Kyle R., Gerardo M., Richard M. (completes WPs #6332 and #6360) Initial pressure indication shortly after being energized was 3 x 10-3 torr (PT180 is a "wide-range" gauge). If real, this would be higher than expected for the ~17 hrs. of accumulation -> "burped" the accumulated gas into the connected pump setup while Gerardo monitored its pirani gauge -> it gave no indication of a change and remained steady at 1.9 x 10-3 torr which is as expected. Neither gauge is calibrated in this pressure region of interest. Noted PT180 responded as expected to being combined with local turbo -> Isolated temporary local pump setup, valved-in (exposed/combined) PT180 to site vacuum volume, vented locally mounted turbo and removed from PT180 hardware -> Installed 1 1/2" O-ring valve and 2.75" CF to NW40 adapter in place of the turbo and pumped to rough vacuum the space between the two 1 1/2" pump port valves.
So far the bake looks successful. Pressure prior was 40 nTorr. Now it's at 8.5 nTorr and still falling.
After a hopeful initial outcome, looks like gauge is drifting back up.