RDS Moisture meter (on Combine)

[KennyO]

Does anyone know where you fit a RDS Moisture sensor on a TX66. Have just got one sent to me from John Manners with some other bits. My RDS 8000 cab unit accepts a moisture sensor just don't know where it goes.

Thanks

 

[Rob Holmes]

On ours, it bolts onto the top of the bubble auger in grain tank, i'll post a pic this afternoon

 

[Steevo]

Sounds about right. Basically anywhere it will have a constant flow of grain across it. You need to make sure it's covered with grain at all times or else you'll get a false reading.

@towns should be able to set you right.

 

[Rob Holmes]

Here are the pics on ours

 

[KennyO]

Thanks very much Rob. Just need to fabricate an extension for e top of the auger.

 

[Learning Every Day]

was pricing one of these the other day, are they any good?

 

[KennyO]

Will tell you if it works!!

 

[Steevo]

was pricing one of these the other day, are they any good?

Have one on the dryer and combine. Works very well when correctly set up - surprisingly accurate!

 

[gorgous]

We have rds on our tx68 yield and moisture works really well if you set it right.

 

[General-Lee]

Sounds about right. Basically anywhere it will have a constant flow of grain across it. You need to make sure it's covered with grain at all times or else you'll get a false reading.

@towns should be able to set you right.

On our old combine we had a rds yeild/moisture meter and it would read fine but as the tank got full the moisture would rise when the sensor was submerged. Was that the norm or just ours?

 

[Steevo]

I wouldn't say it is normal. I found that the sensor needs to be submerged all the time. Had an issue with ours reading high going one way across a hill, then low when going the other all due to the amount of grain on the sensor. Sensor has now been repositioned so will see how it is after.

I think i'm right in saying the NH system for their smaller combines (which is actually RDS system fitted inside) has an issue where once the "tank full" lights come on the moisture jumps up/down a couple of notches.

 

[General-Lee]

I wouldn't say it is normal. I found that the sensor needs to be submerged all the time. Had an issue with ours reading high going one way across a hill, then low when going the other all due to the amount of grain on the sensor. Sensor has now been repositioned so will see how it is after.

I think i'm right in saying the New Holland system for their smaller combines (which is actually RDS system fitted inside) has an issue where once the "tank full" lights come on the moisture jumps up/down a couple of notches.

Different combine but it was mounted the same as Rob Holmes and as soon as it covered it it would rise nearly 10%!! ...strange!

 

[Richard III]

I have one the same as Rob's, as soon as the buble auger starts to get covered the moisture reading starts to go up. By the time the tank is full, the moisture will be 2% up. I think it is simply the extra pressure of the grain onto the sensor causes the higher reading, can't see any easy way round it really.

 

[Clive]

Have one on the dryer and combine. Works very well when correctly set up - surprisingly accurate!

Interested in the idea of adding one to a dryer - dies it compensate for temperature well ?

Wonder if they do a logging option to record dryer output ??

 

[Steevo]

Interested in the idea of adding one to a dryer - dies it compensate for temperature well ?

Wonder if they do a logging option to record dryer output ??

Hard to comment. When you set the meter up and calibrate it then it only works in that "state" i.e. best set up to read the correct moisture content when actually extracting moisture, prior to burner being lit. It seems that grain going in reads 2-3% lower than when the moisture extraction is actually taking place.
Having spoken to @towns about it earlier in the year he wondered whether this was due to the temperature compensation overcompensating. There have been some new calibration figures launched this year however so I'll plumb them in and give it a whirl. Feel free to prod me if I don't report back.

 

[Mow]

I have one the same as Rob's, as soon as the buble auger starts to get covered the moisture reading starts to go up. By the time the tank is full, the moisture will be 2% up. I think it is simply the extra pressure of the grain onto the sensor causes the higher reading, can't see any easy way round it really.

Think they recommend fitting the sensor on bottom of grain elevator door,nearly got one myself but wasn't convinced they would be that accurate

 

[SimpersTradeCounter]

Interested in the idea of adding one to a dryer - dies it compensate for temperature well ?

Wonder if they do a logging option to record dryer output ??

AHEM!! If you're interested.

http://www.simperstradecounter.co.uk/rds-moisture-meter-100-923-p.asp

 

[KennyO]

First class service from RDS and @towns. Kindly sent me the fitting bracket for the moisture sensor and instructions (and a free cap)

Thanks very much. Hopefully the sensor works.

 

[fergie35]

Think they recommend fitting the sensor on bottom of grain elevator door,nearly got one myself but wasn't convinced they would be that accurate

They do on the NH TX6 series you get a special plate that replaces the one at the top of the clean grain elevator, the sensor bolts to it and it diverts grain to flow past it, using that system you get a more reliable reading as you don't have the senor submerged when the tank gets full as grain is constantly flowing past it.

 

[samsung]

Hello, bit of a delay since this thread started, but found this thread when searching rds moisture meter. Was thinking about fitting this system to a fixed continuous flow grain drier, to provide at a glance monitoring, backed by longer interval more precise moisture analysis.
Would this item be accurate enough for this application, bearing in mind it would have a consistant flow of grain over it, with a very narrow window of variation, perhaps 3 % variation ?
Please give response even if you think its already been covered. Thanks Samsung.