Gas chromatograph Agilent HP-5890A, HP-5890 Series II,
HP-4890D and UniChrom ^(tm)

Producer: Hewlett Packard Inc. Agilent Technologies Inc.

The instrument is often mentioned as the milestone in computer chromatography. The old but true instrument still used in many places around the world.

Instrument specific

There are different versions of the instrument: HP-5890, HP-5890A, HP-5890 Series II. Each version has different mainboard and different communication options. The communication options make difference in data communication protocols.

For that moment UniChrom supports two different communication protocols for
HP-5890 instruments, each protocol is provided by specific communication board:

To determine, which of communication option your instrument have - open the right compartment and have a look to PCB installed there. Links below can help.

• HPIB/RS-232C communications (DICE board) - HP part 19257-60010
  
• RS-232C communications - HP part 19242-60030
  

The first communication option (19257) was generally shipped with HP instruments for using with HP Chemstation data system. The board supports both HPIB and RS-232 communications. HPIB addresses and RS-232 rates are switch selectable on board. Both data paths use the same protocol. Connection of that GC devices to the PC with UniChrom can be made over serial port or GPIB (HPIB) bus.
The second comm option (19242) was generally proposed for non-HP CDS software. It uses different from 19257 protocol and is configurable through GC keyboard.

Installation manual: HP-5890, 5890A, 5890 Series II and UniChrom (PDF)

UniChrom specific

Both communication boards are supported by UniChrom in single driver module HP-5890. The Configuration Editor page "Behaviour" can be used during installation for specifying type of supplied communication option.

	Selecting the communication board type HPIB/RS-232C communications - HP part 19257-60010 RS-232C communications - HP part 19242-60030 For proper identification of parts see the Upgrading HP-5890 document.
	Specifying the communication port name Driver designed as networked chromatograph and supports the following communication port specifications (in UniChrom-style): tcp:hostname:portnumber hpib7,15 ... hpib:7,15 ... hp82341,15... sicl:7,15 (using the SICL library from HPIOLIBS) gpib:7,15 (using NI GPIB 488 libarary or Linux GPIB) COM1 ... COM256

Driver also supports nonstandard HP7673 ALS connection. When during instrumental network (INET) configuration in the HPIL loop would be 7673 ALS detected, it would be supported by the driver if the instrument method is in automatic sampling mode.

HP-5890 RS-232 cable

Please note! This page before 24.04.2009 contained wrong cable wiring. The following now is corrected and tested.