F100 Electronic Rising Plate Meter User Manual
Contents
1. 10 6 Front Panel membrane problems gt gt Check i Resolution Buttons not clicking or activating Service membrane needs replacing Send to Apollo Electronics 4 Lombard Street Palmerston North for service and repair 10 7 Battery Retainer keeps falling out gt gt Check i Resolution The counter screws have not been tightened Make sure the centre screw is re sufficiently tightened after the battery is replaced or ensure the battery retainer is properly clicked into place Should you require assistance with setting up your Plate Meter or with installing the software FARMWORKS Systems Technical Support Email support farmworkssystems co nz Tel 0900 55512 Fax 06 323 1371 49 Manchester Street PO Box 433 Feilding New Zealand Or visit www farmworkssystems co nz FARMWORKS TOOLS FOR MAXIMUM GROWTH A number of papers have been written on various aspects of the use of the Rising Plate Meter The following references may be of interest to users 1 Lincoln University Dairy Farm LUDF Fielday in Dairy Exporter January 2005 2 Rising Plate Meter Ready Reckoner DEXCEL Pasture Growth amp Quality 3 Pasture production of northern dairy farms G J Piggot 1997 Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association 59 103 106 Refer Dexcel Website 4 Talking the same language a New Standardised System of Pasture Assessment Norm Thomson DRC Robyn Hainsworth and Mark Blackwell Livestock Improvem2. F200 F300 and F400 only to be added PHOENIX Phoenix Gateway and Phoenix Power Budget is an easy to use financial programme developed by AgData Australia As Australia s leading supplier of financial system AgData have over 20 years experience in the field Phoenix has been specifically configured for New Zealand conditions In time FARMWORKS plan to integrate aspects of P Plus with Phoenix All software prices include 60 days free telephone support from date of registration FARMWORKS operates an 0900 55512 Support Line for ongoing technical support GPS MAPPING Using state of the art equipment highly accurate farm maps can be drawn with accuracy down to 0 5 metres or less Features mapped can include fencelines tracks shelter troughs drainage or any other asset These maps can provide significant cost savings in terms of fertiliser spray and cultivation inputs as areas measured are not reliant on contractor estimates DIGITISED MAPPING Digitised photography provides an alternative where accuracy is not as critical Farm Maps can be remove DESIGN SERVICES SUBDIVISION COMMUNICATION WHITEBOARDS Laser etched whiteboards provide a valuable communication tool in a variety of situations With custom designs of farm maps and or grid designs permanently engraved into a hard wearing whiteboard these can form the centre for recording the day to day farm tasks Ideal for the dairy shed workshop or office e NOTE Servi
3. button while switching the unit on The display will show CAL then 0 or possibly a number other than zero 2 3 3 When correctly calibrated the last digit should flicker between O and 1 If it does not then turn the small b ue or stainless shank which holds the cog at the back of the unit with a screw driver This is the potentiometer which records the movement on the large steel shaft Make sure you turn the shank within the cog and it is not moving the large steel shaft As you turn you will see the numbers increasing or decreasing Adjust the reading until the last digit of the display flickers between O and 1 2 3 4 After the unit has been zeroed fully extend the plate and check the figure reads 50 which is 50 cm s which is the maximum read height This confirms measurement accuracy Pot integrity 2 0 Switch the unit off then on when you have finished 2 3 6 Test the zero calibration by raising the plate and replacing it several times A beep should sound and the height displayed as the plate falls If it does not repeat the steps above and retest If the calibration fails to hold then the potentiometer which the cog drives is probably faulty and will need replacing This can occur with excessive wear often compounded by dust and dirt entering the dry bearing 3 Taking Paddock Readings The Pasture Walk It is recommended you take a notebook piece of paper or a Farm Map You can also pre write down the paddock nu
4. i FARMWORKS TOOLS FOR MAXIMUM GROWTH F100 Electronic Rising Plate Meter User Manual The Electronic Rising Plate Meter provides farmers with a reliable and accurate method of measuring pasture within a given range It provides a valuable tool for maintaining consistency in the measurement of pasture when undertaken by more than one person by providing a benchmark to reduce variations in visual assessments It has been widely used in the dairy industry for a number of years and more recently in sheep beef and deer enterprises Currently the FARMWORKS Plate Meter is sold in over fourteen countries including Australia Chile Argentina Uruguay Mexico USA Canada United Kingdom South Africa China and Japan In New Zealand it is used by both farmers and consultants to provide pasture height and density for determining feeding regimes for given classes of stock The F100 Electronic Plate Meter is made up of the following components metal shaft handle with inner tube a black tube to which the black plastic plate is attached and one electronic counter The metal shaft is graduated into 0 5cm grooves a Click 1 Assembling the Rising Plate Meter 2 Operating the Electronic Counter 3 Taking Paddock Readings The Pasture Walk 4 Using the Correct Measuring Technique 5 Current New Zealand Dairy Equations 6 Replacing the Battery 7 Caring For Your Plate Meter 8 Component Parts 9 Retrofitting an Electronic Counter to a
5. 2 2 2 The average cover is shown by pressing the Avg Reset button The display will return to show the total pasture height after 2 seconds this doesn t apply for the F100 2 2 3 The reset button is used to start all numbers again This is normally done at the end of a paddock once the readings are recorded To reset press and hold down the Avg replace with height Reset button for 3 seconds The counter will sound with 2 short beeps This alerts that it has reset FARMWORKS Plate Meter F100 September 11 2 3 Start Up Options Prior To Taking Readings There a simple start up option which should be addressed before starting a new walk This is best done prior to leaving the shed to start a pasture walk Zero Calibration To ensure the Plate Meter accurately measures the compressed height of pasture the counter must be calibrated This requires setting a base level of zero so measurements can be benchmarked against this If the counter does not return to zero after each plonk it will not record the measurement and the counter will not beep If the counter is removed from the black tube or receives a severe knock it may jump a groove on the steel shaft which will put the counter out of calibration It will need to be reset To do this work through the following steps Pane eal Ensure the plate is fully down hold by the handle with the plate off the ground and the unit is switched off Pe Hold down the Count
6. Manual Plate Meter 10 Trouble Shooting FARMWORKS Plate Meter F100 September 11 1 Assembling the Rising Plate Meter Normally the Plate Meter will come already assembled and will only require two steps to complete ready for use as follows 1 1 Screw the inner tube of the yellow handle onto the threaded top of the graduated shaft 1 2 Screw on the black plastic plate to the lower end of the black tube If you are retro fitting an electronic counter to a Manual Plate Meter then follow the steps outlined under section 9 Retrofitting the Electronic Counter to a Manual Plate Meter 2 Operating the Electronic Counter 2 1 Switching On and Off The Electronic Plate Counter is switched on and off using the toggle switch at the back of the unit Off is in the up position When the unit is off there are no numbers displayed on the LCD screen 2 2 The Front Display Buttons There are two buttons on the front of the unit labelled Avg replace with height Reset and Count When the unit is first switched on the display will show the model number then the total pasture height in Y2 cm s It will also alert you with 3 short beeps and flash up Low if the battery is low Note 1 click 0 5cm 2 2 1 The number of readings is displayed when Count button is pressed The display will show a c on the left side and the count on the right This will return to total height again after 2 seconds
7. convenience the following are the equations promoted by Dexcel for dairy pastures since May 2001 Rising Plate Meter Equations Dairy Pastures Winter April Sept Plate Meter Reading x 140 500 October Plate Meter Reading x 115 850 November Plate Meter Reading x 120 1000 December Plate Meter Reading x 140 1200 Equations may change without notice and are influenced by February Plate Meter Reading x 185 1200 seasonal differences If you are unsure of the Plate Meter Reading x 170 1100 current equation contact Dexcel or your local consultant There are also different equations suited to summer wet and irrigated pasture which are not recorded here January Plate Meter Reading x 165 1250 Sheep and Beef pastures differ in density to dairy pastures and will therefore require different equations Meat amp Wool are currently researching appropriate equations for their industry If you are unable to obtain a formula we suggest that you use the factory default formula that is built into the counter It is set at Plate meter reading x 140 500 remove FARMWORKS Plate Meter F100 September 11 6 Replacing the Battery A single 9V battery powers the F100 This should at least be a super heavy duty type or better still an alkaline version If the battery is getting low the unit will alert with 3 short beeps and the word Low will flash on the screen To replace the battery loosen the screw underneath the front memb
8. ces available in New Zealand Only Software may be subject to individual Country licencing arrangements Visit our website www farmworkssystems co nz to see more about our products Whilst every effort has been made to ensure accuracy neither FARMWORKS SYSTEMS Limited nor any employee of the company shall be liable on any ground whatsoever to any party in respect of decisions or actions they may make as a result of using this information FARMWORKS reserves the right to make changes without notice to any product specification to improve reliability function or design E amp OE FARMWORKS P Plus and Ag Hub are registered Trade Marks of FARMWORKS SYSTEMS Limited Copyright FARMWORKS systems Limited 2011 All rights reserved FARMWORKS Plate Meter F100 September 11
9. doing so Also check the large washer at the bottom of the shaft is not catching on the bottom of the plate Check the cog is running smoothly on the shaft If Re assemble the Plate Meter the counter is mounted too close to the metal Shaft there will be quite a lot of friction when taking a reading If the counter is mounted too far away from the metal shaft the cog is liable to jump a notch easily 10 3 Cog becoming worn gt gt Check i Resolution Not aligned correctly on the shaft Re align the cog or replace the cog Order online 10 4 The counter continuously beeps and eventually turns off gt gt Check Resolution This is due to a low battery The counter requires a Replace the battery given level of power to complete the counts beeps and calculations If the battery doesn t have sufficient power it will continuously beep to warn you Remember if you turn the counter off for a few minutes it may recover slightly but the problem will not go away The counter will flash up low battery when it is turned on and beep 3 times FARMWORKS Plate Meter F100 September 11 10 5 Plate Meter not running freely gt gt Check i Resolution Metal shaft is bent Straighten or request a replacement part from Apollo Electronics 4 Lombard Street Palmerston North Grass or soil build up inside the black tube Clean the Plate Meter Flutes on steel shaft have become filled with grass Clean the Plate Meter or soil
10. eel shaft inserted onto the back of the counter fitting the Cog into the slit of the tube The Cog should be situated mid way WV in the slit in the black tube Place the single saddle plastic bracket onto the black tube aligning the holes in the bracket with the holes in the back of the counter in each side of the clip sure that the Cog is not from the metal shaft The metal shaft should Place a screw and washer and half tighten making too close or too far away tighten the four screws move freely inside the black tube Turn it to make sure it moves easily in all positions If it sticks then either the black tube or metal shaft may be damaged bent or corroded and may need replacing or it is not correctly aligned on the counter VL Attach the plastic plate by screwing on to the bulb of the black tube Place the Plate Meter in an upright position on a hard surface to check the plate closes fully IMPORTANT Before attempting your first pasture walk follow the instructions for Zero Calibration under Start up Options in Section 2 3 1 FARMWORKS Plate Meter F100 September 11 10 Trouble Shooting All repairs are to be send to Apollo Electronics 4 Lombard Street Palmerston North Ph 06 3551497 A fixed fee applies Please call to get current repair cost and send a crossed cheque in with counter 10 1 There is no visual display gt gt Chee _____ Resolutio The Counter is turned on The battery is not flat
11. ent Advisory 5 Same RPM equation all year if irrigated Dairy Exporter January 2005 FARMWORKS Plate Meter F100 September 11 These papers are available on the DEXCEL website or from the relevant publications Optional P Plus PastureCovers Software Program 11 1 What is P Plus PastureCovers This is a computer software program which can be purchased as an option with your F100 Electronic Rising Plate or the Electronic Counter By entering the average pasture height recorded with the F100 electronic counter it provides the user a number of reporting options often required to meet feed allocations Such reports include pasture covers on date cover over time the feed wedge and growth rates Below is an example of the screen layout of the P Plus PastureCovers program Full mapping options are also available ee o a i G FARMWORKS Plate Meter F100 September 11 Other products sold by FARMWORKS SYSTEMS Ltd In addition to the Electronic Rising Platemeter FARMWORKS provides other tools for the farmer P PLUS FARM MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE A fully functional farm production and mapping program for detailed farm management information P Plus consists of a suite of modules including MAPPING PADDOCK STOCK FEED FORECASTER BUDGET Other modules are under development including INDIVIDUAL ANIMAL remove we are not doing The PASTURECOVERS module is provided free with the purchase of either the electronic counter or the electronic rising platemeter
12. mbers or names in the order that you will do the walk This will enable you to record each paddock height cover for later calculating your covers 3 1 How to Take Paddock Readings 3 1 1 Switch the unit on using the toggle switch at the back 3 1 2 Reset by pressing and holding the Avg replace with height Reset button for 3 seconds The counter will sound with 2 short beeps signifying that the reset is complete FARMWORKS Plate Meter F100 September 11 3 1 3 Walk across the paddock taking readings every few paces You will hear a beep every time a reading is stored The average height is immediately recalculated and displayed The number of samples plonks to be taken Should range between 20 and 40 per paddock however this will be determined by the variance existing in the cover Plonks need to be taken on a regular basis e g every five paces to even out any variations however avoid stock camp areas tracks or uncharacteristic areas The greater the variability the greater the number of plonks you should take The unit will sound with 2 short beeps at 29 plonks and 1 long beep at 30 plonks This lets the user know that they have done enough plonks to obtain an accurate measurement 3 1 4 If you need to negotiate an obstacle e g fence or creek switch the unit off so that no readings are taken if the plate moves On the other side of the obstacle switch the unit back on and continue taking readings 3 1 5 This unit is fit
13. o a battery If you have just changed a battery you may Service send to Apollo Electronics have damaged the battery snap clip to top of the battery 10 2 The counter does not beep when taking a reading gt gt If it doesn t beep this means the counter does not know where the bottom is therefore does not record the plonk Check si Resolution The counter can become Zero calibrate uncalibrated if it receives a To do this work through the following steps knock and the cog jumps a a Ensure the plate is fully down when holding by the handle notch on the metal shaft and the plate is off the ground and the unit is switched off Hold down the Count button while switching the unit on The display will show CAL then 0 or possibly a number other than zero When correctly calibrated the last digit should flicker between 0 and 1 If it does not then turn the small blue or stainless shank which holds the cog at the back of the unit with a screw driver This is the potentiometer which records the movement on the large steel shaft Make sure you turn the shank within the cog and it is not moving the large steel shaft As you turn you will see the numbers increasing or decreasing Adjust the reading until the last digit of the display flickers between O and 1 After the unit has been zeroed fully extend the plate and check the figure reads 50 which is 50 2 cm s which is the maximum read height This confirms mea
14. rane 3 to 5 full turns do not remove Pull out the battery retainer from the bottom of the case and replace the battery Push the battery retainer back into the case as far as it will go and hold it firm with your thumb and re tighten up the screw There is no need to remove the plate meter from the shaft to replace the battery 7 Caring For Your Plate Meter 7 1 Avoid getting the counter wet The counter is in a robust case which is water proof however as it is an electronic device try to avoid getting the counter saturated 7 2 Keep the shaft clean The shaft can get a build up of dirt which affects the accuracy of the Plate Meter as the shaft will not run smoothly and more force is required to take a reading Clean the shaft with a poly pad or similar Do not use lubricant as this will build up inside the black outer Shaft 7 3 Remember to check the counter is switched off between cover walks The switch is easily left on which will waste the battery FARMWORKS Plate Meter F100 September 11 8 Component Parts If your Plate Meter is damaged or you require replacement parts please refer to the diagram below to identify the correct part In general all components are readily replaceable by the user except for the potentiometer membrane or components within the counter Contact FARMWORKS to discuss repair your options M6 X 12 Button Socket Screws Metal Shaft Y x 1 Flat Washer Back case with battery Handle Inner Tube re
15. surement accuracy Pot integrity Switch the unit off then on when you have finished Test the zero calibration by raising the plate and replacing it several times A beep should sound and the height displayed as the plate falls If it does not repeat the steps above and retest If the calibration fails to hold then the potentiometer which the cog drives through the shaft is probably faulty and will need replacing This can occur with excessive wear often compounded by dust and dirt entering the dry bearing You will need to send the Counter in to Apollo Electronics 4 Lombard Street Palmerston North for service and repair FARMWORKS Plate Meter F100 September 11 Check Resolution Ensure the cog is not slipping on the blue stainless Replace the Potentiometer or Cog Shaft Send to Apollo Electronics 4 Lombard Street Palmerston North for repair The cog has wound off Replace Request a spare cog from Apollo Electronics 4 Lombard Street Palmerston North Potentiometer damaged The Potentiometer is the Service Send to Apollo Electronics blue part that drives the cog 4 Lombard Street NB Under no circumstances should you apply CRC Palmerston North or a light oil to the potentiometer It is a dry bearing and any lubricant will render the potentiometer useless Check the metal shaft is coming right back into the Clean the Plate Meter base of the black tube Ensure there is no grass or soil build up preventing it from
16. tainer inserted Yellow Handle Black Tube 4 M4 x9 Flat Washer and 1 2 Pan Head Pozi P k ead Pozi P ks Saddles Cog attached to Potentiometer on case Clear Front Cover Potentiometer Membrane keypad Battery Retainer Inserted Black Plastic Plate FARMWORKS Plate Meter F100 September 11 9 Retrofitting an Electronic Counter to a Manual Plate Meter An electronic counter can be attached to most manual i lt Plate Meters with little or no modification However it is tes essential that care be taken to ensure it is correctly attached and aligned to ensure smooth operation Remove all existing mechanical counters from the Plate Meter if applicable Check that a cog is attached to the small shank on the back of the counter To attach a cog to the shank of the counter DO NOT USE EXCESSIVE PRESSURE It is best to heat the cog in a hot cup of water prior to pressing onto the shaft Lay the Electronic Plate Counter face down on a flat surface so that the cog is to your left Turn the cog on the counter anti clockwise to the left until it stops Hold the Plate Meter with the handle to the left The slit in the shaft where the cog fits should face toward you Make sure the metal shaft is fully closed to the bottom end of the black tube If you have difficulty keeping the plate closed we suggest that you bind some tape around the large washer and the bulb of the black tube Place the black tube with the st
17. te the Rising Plate Meter This technique is to place the plate on top of the pasture with no downward force and then push the shaft to ground level making sure the plate is vertical when the shaft hits the ground Taking measurements by holding the Plate Meter 10cm or more above the top of the pasture and plunging the plate onto the pasture will give lower incorrect readings This is because the downward force of the plate compresses the pasture more than occurred when the calibrations were down giving a lower average height and cover readings These two techniques are illustrated below 4 1 Incorrect Technique 4 1 1 The Plate Meter is held above the pasture and plunged in one Movement onto the pasture 4 1 2 The higher the plate is held and the greater the force applied the lower the reading will be 4 2 Correct Technique 4 2 1 Place the plate on top of the pasture with as little pressure as possible 4 2 2 Push the shaft down to ground level with the shaft vertical Using the correct technique no differences have been found in the readings between the FARMWORKS Electronic Plate Meter and any of the mechanical Plate Meters However operators using the incorrect technique will get lower readings with any Plate Meter than those using the correct technique FARMWORKS Plate Meter F100 September 11 5 Current New Zealand Dairy Equations The F100 does not have the ability to store or retain any formulas but for your
18. ted with an undo feature This is for use either when an inaccurate reading is taken or if you reset the counter and then realise that you did not record the reading To undo simply turn the counter off then turn the unit back on holding the Avg replace with height Reset button The unit will turn on with 2 short beeps and the word UNDO will flash up then just carry on Note Please note this is one step only 3 1 6 When you have completed the paddock your average height in clicks will be displayed 3 1 7 Write down the average height 3 1 8 Repeat instructions 2 to 5 until you have completed every paddock 3 1 9 Switch the unit off using the toggle switch at the back 3 1 10 When you return from the walk you will need to calculate the Average Cover with a calculator spreadsheet or computer program like P Plus Pasture Covers See equations in section 5 FARMWORKS Plate Meter F100 September 11 4 Using the Correct Measuring Technique Differences in Rising Plate Meter measuring technique can alter pasture covers by as much as 600 kgDM ha This can be the difference between thinking there is adequate or even surplus pasture available and all is well or pasture deficit and urgent action is required All pasture measurement techniques require calibration to convert the actual reading to dry matter The technique that is used when walking around the farm taking the measurements needs to be the same as that used to calibra
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