FarmTronics ChickenMaster PRO User manual

Page 1of 43
ChickenMaster PRO User Guide
Firmware 01.14B Revision 1.0 23/05/2022
The Den, 100 Fox Drive, Dandenong South. Victoria. 3175.
www.farmtronics.com.au Phone: [phone]
Description of Push Buttons and their Functions:
•Pressing any button will turn ON the LCD Backlight, it will turn OFF after 60 Seconds of inactivity.
•If the User is in any of the MENU/STATUS Screens with longer than 60 Seconds of inactivity the
display will return to the MAIN Home Screen.
•From the MAIN HOME screen, pressing the MENU/OK button once will enter the SETTINGS MENU.
•Every time the ESCAPE button is pressed, returns the user back up one level in the MENU Structure
and will abort any changes made if the user was entering data.
•Pressing the MENU/OK button will accept any data entered, and then move back to the previous
screen.
•UP button increments a step UP every time it is pressed;
holding down for 2 Seconds initiates the fast scroll feature.
•DOWN button increments a step DOWN every time it is pressed;
holding down for 2 Seconds initiates the fast scroll feature.
•RIGHT button increments to the RIGHT every time it is pressed.
•LEFT button increments to the LEFT every time it is pressed.
•AUTO MODE button toggles between AUTO ON and AUTO OFF Mode.
(AUTO ON Mode is the default on every boot up regardless of what mode the
ChickenMaster PRO was in prior to boot up).
•AUTO ON LED stays lit in AUTO ON Mode.
•AUTO OFF LED pulses ON & OFF once every second in AUTO OFF Mode.
•RED ALARM LED pulses ON & OFF twice every second when an alarm is triggered.
Initial Boot Up Procedure:(or after an ERASE ALL SETTINGS & DO FACTORY RESET)
On initial out of the box power up the User will be prompted to enter the following values before the
ChickenMaster PRO can be used.
Date, Daylight Saving Time (DST), Local Time, UTC Time Zone, Latitude & Longitude
Once the above data has been entered the Main Home Screen will be displayed.
Please refer to the ChickenMaster PRO Quick-Start Guide on Page 43.
If the ChickenMaster PRO has been powered down for longer than 120 Hours causing the Internal
Battery to run flat then the Initial Boot up Procedure will initiate again on power up.
Other than the first boot up requirements all previously entered USER settings will remain unchanged and
will NOT be erased.
The ERASE ALL SETTINGS & DO FACTORY RESET (Page 23) also initiates the
Initial Boot Up Procedure and Installs all the Factory Default Values. (See Default Value Tables on pages 39,
40 & 41)ALL USER settings will be deleted when this option is selected.
Enters MENU MODE & Accepts any
changes that have been made
ABORTS changes made & goes back UP
one level in the MENU structure each
time it is pressed
ALARM LED will flash when an alarm
threshold is triggered
AUTO MODE Button Enables or
Disables all Automatic Mode Functions
Allows UP, DOWN, LEFT & RIGHT
movement through the Menus &
Status Screens
4 Line, 20 Character per line LCD
Display with Backlight

Page 2of 43
ChickenMaster PRO User Guide
Firmware 01.14B Revision 1.0 23/05/2022
The Den, 100 Fox Drive, Dandenong South. Victoria. 3175.
www.farmtronics.com.au Phone: [phone]
HOME SCREEN (1) & STATUS SCREENS (1 to 15)
The following two screens depict what the User will see on the Main Home Screen when the
ChickenMaster PRO is in a rest state.
MAIN Home Screen (With the Wind Sensor DISABLED; this is the DEFAULT Screen)
MAIN Home Screen (With the Wind Sensor ENABLED)
Pressing the UP or DOWN buttons from the MAIN Home Screen will scroll the User through the various
STATUS screens.
There are FIFTEEN Status screens displaying a multitude of information at the Users fingertips.
Items pictured below each Status Screen are the various statuses that can be displayed individually
on that screen at any one time.
Dual line Status information is displayed on line positions 3 and 4.
Single lines Status information is displayed on line 4 only.
Status Screen 1 of 15 - EXTERNAL DOORS
EIGHT individual status screens are available.
< Line 3
< Line 4
Automatic Mode has been DISABLED via the Settings Menu or the AUTO Mode is in AUTO Mode OFF
External Doors have had MANUAL Intervention or the ChickenMaster PRO has just been powered up so their
position is UNKNOWN. The External Doors will be Automatically OPENING at the time displayed
External Doors have had MANUAL Intervention or the ChickenMaster PRO has just been powered up so their
position is UNKNOWN. The External Doors will be Automatically CLOSING at the time displayed
External Doors are currently OPEN and the next scheduled CLOSING time is displayed
External Doors are currently CLOSED and the next scheduled OPENING time is displayed
External Doors are currently CLOSED based on a scheduled event and will go to a WIND SAFE position when
the scheduled OPENING time triggers. I.e. WIND SAFE MODE has been triggered 10 Minutes prior to opening
External Doors are currently OPEN based on a scheduled event but have gone to a WIND SAFE minimum
position. CLOSING time displayed is the next CLOSE scheduled event.
I.e. WIND SAFE MODE has been triggered
External Doors are in a VOLTAGE LOCKOUT state and will not operate either automatically or manually
Line 1: Displays the current TIME and DATE
Line 2: Displays the BATTERY LEVEL in VOLTS
Line 4: Use the UP & DOWN Buttons to scroll through the eleven STATUS Screens
Line 3: Displays the WIND SPEED in Kilometres per Hour (Only visible when the Wind Sensor is ENABLED)

Page 3of 43
ChickenMaster PRO User Guide
Firmware 01.14B Revision 1.0 23/05/2022
The Den, 100 Fox Drive, Dandenong South. Victoria. 3175.
www.farmtronics.com.au Phone: [phone]
Status Screen 2 of 15 – DOOR SCHEDULE
FOUR Individual status screens are available.
Status Screen 3 of 15 – NEST BOX GATES
SIX Individual status screens are available.
Status Screen 4 of 15 – NEST BOX SCHEDULE
FOUR Individual status screens are available.
Automatic Mode has been DISABLED via the Settings Menu or the AUTO Mode is in AUTO Mode OFF
NEST BOX GATES have had MANUAL Intervention or the ChickenMaster PRO has just been powered up so
their position is unknown. They will be Automatically OPENING at the time displayed
NEST BOX GATES have had MANUAL Intervention or the ChickenMaster PRO has just been powered up so
their position is unknown. They will be Automatically CLOSING at the time displayed
NEST BOX GATES are currently OPEN and the next scheduled CLOSING time is displayed
NEST BOX GATES are currently CLOSED and the next scheduled OPENING time is displayed
NEST BOX GATES are in a VOLTAGE FAILSAFE OPEN position. This has occurred because the battery voltage is
low. Automatic & Manual operation are locked out and the Nest Box Gates will revert to their next
scheduled position once the battery voltage reaches 1 volt higher than the user programmed VOLTAGE
NEST BOX GATES are currently CLOSED and the next scheduled OPENING and CLOSING times are displayed
NEST BOX GATES are currently OPEN and the next scheduled CLOSING and OPENING times are displayed
Automatic Mode has been DISABLED via the Settings Menu or the AUTO Mode is in AUTO Mode OFF
NEST BOX GATES are in a VOLTAGE FAILSAFE open state.
EXTERNAL DOORS are currently CLOSED and the next scheduled OPENING and CLOSING times are displayed
EXTERNAL DOORS are currently OPEN and the next scheduled CLOSING and OPENING times are displayed
Automatic Mode has been DISABLED via the Settings Menu or the AUTO Mode is in AUTO Mode OFF
EXTERNAL DOORS are in a VOLTAGE LOCKOUT state and will not operate either automatically or manually

Page 4of 43
ChickenMaster PRO User Guide
Firmware 01.14B Revision 1.0 23/05/2022
The Den, 100 Fox Drive, Dandenong South. Victoria. 3175.
www.farmtronics.com.au Phone: [phone]
Status Screen 5 of 15 – INTERNAL LIGHTING
SIX Individual status screens are available.
Status Screen 6 of 15 – TODAYS DAYLIGHT LENGTH REQUIREMENT PERIODS (DLR)
TWO Individual status screens are available.
Status Screen 7 of 15 – SUNRISE/SUNSET TODAY
TWO Individual status screens are available.
Status Screen 8 of 15 – DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME
THREE Individual status screens are available.
INTERNAL LIGHTS are in a VOLTAGE LOCKOUT state and will not operate either automatically or manually
INTERNAL LIGHTING is currently ON and the next scheduled TURNING OFF time is displayed
INTERNAL LIGHTING is currently OFF and the next scheduled TURNING ON time is displayed
INTERNAL LIGHTING is currently ON and the ChickenMaster PRO has been switched to the AUTO OFF Mode
or Automatic Mode for the INTERNAL LIGHTING is DISABLED via Settings. I.e. MANUAL Control was used
INTERNAL LIGHTING is currently OFF and the ChickenMaster PRO has been switched to the AUTO OFF Mode
or Automatic Mode for the INTERNAL LIGHTING is DISABLED via Settings. I.e. MANUAL Control was used
Required DAYLIGHT LENGTH is OK and there is no requirement for the use of any artificial lighting
Daylight Saving Time is NOT active, NO DST ADJUSTMENT
Daylight Saving Time is active, 1 Hour has been added to all Time Clock Events and the LOCAL TIME
Daylight Saving Time is active, 30 Minutes has been added to all Time Clock Events and the LOCAL TIME
Line 3, shows the Morning ON & OFF Times based on the calculated Day Light Length Requirement Period
Line 4, sho ws the Evening ON & OFF Times based on the calculated Day Light Length Requirement Period
INTERNAL LIGHTS are in a VOLTAGE LOCKOUT state and will not operate either automatically or manually
Automatic Mode has been DISABLED via the Settings Menu or the AUTO Mode is in AUTO Mode OFF
Line 3, shows the time when SUNRISE will occur for Today
Line 4, shows the time when SUNSET will occur for Today
Feature has been DISABLED via the Settings, External Door or Internal Lighting Menus
Required DAYLIGHT LENGTH is OK and there is no requirement for the use of any artificial lighting

Page 5of 43
ChickenMaster PRO User Guide
Firmware 01.14B Revision 1.0 23/05/2022
The Den, 100 Fox Drive, Dandenong South. Victoria. 3175.
www.farmtronics.com.au Phone: [phone]
Status Screen 9 of 15 – WIND SENSOR
FOUR Individual status screens are available.
Status Screen 10 of 15 – COURTESY LIGHTS
FOUR Individual status screens are available.
Status Screen 11 of 15 – LOW BATTERY ALARM
THREE Individual status screens are available.
Status Screen 12 of 15 – EXTERNAL ALARM INPUT
THREE Individual status screens are available.
WIND SAFE Mode has been triggered due to a high wind event. MINUTES Left is the value of the WIND SAFE
Lockout Interval & will count down to zero, after which the DOORS will revert back to their normal position
Feature has been DISABLED via the Settings Menu
Automatic Mode has been DISABLED via the Settings Menu or the AUTO Mode is in AUTO Mode OFF
COURTESY LIGHTS are currently ON. MINUTES LEFT is the time remaining before the lights will switch OFF
COURTESY LIGHTS are currently OFF
Feature has been ENABLED via the Settings Menu and is actively sensing Wind Speed
Feature has been DISABLED via the Settings Menu
COURTESY LIGHTS are in a VOLTAGE LOCKOUT state and will not operate either automatically or manually
Feature ENABLED via the Settings Menu and a LOW BATTERY ALARM was TRIGGERED at the Voltage value
shown
Feature has been DISABLED via the Settings Menu
Feature ENABLED via the Settings Menu but NO ALARM is active
Feature ENABLED via the Settings Menu and the EXTERNAL ALARM INPUT was TRIGGERED
Feature has been DISABLED via the Settings Menu
Feature ENABLED via the Settings Menu but NO ALARM is active