If you run the detector continuously, Waters recommends that you perform wavelength verification weekly.
The detector’s deuterium arc lamp and integral erbium filter exhibit peaks in the transmission spectrum at known wavelengths. Upon startup, the detector verifies calibration by comparing the locations of these peaks with expected wavelengths based on calibration data stored in the detector’s memory. If the results of this verification differ from the stored calibration by more than 1.0 nm, the detector displays a Wavelength Verification Failure message. When required, the detector verifies, rather than recalibrates, on startup to avoid errors arising from residual materials left in the flow cell.
You can initiate a manual wavelength calibration at any time. A manual calibration replaces the previous calibration data with new data.
The verification and calibration algorithms are virtually identical. However, the verification algorithm can issue an error message indicating that actual data do not match stored data where the calibration algorithm replaces the stored data with the new.
The detector wavelength verification procedures establish an approximate Home position using a grating homing sensor. When Home is established, the detector locates and references the 656.1-nm peak in the deuterium lamp emission spectrum.
The integral erbium filter moves into the common light path ahead of the flow cell entrance slit, enabling the detector to locate three additional spectral features at these wavelengths:
- 256.7 nm (UV)
- 379.0 nm
- 521.5 nm
The verification tests for the detector require five minutes of lamp warmup time.
TUV detector features
