@moldengineer I've just remembered you setup a RTK base station a while back I think? So should be a doddle with the sprayer!
What tractor is running the sprayer?
What tractor is running the sprayer?
AgOpenGPS How to build Section Control
- Thread starter Andy26
- Start date
moldengineer
Member
- Location
- Rugby, Warwickshire
Just looked at the section control motors. All 2 wire. Can fit a flow meter in the system. The sprayer hasnt been used for a while hence the dust, need to sort out the joysticks for hydraulics as they didnt work well last time.
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moldengineer
Member
- Location
- Rugby, Warwickshire
Its a Case IH Farmall 100C. JD greenstar GPS with ATU, already had the system shared with another tractor. We are growing more maize so need a tractor on the correct wheel spacings, hence the reason for breathing new life into the old Team sprayer. The tractor also does the drilling so wheels are set at 60". 2 other tractors running CNH/Trimble RTK, hence the RTK base.
Looking at the PCB mounted on the sprayer frame, I think the polarity switching is done via the relays on board, so hopefully the control box in the cab, just sends a 12V signal to that PCB, looks like the cable coming into the box on the far right with coloured cables is likely to be connected to in cab control box.
With a tablet, F9P and antennae running the section control you're not far off autosteer with AOG!
moldengineer
Member
- Location
- Rugby, Warwickshire
moldengineer
Member
- Location
- Rugby, Warwickshire
Yes its a Panasonic toughpad fz-g1 mk4. Is there any reason not to go usb? Have GPS board on usb
The rate PCB is Ethernet, much more reliable connection.
You can use USB for your GPS and Ethernet for rate and section control.
del_boy
Member
- Location
- Herefordshire
Trying to rig up section control on a 12 row beet drill.
Have the nano with some modified code that is switch 0v to 5v on 12 pins.
Tested in simulator mode and with a voltage meter and each section switches off and changes voltages.
Wired up the relay board to the motors amd added 12v input to each board which then puts a green light on. then wired up the nano expansion board. When i switch each section on and off individually the red light on each relay comes on. This works for all 12 sections 1 at a time so all good i assume
The problem comes when i try to turn more than 6 sections on, the red lights on the relay board go dimmer the more i try turning on then nothing happens. Any less than 6 relays it seems to cope with. Ive tried swapping the jumper wires from the high to low input on the relay board but nothing works then.
Its like the nano or possibly the usb cable is struggling with enough power to operate more than 6 relays..
Have the nano with some modified code that is switch 0v to 5v on 12 pins.
Tested in simulator mode and with a voltage meter and each section switches off and changes voltages.
Wired up the relay board to the motors amd added 12v input to each board which then puts a green light on. then wired up the nano expansion board. When i switch each section on and off individually the red light on each relay comes on. This works for all 12 sections 1 at a time so all good i assume
The problem comes when i try to turn more than 6 sections on, the red lights on the relay board go dimmer the more i try turning on then nothing happens. Any less than 6 relays it seems to cope with. Ive tried swapping the jumper wires from the high to low input on the relay board but nothing works then.
Its like the nano or possibly the usb cable is struggling with enough power to operate more than 6 relays..
- Location
- Wormingford, Essex
I think you will need a separate 5v feed to the relay boards.
del_boy
Member
- Location
- Herefordshire
In stead of the 12v that im already using to power the relay boards?
We've already had the drill running on section control by a trimble with field iq with the switch box. So the relay board and all the wiring is in place. The 12v to the board gets its power from a 12v supply.
All ive done is taken out the 12 wires that the trimble plugged into the block on the relay board and replaced with my 12 wires from the nano expansion board.
I have a 12v to 5v converter to try if its of use.
The trimble system did work well but the downside is we need to buy the yearly subscription of range point for £280 and the trimble screen is just big and bulky and all the power leads coming into the cab are big and bulky.
Was hoping to use agopen for a neater cab instal and the added benefit of free rtk.
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- Location
- Wormingford, Essex
I've just looked again and you are right, you need a 12v feed for those relays. I think they are the wrong boards, you want 5v ones that the Arduino will then switch.
del_boy
Member
- Location
- Herefordshire
Bugger! Even though they are low/high level trigger relay boards?
Tried moving the jimpers to the low level side but it didn't really work at all then.
I should've checked to see what power the trimble was putting down the signal wires, it works over canbus but theres a big can bus behind the relay boards which might be stepping the canbus signal to a higher voltage
This is the original trimble witing setup
del_boy
Member
- Location
- Herefordshire
The motors on the drill are 9v motors. Think they must be variable voltage motors as they slow down speed up depending on speed and seed rate.
Will this affect the tyre of relay board i need
Will this affect the tyre of relay board i need
- Location
- Wormingford, Essex
I wouldn't think the motor side would matter, it's just the relays looking for a 12v signal and the Arduino giving 5v signals. I could be entirely wrong of course.
Those boards aren't too expensive if you need to change it.
Those boards aren't too expensive if you need to change it.
davidroberts30
Member
- Location
- pembrokeshire
Add 5v relay boards to the drills 12v relay boards
- Location
- Wormingford, Essex
AEDIKO 8 Channel Relay Module DC 5V Relay Switch with Optocoupler Isolation High/Low Level Trigger https://amzn.eu/d/aJBrhW3
del_boy
Member
- Location
- Herefordshire
In the opening post and list on components its got a 5v relay board.
My 12v one is probably too strong for the nano as it can operate 5 or 6 ok but anymore and it gives up
- Location
- Wormingford, Essex
I'd getting a couple of boards in the link I posted above and swap them over. I've made a section control with 8 relays which, although I've not put on the machine yet, works fine on the bench. I think in @Andy26 original post he said you need a separate power supply for higher number of relays.