Traffic Lights For Checking Bins

Traffic lights for checking bins GRAIN HANDLING Accessories 16-5-15 Whenever Jim Boeding wants to make a late-night check on his grain drying bin, he simply looks out the upper-story bedroom window of his house. Blue, red, and yellow light bulbs mounted on top of the 10,000-bu. bin monitor operation of the fan, burner and stirrator, respectively. The 75-watt bulbs are mounted inside waterproof "globes" and are attached to a 3-ft. long steel mounting post (with a ceramic base) that's bolted onto the roof near the peak. An electric cord runs from each bulb down the side of the bin and plugs into the electric switch box for each piece of equipment. "It eliminates the need to run out to the bin to see if things are working properly. As long as the lights are on, I know everything is alright," says Boeding, who notes that he can also see the light bulbs from his hog buildings. "As far as I know, no manufacturer offers this type of monitor that's visible from a long distance away. Using my eyes instead of my ears is especially useful with the stirrator. In the past I always had to climb up the bin to see if the stirrator was still running. I may add a fourth bulb so I know when the stirrator advances or stops. "The bulbs are spaced so close together that glare can sometimes be a problem. I have to look twice to see which bulbs are on. I plan to mount black shrouds around the bulbs - somewhat similar to those on high-way traffic signals - to solve the problem. I think the same idea could be used on batch dryers." Boeding spent $250 to make the light bulb monitoring system. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Jim Boeding, Rt. 1, Box 172, Ridgeway, Iowa 52165 (ph 319 737-2327).

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