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Vacuum Gauges and Gauge Controllers FAQs

Interested in learning the basics of working with Agilent vacuum gauges or digging into technical details? Need useful tips to get the most out of your vacuum measurement system through its special functions? Check out the following frequently asked questions to get support on Agilent vacuum gauges.

Our vacuum control frequently asked questions will help you learn about vacuum gauge selection, configuration and operation, gauge heads environment, best practices, and right accessories.  These FAQs will also provide guidelines for your vacuum measurement system configuration and upgrade to the latest generation of pressure control tools
 
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How does a vacuum measurement system work?

The FRG-730 is a gas-dependent gauge, and therefore you would need to use a correction factor for the gas. The H2 calibration factor is 2.4. Please consult the user manual for other calibration factors.

Differences between IMG-100 and IMG-300 Inverted Magnetron (cold cathode) gauge can be found in the following table:

In a Pirani gauge, loss of heat changes the resistance of the filament, unbalancing a Wheatstone Bridge Circuit. Voltage is applied to rebalance the circuit. Thermal transfer gauges read differently for different gas species with most being calibrated for nitrogen (air). Correction factors can be used to adjust for gas type.

How do I select, set up, and service a vacuum measurement system?

No, they are not. If a Multi-Gauge does not work anymore you can replace it with an XGS-600, complete with boards.

There are six slots for boards in the XGS-600 Vacuum Gauge Controller. Up to four cards for a hot filament can be installed, up to five cards for IMG, up to six cards for convection, and up to six analog cards. Do not operate more than two FRG 720/730 Full Range Pirani Inverted Magnetron Gauges with the same base unit.

Use the standard 15 m cable and get an extension through p/n R32473* (add code "065" for 65 ft. / "075" for 75 ft. / "090" for 90 ft. / "115" for 115 ft. / "140" for 140 ft. / "190" for 190 ft.)

For the Agilent CDG-500 Capacitance Diaphragm Gauge and Agilent FRG-720/730 Full Range Pirani Bayard-Alpert Gauge cables, the maximum length is 15 m (50 ft). Use an Agilent ACG-100/AGD-100 gauge controller with longer cables, available up to 70 m (230 ft) for FRG-700 Full Range Pirani Inverted Magnetron Gauge/PVG Series Pirani gauges.

No, you don't need a separate controller. We also offer a power supply (24 V, p/n: AGPS45INT). Contact Agilent Vacuum through the chat line for details.

Part numbers of the 24 V Power Supply Modules for Active Gauges with display are:

  • p/n: AGPS15US Power Supply FRG-720, FRG-730 for USA
  • p/n: AGPS15EU Power Supply FRG-720, FRG-730 for EU
  • p/n: AGPS45INT Power Supply PVG-550, PCG-751 for international.

The XGS-600 does not have a Profibus option.

The AGC-100 does not have a Profibus option.

The Agilent PCG-750 and 752 Series Pirani Capacitance Diaphragm Gauges and the Agilent FRG-730 Full Range Pirani Bayard-Alpert Gauge have options with Profibus.

The XGS-600 can operate both passive and active gauges simultaneously. The XGS-600 can control hot filament gauges, convection gauges, Pirani gauges, inverted magnetron (cold cathode) gauges, and all Agilent capacitive diaphragm gauges/active gauges.

The Agilent Hot Filament Gauge Board can accommodate one hot filament Bayard Alpert Gauge.  
The Agilent Convection Board can accommodate two convection or two thermal couple gauges. 
The Agilent Inverted Magnetron Gauge Board can accommodate one Inverted Magnetron or one Cold Cathode Gauge. 
The Agilent Analog Board can accommodate two Active Gauges.

The XGS-600 can simultaneously operate the following:

  • Four hot filament gauges
  • Four hot filament and one inverted magnetron (cold cathode) gauges
  • Four hot filament gauges and four convection or thermocouple gauges
  • Five inverted magnetron gauges (cold cathode gauges)
  • Four inverted magnetron (cold cathode) and four convection gauges
  • Four inverted magnetron (cold cathode) and four convection gauges
  • Twelve convection gauges or thermocouple gauges
  • Twelve Agilent active gauges

Depending on the type of gauge, standard cable lengths run from 2.7 m (3 ft) up to 91 m (100 ft). 

Agilent offers a tilt stand accessory for easy tabletop viewing, as well as three rack mounting kit options:
Tilt stand accessory: p/n: R3124301
On-Center Rack mount kit: p/n: L6423301 
Off-Center Rack mount kit: p/n: L6422301 
Dual Mount Rack mount kit: p/n: L6426301

The Agilent FRG-700 Full Range Pirani Inverted Magnetron Gauge and Agilent FRG-702 Full Range Pirani Inverted Magnetron Gauge are both suitable replacements for the IMG-500. These combine both Pirani and Inverted Magnetron Gauges in one convenient package, providing measurement from atmosphere to 3.8 x10-9 Torr (5 x 10-9 mbar).

Yes, the Agilent RGC-100T Radiation Resistant Rough Vacuum Gauge Controller is a cost-effective solution for pressure measurements in the 1 x 10-3 Torr to 760 Torr region and is a direct replacement for the 801 Thermocouple Vacuum Gauge Controller.

Reset the controller to the factory default settings. First, write down all settings that have been changed since the last reset. Then enter an access code of “81”. To do that:

On an Agilent Multi-Gauge, press the F key and then the VAC key. “A00” will display, with the left-hand 0 flashing. Press the up or down arrow keys until the left-hand digit is “8”. Press the F key. The right-hand digit will begin flashing. Press the up or down arrow keys until that digit is “1”. Press the F key again.

On an Agilent senTorr, press the ENTER key and then the UNITS key. “A00” will display, with the left-hand 0 flashing. Press the up or down arrow keys until the left-hand digit is “8”. Press the ENTER key. The right-hand digit will begin flashing. Press the up or down arrow keys until that digit is “1”. Press the ENTER key again.

How do I use a vacuum measurement system?

The readings of up to eight gauges can be simultaneously displayed on the XGS-600.

The XGS-600 is designed to be substantially backward-compatible with the SenTorr and Multi-Gauge Controller instruments. Refer to the XGS-600 manual for a full description. The same transducers and cables used for the SenTorr and Multi-Gauge can also be used for the XGS. The XGS-600 cards are not backward-compatible.

The XGS-600 can measure pressures from atmosphere to   1x10-11 Torr (  1.33x10-11 mbar) dependent on the type of card and gauge selected.

Yes. The XGS-600 can control and operate many major brand Bayard Alpert gauges. The list of compatible active gauges is below for reference.

The keypad is locked out. To unlock it, you must enter an access code of “A33”.

On an Agilent Multi-Gauge, press the F key and then the VAC key. “A00” will display, with the left-hand 0 flashing. Press the up or down arrow keys until the left-hand digit is “3”. Press the F key. The right-hand digit will begin flashing. Press the up or down arrow keys until that digit is “3”. Press the F key again.

On an Agilent senTorr, press the ENTER key and then the UNITS key. “A00” will display, with the left-hand 0 flashing. Press the up or down arrow keys until the left-hand digit is “3”. Press the ENTER key. The right-hand digit will begin flashing. Press the up or down arrow keys until that digit is “3”. Press the ENTER key again.

How do I safely operate vacuum measurement systems?

Yes, it is possible to rebuild the Agilent IMG-100 and IMG-300 gauges. Over time it is normal for Inverted Magnetron Gauges (IMG) to suffer from internal deposits and erosion of the internal surfaces. How fast and to what extent this occurs depends on the chemicals the gauge is exposed to during operation, and the vacuum pressure. When this happens, the gauge often exhibits reading stability problems or may not even start up. Ask your local sales representative for detailed instructions on how to rebuild your IMG.

Yes, the Agilent nude Bayard Alpert gauges are equipped with dual filaments. The filament assembly is easily replaced if it is damaged or broken. The replacement filament kit contains two filament assemblies and an Allen wrench.

A temperature of 450 °C is a safe maximum for repeated or extended bakeout of the nude gauge. Do not exceed 450 °C, and do not expose the gauge to thermal shock.

All UHV-24 and UHV-24P gauges are operated and degassed at the factory before shipment. Whether or not degassing the gauge is needed after installation depends upon the application.

In large systems that take a long time to pump down (such as several days) or if the system will be baked for an extended period, degassing the gauge has a negligible effect. Considering that the e-beam degas system used runs at a high emission current, it may not be worth the theoretical reduction in filament life that results from the small reduction in gas load.

In small systems, where the gauge is a larger percentage of the system surface area and gas load, there may be benefits to using degas after installation.

Gauge degassing is not generally needed unless the goal is to reach pressures below 1x10-8 Torr. Degas is not intended to clean tube contamination.

If using degas, a 15-minute e-beam degas duration is all that is needed, using the Agilent XGS-600, Agilent Multi-Gauge and Agilent SenTorr controllers. Extending the degas interval only serves to heat up the surrounding chamber walls, and increases the outgassing rate from those surfaces. Bakeout is a better way to degas the chamber walls.

Using an ohmmeter or a continuity tester, check all possible pairs of the four pins on the connector. There are six unique pairings. Every pairing should show continuity.