DB-2
GENERAL INFORMATION
Knowing the level of product in a bunker allows you to solve problems of accounting for seeds, fertilizers, and crops. Monitoring the dynamics of level changes, taking into account the speed of movement and the cultivated area, makes it possible to control the seeding rate/fertilizer application during sowing, and the yield during combining. The bulk materials level sensor (hereinafter referred to as the sensor) is specially designed for use with a transport monitoring system - it is a modified fuel level sensor. For specialized accounting, you can use special agricultural software.
SPECIFICATIONS
| NAME | VALUE / UNITS OF MEASUREMENT | |
|---|---|---|
| 2.1 | Measured substance | grain, fertilizers, flour and other bulk products with humidity up to 25% |
| 2.2 | Measuring part length range | 10-600 см |
| 2.3 | Interfaces | digital (RS-485, LLS protocol), analog (0.2 to 9 V), frequency (300-4395 Hz) |
| 2.4 | Level measurement error at constant product humidity | 2% |
| 2.5 | Current consumption, not more than | 30 мА |
| 2.6 | Supply voltage | 9…80 V |
| 2.7 | Operating conditions:
- ambient temperature - maximum ambient temperature - atmospheric pressure |
- 40 ... + 50 оС
- 60 … + 85°С 84 ... 106,7 кПа |
| 2.8 | Overall dimensions, no more | 40 х 80 х 80 мм |
KIT
| NAME | QUANTITY | POS. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESCORT DB-2 Sensor | 1 | - | |
| Set of mounting parts:
Self-tapping screw 5.5 x 51 with sealing washer Numbered plastic seal Siltek Sealing wire PP-N 0.8-600 Number seal FAST-150 Filter (Green) Jumper Anchor bolt 08x40 with nut Insulator Measuring tube Heat shrink tube 16/8 red Clamp Fuse block Fuse 1A |
1 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 6 1 1 6 1 1 |
4 5 2 7 6 - 8 3 1 11 10 9 - - |
|
| Connecting cable | 1 | - | |
| Data sheet | 1 | - | |
| Package | 1 | - |
OPERATION PRINCIPLES
The principle of operation of a capacitive sensor is based on recording changes in the capacity of the built-in capacitor. The high sensitivity of the capacitor allows the sensor to work with bulk solids having different levels of dielectric constant, as well as with dielectric substances. The electrode and the wall of the hopper (or 2 parallel electrodes) form a measuring system of 2 electrodes, in which the capacitance of the filled space between them is measured. The measured value then is being converted to level.
Level change control
It must be taken into account that at the same level, but different humidity, the sensor shows different level. For this reason, the sensor should be used to monitor level dynamics rather than to measure the actual product collected. The change in the filling level graph with changes in the humidity of the measured medium is shown in the graph below.
It is advisable that the combine hopper is always filled to the level where the standard alarm is triggered. With a team scheme of combine harvesters operating on the field, the bunker may not be completely filled until the grain is unloaded.
SENSOR INSTALLATION IN THE BUNKER
- Select a location for installation:
- the electrode should not come close to the unloading auger due to the possibility of clogging the auger and damaging the electrode;
- the electrode should not interfere with workers cleaning the unloading auger;
- the electrode should not be completely covered with grain when filling the hopper, i.e. It is recommended to place the upper part of the electrode near the corner of the hopper (it should be noted that the sensor continues to record level changes even when it is completely filled with grain). Thus, the electrode does not have to be vertical to the ground - it should only go along the wall of the bunker at the same distance from it;
- Embed the sensor into the wall of the bunker close to the top edge;
- Connect the brown output of the sensor to the electrode using a screw or solder;
- Insulate the mounting location of the sensor output with the electrode with heat-shrinkable tube (pos. 10);
- Secure the resulting electrode to the insulators using ties;
INSTALLATION IN A PLASTIC HOPPER
When installing in a plastic hopper, it is necessary to additionally install a second electrode (the same or a metal strip) parallel to the main one at a distance of 30 - 60 mm and connect it to the black output of the sensor (also known as the common wire and the sensor body).
CONFIGURATION
Use the configurator to configure the sensor. The program window is shown below.
ATTENTION! After turning on the sensor's power, its output is in RS-485 mode for 15 seconds. This allows you to connect a sensor that is in a mode other than RS-485 for configuration.
Connect the USB-RS485 converter “Escort C-200M2” or similar to the computer, and the sensor to the converter in accordance with the diagram presented. Do not connect the red wire yet.
Note. The sensor calibration should be performed after installation. Therefore, it will be more convenient to connect the converter not directly to the sensor, but through a cable extension.
Driver for C-200M2
We recommend using our Escort C200M/C200M2 USB-RS-485 converter, since we can not guarantee 100% compatibility of our devices with converters from other brands.
When working with a laptop, we recommend connecting it to the power supply and/or connecting an additional USB cable to the ADD PWR connector of C200M. Otherwise, there may not be enough power to operate the sensor and transmitter.
Along with installing the configurator 1.0.2.38, the drivers for the C200M will be installed automatically.
If you use C200M2 on Windows 10 and 11 operating systems, drivers should be installed automatically from Windows Update, on the Windows 7 operating system and below, you may need to disable the electronic signature of drivers and manually install drivers for the С200M2.
If the driver was installed correctly, then after connecting the converter to your PC/laptop, you will see the STMicroelectronics Virtual COM Port (1)(C200M) or USB-SERIAL CH341A (2)(C200M2) device in the COM and LPT ports section of the Windows device manager " to enter this menu, press win+r and enter devmgmt.msc and press OK (3) and then expand the com ports submenu (4)"
The com port number displayed in this menu is also needed to connect the sensor.
Connecting to the sensor in the configurator
- Select the appropriate port and click the “Open port” button in the “TD500 Configurator” program window. Power up the sensor by connecting the red cable.
- After successful opening, click Search for sensors.
Sensor calibration
DB-2 is calibrated without bulk product. It must be mounted on the hopper before calibration.
Set the minimum value when the hopper is empty by clicking the Set Current button in the Empty line
The full value should be set to 9-10 times greater than the current empty sensor value.
Thus, if Current is 4741, then the Full calibration value should be set to 47410. To do this, in the sensor calibration interface, in the Full line, enter 47410 and click Set
Changing the network address
To change the network address, click the Change network address button. In the window that opens, enter the required address (1-255) and click OK.
Tank calibration
There is no need to calibrate the hopper with DB-2 installed in it. The measured value is very dependent on the humidity of the product. The level will be different in the morning, afternoon and evening, so the calibration data will be misleading.
CONNECTION TO A MONITORING SYSTEM
The power connection must be made in the cabin. Connection diagrams are presented below.
It is connected to the sensor terminals in the same way as fuel level sensors - via a network address.
- baudrate 19 200
- data bits 8
- parity None
- stop bits 1
- handshaking None
Connection diagram
POSSIBLE PROBLEMS AND THEIR SOLUTIONS
How to switch the sensor to analog mode
DB-2 in 2023 modification and newer always works in two modes - RS-485 (orange and white cables) and analog (green cable). There is no need to additionally select analog mode.
The level does not reach full when the hopper is full
If the level does not rise to full when filling the hopper, this is normal if the calibration was carried out according to the instructions. This is necessary so that the filling of the hopper is visible even when the product has high humidity. However, at high humidity the level will be significantly higher.
If you want your chart to show how full the bunker is you can attach a calibration table. Take the sensor value that is observed when the bunker is full and set the corresponding value in the calibration table equal to the volume of the full bunker.
But it is worth considering that in this case, when filling the bunker with humid product, the level may reach a maximum when the bunker is not completely filled.
The sensor periodically reports error 6500
In this case, you should check the connection of the sensor's measuring contacts to the electrodes/hopper.
Level values falls down
In this case, you should check the connection of the sensor's measuring contacts to the electrodes/hopper.
The sensor periodically reports error 7000
Perhaps the product was too wet and the measured value was higher than the Full calibration value. If the problem persists, check the integrity of the insulation on the electrodes and make sure that Full callibration value is 10 times higher than the Empty one.
The readings are jumping up
Perhaps the product was too wet and the measured value was higher than the Full calibration value. If the problem persists, check the integrity of the insulation on the electrodes