New Monitor Automatically "Temperatures" Grain Bins

New Monitor Automatically Temperatures Grain Bins Marketing plans for a revolutionary monitoring system that automatically “temperatures” grain bins to detect hot spots before spoilage occurs were being finalized as this issues of FARM SHOW went to press Manufactured in England where it has been in the field for over a year the new Crop Store monitor is being marketed in the U S by RDS Agricultural headquartered in Walworth Wis The unit provides a fast accurate means of knowing from day to day what the temperature is inside grain bins or potato storage areas Each grain bin is prewired with eight temperature sensors Four of these are placed in the center of the bin spaced so the top sensor is approximately four feet under the grain surface and the bottom one about six feet from the floor The remaining two are spaced equally in between The other four sensors are spaced equally around the bin approximately four feet below the grain surface “The center ten-foot core in a bin is usually the most vulnerable to heating hence the location of the four sensors in this area ” explains Jim Brown president of RDS Agricultural “It has been well established that the temperature rises more rapidly above a hot-spot than in any other direction Therefore the sensors are placed in the grain near the top ” You can then select one of several options for hooking a monitor to the sensors depending on how automatic you want the system For example you can carry a digital readout monitor from one “prewired” bin to the next connecting it to external plugs wired to the sensors Or you can install a monitor on the outside of each bin plus a horn or light that comes on to alert you to sudden temperature changes inside the bin Another possibility is to install a monitor in your house or office allowing you to “temperature” distant grain bins without having to go to the bin site In addition to detecting hot spots the Crop-Store monitoring system makes it possible to stir and aerate stored grains more efficiently “Many farmers using aeration of grain stirring operate on the principle that more action is better than not enough and thus waste energy and increase coasts ” explains Brown “The Crop Store monitor avoids guesswork by sensing the amount of aeration required to maintain optimum temperature ” Prices hadn’t been finalized when this issue of FARM SHOW went to press Best guess is that cost will be in the $500 to $800 range depending on size of installation For more details contact: FARM SHOW Followup RDS Agricultural Box 814 Walworth Wis 53184 ph 414 275-5128

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.