Bulk tank cooling temperature settings.

[Water Wheel]

Had a new controler and guage fitted to our old open top tank. A Dari Kool 1972.

Cuts out cooling cycle at 4 deg C ( paddle and water spray on milk tank) but does not cut back in untill 6 deg.C.
Is this normal ?
In the morning the milk never reaches 6 , because of the cold night milk and the plate cooler doing its job , so the paddle never cuts in, except for the intermittent timer, forcing us to put it on manual cooling.
A 2 deg C differential between cutting in and cutting out seems to wide , what is the norm?
Before the new controler the paddle cut in automatically, but I have no idea at what temperature as the guage has been dodgy for years!

 

[Fergieman]

Can you adjust the settings?

 

[Cows 'n grass]

I can't remember what our dari-kool ones did but the pre set on most new tanks would be to take the milk down to 3.9 and the compressors kick in again at 4.0

 

[Water Wheel]

Can you adjust the settings?

No is the simple answer.
I was told the 2 degree differential was fixed . I can reduce the temperature it cuts out at down to 3 in order to reduce the cutting in temp. to 5.
A 2 degree differential seems too wide to me., 1 degree would be much better.
I tried reading the manual but gave up untill I have a lot more time. I struggle to change my watch when the clocks change.
I'm getting too old , I need a knob to turn up and down.

 

[Grazer]

Think mine cools down to 3.3 and starts up again at 4.0. Your gap does seem quite large. Turn it off, then restart it after you've milked a couple sides, or the first half of them?

 

[mixed breed]

When in peak production, Ours always needs a stir after the first two sides of morning milking, else the warm milk sits on top of the cold and (so I was told) above the temp sensor?

Always clicks on automatically when it's not so full.

 

[Peter]

There should be a manual timer for the agitator paddle, turn it on when you start milking so that the fresh milk is mixed right away without waiting for the interval timer to come on.

3c is the required temp here with most farms using 2c.
Stirring should always be running when new milk goes in. I have seen milk frozen on the bottom and 30c on the top.

Check that the temperature sensor bulb is in place good with compound (anti-seize) and well insulated from outside air on the backside. If insulation is wet or not there will really mess up sensing.

 

[Muellerman]

Most commonly tanks are set for a cut out temp of 3.5/3.7°c with 0.5°c diff so 4.0/4.2°c cut in. A 2.0°c is far to wide for a milk tank controller. Also there should be a 30min agitation timer so a 28min pause with a 2 min stir when tank is selected on cooling. What type of controller did you have fitted?

 

[Fergieman]

Ours are cutting out at 4 and starting at 4.5 but at the start of the 2nd milking you can press a button so it takes it down to 3 and is stirring all the time to mix in the first few lots of cows. Tanker ticket is always around 3.7 or 3.8.

 

[Water Wheel]

Most commonly tanks are set for a cut out temp of 3.5/3.7°c with 0.5°c diff so 4.0/4.2°c cut in. A 2.0°c is far to wide for a milk tank controller. Also there should be a 30min agitation timer so a 28min pause with a 2 min stir when tank is selected on cooling. What type of controller did you have fitted?

Thanks for that and everyones replies ,confirms what I thought, 2 degree differential is too wide.
Had an Eliwell IDPlus 902 fitted.
I'm sure the differential can be changed, just tried to read the manual but it's beyond me, I'll have to call my Tank Man back in next week.
Thanks.

Suppose I shoud expect the odd hic up the tank is almost 50 years old , but still looks good and does its job.