front of the GC. On the FOCUS GC, open the virtual keyboard in Xcalibur, scroll down
to the carrier gas line, and press Enter.
2. Press the Down Arrow button to display the column flow.
3. If the actual and setpoint amounts in the Col. Flow menu are the same, then you have
good carrier gas flow. If the amounts are different, see the Troubleshooting section.
Checking Your Carrier Gas Tank Pressure
Make sure you have enough pressure in the carrier gas tank to accommodate the number of
samples you plan to run. If the pressure is too low, you may run out of gas in the middle of a
run, which could compromise the results of your data.
1. Locate your carrier gas tank. It might be in a different room, depending on how your lab
is set up.
2. Look at the pressure gauge on the tank.
3. Ensure the pressure is more than 100 psi at the primary (or first) regulator stage. If it is
not, you may want to replace the tank if you have to run a lot of samples.
14 ISQ User Guide Thermo Scientific