PE's contention is the "T" itself is flawed, but does nothing to correct it.
Replacement with a simple T, rather than that elaborate, omnifit type
connector works better. Make sure the material you chose is solvent proof.
(PEEK or stainless)
You can easily re-flange and use fittings from the original assembly with
new teflon tubing. PE also sells just fittings. Alternatively, you could
use upchurch's 1/8" finger tight tubing fittings. These work just fine.
Another Achilles heel in this system is they gray seal on the underside of
the cap assembly. These keep tearing at most every bottle change; I believe
due to a batch-batch variability in manufacture. PE tells me "You're the
only one with this problem", as if that makes me feel better! I just order
replacements under our service agreement and keep an eye on these. They
have a black seal (Tefzel instead of Kal-Rez?) which is more resilient, but
don't seem to stock these. They offered them once, but my engineer can't
seem to get anymore.
Hope this helps. I don't want to rile PE publicly, but am a bit frustrated
with this under-engineered system over the past 7 years.
David H. Singleton
Scientist
Pfizer Central Research
PO Box 8003
Eastern Point Road
Groton, CT 06340
-----Original Message-----
From: jeni lauer-fields [mailto:jlauer@ACC.FAU.EDU]
Sent: Monday, April 26, 1999 2:27 PM
To: Recipients of ABRF List
Cc: fieldsg@fau.edu
Subject: 433 bottle cap assembly & replacement
Hi,
I need to replace part of the parallel bottle cap assembly for my 433 and PE
sells only the intact assembly. The part that I need is just the tubing from
the
t-connector into the instrument and I don't want to spend $480 for it. I
can't
believe everybody is willing to give PE their hard earned grant/facility
money
when they don't have to, so there must be another source. I'm pouring over
chromatography catalogs, but I've had no luck so far.
I also need some help in replacing the bottle cap assembly. I can't find any
information in the manual regarding how to do this and mine keeps leaking
and
delivering inadequate NMP. The technical person at PE didn't know how to do
it
either. She said she'd call me back with the information, but after I yelled
at
her over the price gouging on the aforementioned part I don't think she'll
call
back anytime soon.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Jeni
Janelle Lauer-Fields
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Florida Atlantic University
777 Glades Road
Boca Raton, FL 33431
Phone: 561-297-2094
FAX: 561-297-2759