Light Sensor Shuts Off Tractor When Bin Auger Runs Empty

Light Sensor Shuts Off Tractor When Bin Auger Runs Empty AUGERS Augers (29B) 32-3-32 Carl Walter of Spring Valley, Ill., recently sent in this tractor shut-off idea for filling bins. "We dump our grain cart into a wagon parked next to the bin auger and then head back to the field. The problem is, most of the time the wagon runs out of grain before we return with the cart and the auger is running empty. To solve the problem my nephew, Paul Pearson, and I came up with a shut-off sensor for the tractor that operates the auger. "We drilled a hole on opposite sides of the wagon chute and mounted a light sensor on each side that sends a light beam across the chute, which detects when grain stops flowing. "A cord runs to a waterproof switch box that's wired to the tractor's battery and ignition. Because we use three different tractors to operate the augers on different farms, Paul wired each tractor with a pigtail from the battery and ignition switch with snap connectors that connect to the switch box. A toggle switch and light mount on the outside of the box. The switch is necessary to divert power from the box to the tractor's ignition, and the light indicates when that connection is made. "Here's how it works. We dump grain into the wagon. Then we flip the toggle on the switch box and the light comes on, indicating that power has been diverted from the box to the tractor's ignition. The tractor and pto are started and the gate on the wagon is opened to start grain flow. The toggle is then flipped again and power is diverted to the time light sensors. Once grain stops flowing, the light beam sensor activates the time delay shutoff switch. The time delay shutoff is adjustable and we have it set up on a 23-second delay so the auger empties out before the time delay shuts off the tractor. Works great. I spent about $250 for all the parts." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Carl Walter, 16458 3100 East St., Spring Valley, Ill. 61362 (ph 815 894-2813).

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