Monitoring Systems Helps Keep Dairy Barns From Flooding

Monitoring Systems Helps Keep Dairy Barns From Flooding DAIRY EQUIPMENT & IDEAS Dairy Equipment & Ideas 31-5-35 Bill Schuster of Utica, N.Y., recently sent FARM SHOW a photo and description of a solid state monitoring system he designed to keep his dairy barns from flooding due to broken water lines. "A friend of mine who ran a small part-time dairy operation asked if I could solve a problem he was having in his barn during the winter months. He told me many small farmers experience the same problem - a cow damages the water line or automatic water bucket during the night, and the next morning he finds a flooded mess. He had to spend time cleaning the barn floor before he left for his regular job. "I'm a retired engineer, so I designed a solid state monitoring system that detects any abnormal flow of water through the main feed line. A flow of water higher than a pre-set limit over a set time period will shut off either the main water line or a water pump, if used. We built a pilot unit; my friend installed it and it worked for him. He was very happy not to be greeted by a flooded barn. "We were hoping to put the idea on the market, but unfortunately my friend passed away and I never did anything more with the project. I have a couple of working units, some parts and all the required electrical diagrams. The unit shown in the photo is on a fully operational demonstration board equipped with a water pump to show that the idea actually works." The system is designed to operate off any 110-volt outlet and is wired to either a solenoid valve or a pump. It consists of an electrical box with a solid state device in it, a timer, and a flow control valve that you install into the barn's existing water line. The electrical box controls the timer and a cut-off relay. "You can either cut the water line and install the system in it, or if you don't want to cut the line you could install a bypass valve on it," says Schuster. "I'd like to know if anyone is interested in developing this system or wants to buy it. I have a lot of parts that could be used to put together another system. The total cost should be less than $300." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Bill Schuster, Stabletech, P.O. Box 4125, Utica, N.Y. 13456 (ph 315 737-7615; stabletech@msn.com).

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