Feed bin sensors

[blue boy]

Anyone using feed bin level sensors ?
Any recommendations or comments ?

 

[Pan mixer]

Anyone using feed bin level sensors ?
Any recommendations or comments ?

Good question, windows are unreliable and sometimes leak, banging the side of the bin is not always practical or reliable.

I have tried the proximity type, they soon get covered in dust and don't work properly, paddle switches are good but you need an electrical supply and a build up of insect frass behind the paddle makes them not good either.

I have wondered about the pressure sort but worry that meal may not be dense enough to set them off.

So, still banging bins here until some genius comes up with a plan on TFF........

 

[Fogg]

If this is any use to anyone feel free to use it... It's a spreadsheet I use to help me blow the right amount into bins.

feed calc.xlsx

Microsoft Excel Workbook

1drv.ms

If you, say, go to day 25 and want to know how much you'll need to get to day 31 just highlight the right six cells and check the total showing at the botom. Adjust numbers att he top of the table to suit.

 

[upnortheast]

Rolls Royce solution
Think Collinson do load cells to stand the bin on.

Silo Load Cells | Collinson

Monitor the quantity of feed delivered, feed usage, batch weighing, inventory management with silo Load Cells from Collinson.

www.collinson.co.uk

 

[Chickcatcher]

Load cells the way forward or know how much you take from how much you have put in can be done with a timer on auger take offs

 

[blue boy]

If this is any use to anyone feel free to use it... It's a spreadsheet I use to help me blow the right amount into bins.

feed calc.xlsx

Microsoft Excel Workbook

1drv.ms

If you, say, go to day 25 and want to know how much you'll need to get to day 31 just highlight the right six cells and check the total showing at the botom. Adjust numbers att he top of the table to suit.

Thanks for this will be very useful in helping to predict requirements. I B & B pigs need to report stocks levels each week end as well as keeping bins constantly full !

 

[blue boy]

Good question, windows are unreliable and sometimes leak, banging the side of the bin is not always practical or reliable.

I have tried the proximity type, they soon get covered in dust and don't work properly, paddle switches are good but you need an electrical supply and a build up of insect frass behind the paddle makes them not good either.

I have wondered about the pressure sort but worry that meal may not be dense enough to set them off.

So, still banging bins here until some genius comes up with a plan on TFF........

Fed up of finding long broom handles to bang bins was looking at bin view laser and wireless ones. have same concerns about dust etc making them ineffective though all look and sound great on a website or youtube advert

 

[blue boy]

Rolls Royce solution
Think Collinson do load cells to stand the bin on.

Silo Load Cells | Collinson

Monitor the quantity of feed delivered, feed usage, batch weighing, inventory management with silo Load Cells from Collinson.

www.collinson.co.uk

Cheers looks good system but i better make sure sat down when ask the £££ question

 

[Pan mixer]

Cheers looks good system but i better make sure sat down when ask the £££ question

That is what I thought, you could buy a brand new broom handle for each bin, every week for the rest of your life and still be in pocket.

 

[R J]

I have collinson weigh cells and are great , well worth the money in the long term ,
I think a system for 2x 24 ton bins was 4.5k when we had them put in 4 years ago .

 

[Chickcatcher]

Just had a new Collinson bin installed with feed alert weigher best system of the three types I have.

 

[vantage]

Just had a new Collinson bin installed with feed alert weigher best system of the three types I have.

About £450? Seen a few fliers, text to your phone daily?

 

[Radnor Lad]

I’ve got the collinson weigh that you bolt onto the frame of the bin and pressure senses what’s in there. Works out predicted lowering based on current usage and texts me below 30%. Great bit of kit

 

[DairyNerd]

They had feed alert at the dairy show on collinson stand this year. From memory starts at around £400 for just an alert when the bin is nearly empty but you can upgrade to tell you the actual weight in the bin. I think there are deals on with some feed companies. It works by measuring the stress on the bin when there is a different weight of feed in it. Pretty neat idea.

 

[Will Blackburn]

Two bins with app based feed alert here, much, much better than guessing with windows.

 

[Hilly]

My bin has weigh cells on each leg and wires but no control box …. Shame be handy .

 

[Martyoni]

We have silospy absolutely brilliant you can set what the tonnage left in bin to text and your feed rep. Can also check of app daily. Works of sensor on top of bin and can be retrofit to most bins .

 

[Spud]

I'm doing a trial for someone with strain gauges on bin legs. Shall we say we're still in the settling in stages.....

 

[Flatlander]

An older farmer near here has about a dozen feed bins on a chicken unit. Each bin he’s made a small hole on the side at the top of the side wall and runs a thin rope from the ground to the bottom of the bin. He had it measured out so he can lower a weight inside until it touches the feed and he can figure out the feed level.

 

[Chickcatcher]

Giving up with strain gauges on six bins for a year changing as and when can.