Introduction 1
5975/5977 Series MSD Operation Manual 21
Equipment precaution
You MUST make sure the front side-plate thumbscrew is fastened finger-tight.
Do not overtighten the thumbscrew; it can cause air leaks.
You must remove the plastic cover over the glass window on the front of a
5977B Series MSD. In the unlikely event of an explosion, this cover may
dislodge.
General laboratory precautions
• Avoid leaks in the carrier gas lines. Use leak-checking equipment to
periodically check for hydrogen leaks.
• Eliminate from your laboratory as many ignition sources as possible (open
flames, devices that can spark, sources of static electricity, etc.).
• Do not allow hydrogen from a high pressure cylinder to vent directly to
atmosphere (danger of self-ignition).
• Use a hydrogen generator instead of bottled hydrogen.
Operating precautions
• Turn off the hydrogen at its source every time you shut down the GC or
MSD.
• Turn off the hydrogen at its source every time you vent the MSD (do not
heat the capillary column without carrier gas flow).
• Turn off the hydrogen at its source every time shutoff valves in an MSD are
closed (do not heat the capillary column without carrier gas flow).
• Turn off the hydrogen at its source if a power failure occurs.
• If a power failure occurs while the GC/MSD system is unattended, even if
the system has restarted by itself:
1 Immediately turn off the hydrogen at its source.
2 Turn off the GC.
3 Turn off the MSD and allow it to cool for 1 hour.
WARNING
Failure to secure your MSD as described above greatly increases the chance of
personal injury in the event of an explosion.