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C-Dax pasturemeter XP1 Assembly And Operation Manual

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Assembly and Operation Manual
Version: 2400-6651–8 March 2024
1

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  • Page 1 Assembly and Operation Manual Version: 2400-6651–8 March 2024...

  • Page 2: Important Safety Warning

    This section contains: • Introduction • Important Safety Warning • Important Safety Information • Table of Contents • Warranty • Disclaimer. Limit of Liability • Unpacking your Pasture Meter...
  • Page 3 We thank you for making this investment and assure you of our attention at all times. IMPORTANT SAFETY WARNING The C-Dax Pasture Meter is designed specifically to be trailed behind an All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) or similar type of agricultural vehicle. Operators should note that like any piece of trailed or mounted agricultural...
  • Page 4 IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR OWNERS & OPERATORS OF C-Dax ATTACHMENTS / ACCESSORIES Be warned of the dangers of loading your ATV or other vehicle in excess of its carrying capacity. It is important to understand that any loads or attachments whether fastened to, or placed on a vehicle or an ATV, will alter the stability or handling characteristics of that vehicle or ATV.

  • Page 5: Table Of Contents

    ASSEMBLY AND OPERATION MANUAL (Pt.No.2400-6651 Issue 8, March 2024) TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Section 1 - Introduction Introduction Important Safety Warning Important Safety Information Table of Contents Warranty Disclaimer/Extent of Liability Unpacking Your Pasture Meter Section 2 - Descriptions General Description The Sled Assembly The Sensor The Indicator Console...

  • Page 6: Warranty

    (6 months from date of first retail sale if the equipment is sold in the U.K.) subject to the terms set out below. C-Dax will at its option repair or replace the defective equipment (or part of the equipment) or notify the retailer of the equipment to refund the purchase price for such defective equipment to you in the event of a breach of this warranty, subject to the terms set out below.
  • Page 7 Notwithstanding anything else in this manual, in no event will C-Dax be liable, whether in contract, tort (including negligence) or otherwise: where you have altered or modified the equipment, misused or misapplied the equipment, or the equipment has been subjected to any unusual, excessive or non-recommended use, service or handling (including as set out in this manual);...
  • Page 8 Customer Services - Technical C-Dax Ltd P O Box 1010 Palmerston North New Zealand Email:sales@c-dax.co.nz...
  • Page 9 This section contains: • General Description • The Sled Assembly • Safety Warning • The Sensor • The Indicator Console...

  • Page 10: General Description

    These methods can either be subjective, time consuming or rely on a limited number of individual measurements per paddock. The C-Dax Pasture Meter has been designed to greatly improve the collection of pasture cover data in quantity, speed and ease of collection.
  • Page 11 The Pasture Meter has been designed to measure the height of pasture grass and average the readings. Internal software then converts the averaged readings to kgDM/ha by using a calibration equation that can be changed for different times of the year. Note: The operator is able to set the indicator console to show pasture height in “mm”...

  • Page 12: The Sled Assembly

    The Sled Assembly The Sled has been designed to be solid, strong, and heavy in order to keep the sensor as close to the ground as possible at all times. The Sensor’s lowest light beam is 20mm from the ground. To generate accurate pasture cover readings, it is important that the sled remains in contact with the ground.

  • Page 13: The Sensor

    The geometry and construction of the central section of the sled frame has been designed to minimize dirt fouling the glass windows covering the sensor’s light beams. However, given the nature of measuring pasture cover, particularly post grazing, the glass may occasionally need cleaning. How often this is required is entirely dependent upon the environment in which the device is working.
  • Page 14 The sensor measures the height of grass at 20mm increments and then converts this into kgDM/ha. Some grass obviously falls between the light beams and must therefore be factored into the measurement. It has been scientifically established that a 10mm adjustment provides an accurate overall reading. The height shown on the indicator console in mm is the number of light paths broken at any instant, multiplied by 20mm, plus the 10mm adjustment.

  • Page 15: The Indicator Console

    The Indicator Console This is normally mounted in a convenient position on the front carrier of the ATV. It is connected by cable to the ATVs battery and also by a thick black cable to the sensor at the rear of the sled. Various functions are shown on the display and the operator has the ability to input the calibration equation of choice.

  • Page 16: The Sled

    This section contains: • The Sled • The Indicator Console • Using your Pasture Meter • Understanding the Sensor • Understanding the Indicator Console • Measuring your First Paddock • Indicator Console Settings...
  • Page 17 Assembly & Setup – The Sled Setting the angle of sled to the ground The angle between the sled and the ground will need to be adjusted to suit the terrain and towing vehicle. Flat pasture with no obstacles will only require a slight angle, but this should be increased when operating on undulating or pugged ground.
  • Page 18 To fit the draw-bar: 1. Slide the drawbar into approximate position ensuring tow hitch is the correct way up. 2. Loosely fit rear attachment bolts. 3. Attach draw bar to tow-ball on ATV or other towing vehicle. 4. Attach cable protector tube to drawbar in position shown. 5.
  • Page 19 Should further adjustment be necessary, follow the steps in the next 2 illustrations. Should the angle be satisfactory as it is, then tighten the bolts as indicated by Step 4 on the next page. Once the sled is correctly adjusted, the equipment is ready for use. 5 adjustment positions each side for angle of sled to ground...
  • Page 20 Step 1. Loosely fit rear attachment bolts. Step 2. Attach drawbar to tow-ball on ATV or other vehicle. Raise the front of the sled slightly above horizontal. Step 3. Loosely fit adjustment bolts and nuts Step 4. Tighten adjustment bolts and the 2 rear attachment bolts.
  • Page 21 Set-up Sled & Sensor Assembly. Attach coupling on the sled to the tow-ball on the ATV. Ensure wheels are down in the transport position. Connect sled cable to indicator console cable hanging from rear. Maneuver sled to extreme left and right positions to ensure cable will not foul wheels and not be damaged by hot exhaust pipe or hot exhaust emissions.
  • Page 22 CAUTION When raising the sled into the transport position, be careful to follow safe lifting practice. Always ensure you have secure footing, bend knees and do not lift weight with your back. Keep feet and hands away from the underside of the sled. REMEMBER: Let your legs do the lifting.
  • Page 23 Assembly & Setup – Indicator Console Step One • Locate bottom plate under carrier tube and position as desired • Place bolts through the carrier mounting bracket • Tighten nuts firmly – do not over tighten to the point where the carrier or bracket deforms •...
  • Page 24 Note: The battery connector cable is supplied for connection to batteries that do not already have a C-Dax battery connector cable fitted. If already fitted, connect the blue / white power cable directly to it. The path to run the cables to the battery and rear carrier is up to the installer but should be chosen to protect the cables and so as not to obstruct the operator.

  • Page 25: Using Your Pasture Meter

    Using Your Pasture Meter This series of steps assumes that the operator has read and understood the operator’s chart supplied and familiarised him/herself with the use of this equipment. Operating Hints 1. Tyre pressure requirement will vary depending on the terrain. Smooth terrain would best suit higher pressures.

  • Page 26: Raising & Lowering The Sled

    Raising and Lowering the Sled Grasp draw-bar on one side at Using other hand, raise or position shown and carefully lower the wheels as desired lift off the ground Repeat the operation to raise or lower each side of the sled CAUTION When raising the sled into the transport position, be careful to follow safe lifting practice.

  • Page 27: Understanding The Sensor

    Understanding the Sensor Assuming the indicator console is switched on and set to mm while in the ‘wheels-down’ transport position, and has no light paths broken, the indicator console will be reading 10mm. Note. Should any other height reading be shown while in this position, it indicates that one or more of the beams is obstructed.
  • Page 28 NOTE: The following applies to both sides of the sensor Keep clear poly carbonate clean Warning: Do NOT use cleaning objects likely to damage the polycarbonate. Metal objects are likely chip or scratch which may lead to moisture contacting electronic components. This is likely to lead to equipment failure...

  • Page 29: Understanding The Indicator Console

    • You have successfully created a HawkEye account, created a farm map and installed the C-Dax upload tool NOTE: If you wish to use an existing farm map please contact C-Dax Please Note: It is critical that the correct numeric Farm & Paddock numbers are selected in the indicator console to ensure the correct pasture cover information is recorded against the corresponding farm and paddock.

  • Page 30: Understanding Pasture Covers

    Equations are continually evolving for different regions and pasture species. Contact C-Dax or visit our website to find up to date equations that suit your conditions.

  • Page 31: How The Measurement Process Works

    How the measurement process works The steps below outline the overall process for obtaining and recording your farm's pasture cover. They will be explained in the remaining sections of this guide. Turn on Smart Press ON Button Control console Press MENU Button and Adjust Calibration scroll through menu Equation if Necessary...

  • Page 32: Measuring Your First Paddock

    Measuring your First Paddock Step 1 – Turning the Indicator Console ON Push this button Step 2 – Adjust Your Calibration Equation if Necessary Press MENU: MENU • Scroll by pressing the grey cursor key on the right hand side until ConSt appears •...
  • Page 33 Step 4 – Recording Your First Paddock • When you have entered the selected calibration equation in the Indicator Console you are ready to start measuring pasture cover. Before you start, make sure that you read the following: o Ensure the wheels are down on the sled for travelling o Check the sensor glass is clean o Press UNITS to switch between mm and kgDM/ha Showing...
  • Page 34 • To Stop/Pause recording, push this button once: PAUSE will be displayed to confirm that recording has been paused, as shown: Then the average paddock value will flash on the display. • From the paused state, to either stop or restart recording, press right cursor is displayed.
  • Page 35 Turning Farm ID and Paddock ID On and Off • The Farm ID and Paddock ID options allow you to allocate a number to a specific farm and paddock (i.e. Farm 1, Paddock 12) • To turn Farm ID and Paddock ID On and Off, Turn the console off.

  • Page 36: Section 4 - Software

    This section contains: • Software Installation • Downloading Your Pasture Measurements...

  • Page 37: Software Installation

    Software Installation Introduction • This installation and setup guide will assist you in getting the C-Dax Pasture Meter Bluetooth™ software for the Rapid Pasture Meter up and running. Installation Components There are 2 key components as follows: • A HawkEye account. Go to my.hawkeye.farm...

  • Page 38: Downloading Your Paddock Measurements

    • Click on “C-Dax uploader tool” to download the software and then install it on your computer. • If you don’t have a HawkEye account then create a new one using the...
  • Page 39 • After installation and running the software a login screen will appear. • Enter your HawkEye username and password and click on Log On. • The uploader will then look for your device...
  • Page 40 Once the connection has been established, • Select the farm you want as your default from the drop-down menu. • Select or change the farm name in any individual lines if required using the drop-down menu on the right of each line item. •...
  • Page 41 Finalising your readings • Navigate to Activities>View. • Any unallocated Tier 2 data will be indicated by a red exclamation mark. Any unallocated XC1 data will have a recycle icon next to it. • Allocated pasture measure data will have a feed wedge symbol next to it. Clicking on that icon will open a feed wedge for that date.
  • Page 42 • To Confirm pasture measurement data: - Select the uploaded C-Dax activity. - Click on the Confirm linked C-Dax records button to confirm all records for the date of the selected upload, or - Click on the Info button. - Select Allocate/Edit to get a list of all your readings with the associated paddock, check these are correct and select Confirm.
  • Page 43 • Once confirmed you can view your pasture measurement readings in a feed wedge, growth rate chart and predictive feed wedge by clicking on the feed wedge icon on the left-hand side in HawkEye. • You can edit or un-allocate any uploads, select the activity then click on the Info>Unallocate button and make any changes.

  • Page 44: Maintaining Your Pasture Meter

    This section contains: • Maintaining your Pasture Meter • Removing the Sensor • Dispatching for Repair...
  • Page 45 5. Regularly inspect the two strips of glass on either side of the sensor uprights for damage and signs of water ingress. Evidence of condensation on the inside of the glass indicates the presence of moisture. If moisture is present internally, return the sensor to C-Dax for inspection immediately.
  • Page 46 Welding must not be undertaken on the sensor. Damage to electronics resulting from welding will void warranty. Please Note: Welding may distort the frame of the sled making realignment necessary. If this occurs you will need to contact C-Dax Limited to arrange repair.
  • Page 47 Removing the sensor for Repair Should the Sensor need to be removed for any reason, it must be disconnected from the ATV, unbolted from the sled uprights and the cable protector unscrewed from the draw-bar. The cable protector tube can be laid diagonally across the sensor and the excess cable coiled inside the sensor for packing.

  • Page 48: Section 6 - Parts

    This section contains: • Exploded parts diagram • Parts list...

  • Page 49: Exploded Parts Diagram

    Exploded Parts Diagram Parts List...
  • Page 50 Item No. QTY. e9 part no e9 description 1010-2385 Actuator-Electrical-Pasturemeter-LA31-12V 1013-2355 Adaptor-Electrical-Power Pack-240 Volt to 12 Volt 1082-5705 Axle-Pasturemeter-G3-ZP 1400-1500 Buffer-Rubber-Size-25 ODx5 Deepx12 Hole-Rubber 1500-3600 Cable-Electrical-Loom-Battery Feed-0.5M 1500-5700 Cable-Electrical-Loom-Pasturemeter-Actuator-Control Box 1500-7100 Cable-Electrical-Loom-Pasturemeter-Console to Battery Cable 1500-7200 Cable-Electrical-Data-Pasturemeter-Sensor Extension-4M 1500-7205 Cable-Electrical-Data-BREAKAWAY-Pasturemeter-1.2M 2550-5700 Drawbar-Pasturemeter-G3-ZP 2840-0680...

  • Page 51: Section 7 - Trouble Shooting

    This section contains: • Trouble Shooting Tips...

  • Page 53: Quick Reference Guide - Tier

    This section contains: • Quick Reference Guide • DIY Calibration Method...
  • Page 54 Tier 2 Model – Quick Reference Guide 1. Ensure wheels are down for travelling to place of use. 2. Check that sensor glass is clean. 3. Turn on indicator, select “Farm ID” (if enabled) and switch display to show height in mm. 4.
  • Page 55 10. When measuring/recording is completed within a paddock or area, press the right cursor button again. This will cease recording until measuring is recommenced by repeating steps 10 and 11. 11. Save the data by pressing the right cursor button twice. “Saved” will appear on the screen followed by “Stop”...
  • Page 56 DIY Calibration Method Purpose Every farm is different in terms of Soil type, pasture type and climate. Pasture measuring devices are calibrated on a regional basis and may not always be representative of your particular farming operation. This DIY Calibration Method will allow you to self calibrate your pasture meter so you can make decisions with confidence on your collected data.
  • Page 57 Equation Calculation Steps Step 1 - Calculate total and Avg. For columns A & B ➢ Calculate (G) = Sum of Column A (i.e. 25 + 40 + ... = 250) ➢ Calculate (H) = Sum of Column B (i.e. 1200 + 2350 + ... = 7800) ➢...
  • Page 58 Understanding the Pasture Calibration Process Calibration Equations are used to convert the raw sensor measurement, pasture height (reordered in mm), to pasture cover (kgDM/ha). There are several ways to do this; these include comparing your height reading with: o Calibration cuts o Visual assessment o Rising Plate Meter A calibration equation is most commonly expressed as a straight line formula, a straight...
  • Page 59 110 x 18.6 + 750 = 2796 kgDM/ha During 2008, AgResearch, DairyNZ and Massey University with the support of Pastoral 21 Feeds Program conducted extensive independent calibration of the C-Dax Pasture Meter on dairy pastures throughout New Zealand. Pastoral 21 is funded by NZ Governments Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (FRST), DairyNZ, Fonterra and Meat &Wool NZ.

  • Page 60: Clearing The Console Memory

    Clearing The Console Memory From time to time it is good practice to clear the console memory. If the memory is getting full you may experience a slower than usual download of pasture cover to your PC. Please note that this will remove all of the pasture data retained in the console memory so please ensure that the data has been downloaded prior to running this procedure.

This manual is also suitable for:

Pasturemeter tier 2

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