Gtech FIELD MATE Instruction Manual

www.areameters.com
Ver 1.0
Page 1
USER MANUAL
Spreader Rate Control
Users Guide
Installation Manual

Page 2
Copyright
All information contained in this user's guide is the
property of G- ech NZ Ltd. All rights reserved. his
user's guide may not be , in whole or in part, be copied,
photocopied, reproduced, stored, or reduced to any
electronic medium or machine readable form, without
permisssion from G- ech NZ Ltd.
IMPORTANT :
To obtain the highest Precision while Spreading:
–he Speed sensor must be mounted on a wheel that is not subject to slip or spin during the
Spreading.
–Wheel pulse distance and spreading width should corectly entered into to monitor.
–HOLD signal will flash when the spreader is not out putting material.
–Enter the correct setting for Material Density, Door Height, Rate and Spinner speed, to
allow the Field Mate to calculate the correct chain speed to suit the required spreading
rate.
–Calibrate the Spreader using the DUMP screen. Feed out one tonne of material and adjust
the FLOOR FAC OR as required to ensure the System will spread accurately.
Model ............................................................
Serial Number ............................................................
Date Purchased ............................................................
Place of Purchase.............................................................

Introduction:
arranty :
EMI Emmisssion Certification:
Pin outs 12 Pin plug:
Page 3
he FIELD MA E Spreader Rate controller and Area Meter has been developed to calculate land area, distance
travelled during spreading, while controling the speed of the floor chain to achieve a user defined spreading rate.
he meter will also record Spreading hours and timed stopped. While Spreading the meter can display the spreading rate
in hectare per hour and chain and spinner rpm as the desired spreading rate is controlled.
All measurements are metric.
A distance is measured via a magnetic wheel speed sensor. Shaft sensors are mounted on the chain and spinner motors.
Spreading on and off function is controlled by the in vehicle Fieldmate Run / hold switch.
o achieve the desired spreading rate the operator must enter the following:
- MA ERIAL DENSI Y.
- DOOR OPEN measurement.
- SPREADING RA E.
he FieldMate will compute the chain motor rpm to achieve the desired rate based on the 3 information sets entered
above.
ELECTRICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Pin/ number Colour Function
1 Black Earth
6 Yellow Speed
5 White Hold
3 Green Spinner RPM
2 Brown Chain RPM
7 Red
4 Blue Batt power to sensors and PWM solenoids.
8 Blue(3 core) Chain Left control. PWM switches to GND.
9 Brown(3 core) Chain Right or Spin control.
10 Yellow(3 core) Oil emp
11 Red (2 core) Power to main oil valve control.
12 Red/Black(2 core) Earth to main oil valve.
1 Year Warranty on Field Mate Controller and sensors. All items under warranty claim must be returned to
G ECH New Zealand Ltd.
Please ensure you agree to the warranty conditions before proceeding to purchase this product,see the
warranty form at the end of this user guide.
Installation wiring and connectors are not covered.
his Computer has the following certifications:
Certification Country
C- ick Z874 Class B New Zealand, Australia
FCC USA

Specifications:
Features:
Page 4
Supply volts : 5 – 30 Volts
Max Field Mate Current : 25ma
Current Soleniod Current : 1 amp
emperature : -5 to 55 degree/C
Input voltages : 0 to 30 Volts
Area : 999.99 hect
Distance : 999.99 km
Speed : 100 km/Hr
Wheel Size : 999.9 cm
Width : 9999.9 cm
Number of materials : 1
Number of Jobs : 1
-Large graphically displayed numbers, easy to see.
-3 button operation, for quick simple operation.
-Reset button is multi functional. It can:
A. Reset set the current job totals.
B. Shut down the alarm when the alarm is sounding
(eg: when low seed sensor has triggered).
C. Allows the meter to switch between auto
and manual mode when tramlining.
-Backlit display for night time working.
-Dust sealed.
-Mositure resistant.
-Strong Aluminium Case.
-Internal alarm buzzer.
-Bright light indicators.
-Easy fit velco mount. Or option window mount.
-Quick transfer from tractor to tractor.
-Reports all job information on screen.
-Automatic data Backup.
-Help Desk Phone number display.
-Data storage time with out power 20 years.
-All inputs high voltage protected.

Start a Job
Note: his system is operated by either pressing and holding or quick pressing the 5 or 6or reset or power
buttons.
Page 5
1. urn On the system using the power button.
2. urn on the oil valve using the control valve switch ( mounted in cab from the FieldMate wiring loom).
3. At power up one of the following screens are displayed. One screen is a HOLD screen, the other screen
is a RUN spreading.
4. Clear any information from a previous job by holding the RES switch
for 5 seconds. Only job spreading information is reset, all other user
setting are unaffected.

Page 6

Spreading control
Page 7
1. Use the HOLD / SPREAD Switch to start spreading. Spreading will only occur when this
switch is in the SPREAD Position and the Spreader speed is above 1 km/hour.
When in spreading mode the main screen will display the working rate and the state of the chain
motors and the spinner motor.
NO E: HE OIL CON ROL VALVE SWI CH MUS BE ON O ALLOW MO ORS O
OPERA E.

Information recorded
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At any time during the spreading operation a report of the work done is reported in the REPOR Screen.
Using the arrow buttons at move to the REPOR screen, quick press the power button to enter the report
display screens. Spreading information reported:
- Area
- Distance spreading and not spreading
- Weight of material spread
- ime spreading, total time the job
- Wheel pulses for the current job
- Size of wheel size and width of machine
- Date and time the job was started
- Material details spread. Rate, Density etc.

Dump Mode
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Dump mode is used to empty the spreader or to calibrate the spreader to output 1 tonne of material.
Calibrate the Spreader to output 1 tonne for material.
1. Goto DUMP mode.
2. Quick press the power button to enter DUMP mode.
3. Quick press the 5 button will put the spreader in to Dump onne mode. In this mode the ONNE label
will flash.
- Hold down the 5 or 6buttons to make the chain start.
- When the spreader has output 1 tonne the chains will stop.
Note 1: he weight and material output and based on the current material being spread. Accurate weight
calc is based on the exact door open measurement setting and the correct material density.
Note 2: he spreader must have a one tonne amount of material placed in the spreader if this calibration is
to be accurate. hen this 1 tonne is measure out to test spreader output calibration.
Note 3: If the Spreader stops at 1 tonne but with 100kg of material left in the spreader then this is
concidered a 10% over weighing. o fix reduce the Floor Factor by 10%.
Note 4: If the Spreader has output all the material when the weight is 900kg, then the spreader is
concidered to be 10% under weighing. o fix increase the Floor Factor by 10%.
Keep working with the FLOOR FAC OR number until 1 tonne of material is output from the spreader
when a 1 tonne bag is entered into the spreader.
Chain RPM during DUMP MODE. Hold the
5or 6buttons to achieve the desired RPM.
Speed of the Spinner in DUMP MODE. In a win floor system, this is under Mechanical
control. In Single floor mode the DUMP RPM is set in the SE UP Screens.
Weight out put by Spreader as calculated by the monitor, based
on internal settings and Material density and door opening.
he Chain RPM and rotations of the Chain motors are counted.
ONNE flashes when in dump tonne mode.

Dump Mode
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Empty the Spreader using DUMP MODE.
1. Goto DUMP mode.
2. Quick press the power button to enter DUMP mode.
3. Quick press the 6 button will put the spreader in to EMP Y mode. In this mode the EMP Y label will
flash.
- Hold down the 5 or 6buttons to make the chain start.
- he Monitor will run the Chains until the user quick presses the power button. Or the chain motors are
stopped. Stop the chain motors by holding down the 5 or 6buttons.
Chain RPM during DUMP MODE. Hold the
5or 6buttons to achieve the desired RPM.
Speed of the Spinner in DUMP MODE. In a win floor system, this is under Mechanical
control. In Single floor mode the DUMP RPM is set in the SE UP Screens.
Weight out put by Spreader as calculated by the monitor, based
on internal settings and Material density and door opening.
he Chain RPM and rotations of the Chain motors are counted.
EMP Y flashes when in EMP Y mode.

1: Mounting:
2: Connect Cables:
3: Configure the system using the SETUP option screens:
Page 11
Mount unit were it is easy to operate. Use the Ram mount fitting supplied to set the device in any
position.
Connect power the unit. Plug the 12 pin plug into the spreader 12 pin plug. hese cables and sensors
should be factory connected.
INSTALLATION
Set display contrast.
Spreading width.
Speed sensor debounce.
Typical set 20%.
Set to Single or double floor
depending on spreader type.
This is distance the spreader
travels every time a wheel
pulse is received.
Date setup
Help desk phone number
Id of this unit
Setup time
Defines how often the Chain
valve P M setting is
updated. Set to 2.

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Defines how often the Spinner valve P M
control is updated. Set to 2. Only used on
Single Floor system.
Displays the spinner speed for current job.
Defines Max Chain motor RPM.
Defines Max Spinner motor RPM.
Displays the distance in millimeters that
the door is open on the spreader for the
current job.
Displays the Spreading Rate for the
current job.
Displays the Product name for the current
job for the material being spread.
Number for spinner pulses that occur for
1 rev of the spinner motor.
Number for chain pulses that occur for 1
rev of the chain motor.
If Twin Floor system, here is where the
2nd chain pulse count is entered for 1 rev
of the chain motor.
idth of Spreader chain floor.
Chain gearbox ratio.
Number of speed pulses to occur before
the system knows it has travelled the
PULSE DISTANCE.
Spinner RPM when in DUMP mode.
Density of the material currently being
spread.

Next screen is "SLO OFFSE ", this number is used by the
factory to set the correct amount of material driven from the
spreader. Relates to a single or double chain configured
machine.
For a win floor machine it is typically set to 2260.
Page 13
If programed rate not delivering correct
weight per hect this number can force the
rate to uder or over deliver material for
the set rate.
How often the Field Mate backs the system
up when not moving. Typically 1 min.
P M setting of the spinner when it is just
about to start moving. Helps with fast
starting the motors.
P M setting of the chain when it is just
about to start moving. Helps with fast
starting the motors.
Name of this Spreader.
Distance floor travels for 1 rev of the
chain motor. During calibration in dump
mode if the spreader is under or over
delivering material use this nnuber to
bring weight measurement into line
Learns Spinner motor verse P M setting.
Adds in fast start up.
Learns Chain motor verse P M setting.
Adds in fast start up.
RPM constant. Used to calc the extact
motor RPM.
Oil Alarm setting. If oil temp exceeds this
temperature an alert message is displayed.
RATE FACTOR
RA E FAC OR
FLOOR FAC OR

Getting started.............
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Now that the area meter has been wired up, the area meter needs the following settings configured.
Step 1:
Turn unit on with power button.
Step 2: Observe main screen
Single floor screen
Speed
The system is in hold, both chains motors
are off. In this HOLD mode the Rate and
material spread info are displayed.
Single Chain RPM and status of chain is
displayed here
Spinner RPM
Target RPM for Spinner. This Spinner is
P M controlled
Oil temp

Keyboard:
Connect Power:
Turning the Area Meter Off:
Turning the Area Meter ON:
Scroll Main Menu:
Page 15
he computer has 3 keyboard buttons, 5 or 6 and
power on/off.
he 4th button is the reset button that allows the user to
reset the current job totals
When unit is on hold down the "ON" button.
1: Unit will save all totals and display the company logo.
2: LCD will go blank, unit is off.
When unit is off hold down or quick press the "ON" button. he following information is
displayed on screen.
1: Job, Model.
2: Job number and description.
3: Displays system date and time..
Using the 5 or 6 buttons move up and down the menu options. he double size text is the selected menu.
Enter any of the selected menu items by a quick press of the "ON" button.
he following information is displayed on the Monitor Screen.

Job Menu:
Operate Menu:
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1: In Main Menu scroll to OPERA E .
2: Quick Press “ON” to enter OPERA E Mode.
3: Use the 5 to display the following information types:
- AREA
- AREA sub (Reset this by holding down the 5or6 key)
- DIS ANCE ( otal distance travelled, combines the RUN and HOLD distances)
- WEIGH of material spread for this job
- RA E, amount of hect per hour are being spread
- SPEED
- Spinner RPM
- Chain Left RPM
- Chain Right RPM
- All RPMs displayed on this screen
4a: Delete the displayed total by holding down5or6 keys for 6 seconds.
4b: In Optional screens holding down the 5or6for 6 sec turns the alarm on/off.
5: Use the 6 key if the"Run Hold Mode" is "Keys", to switch the Field Mate
into/out of Hold.
6: Quick press "ON to Exit to Main Menu.
Selecting a JOB:
his is done when a job is to be reset or restarted. A PRO has 16 jobs and there fore selecting
any of these jobs can be done by this method. A Job that has a "XX.XXX.XX" in the date location is an un allocated
job.
1: In the Main Menu scroll to JOB.
2: Quick Press “ON” to enter a JOB. Scroll to JOB using the 5or6 keys.
3: Hold 5or6 to select the job for adjusting.
4: Scroll to SELEC in the JOB SE UP screen Using 5or6. At SELEC hold 5or6 to select the job.
his job will be the current Job that work is logged to. Date and ime renewed . Job otals and Job Name remain
untouched.
Reset a JOB:
1: In Main Menu scroll to JOB.
2:Quick Press “ON” to enter JOB. Scroll to JOB using the 5or6 keys.
3: Hold 5or6 to select the job for adjusting.
4:Scroll to RESE in the JOB SE UP screen Using 5or6.
5: At RESE hold 5or6 to reset the job. All otals, Date, ime and Name for this job will be cleared.
Caution: Data cannot be recovered after this event.
Name a JOB:
1: In Main Menu scroll to JOB.
2: Quick Press “ON” to enter JOB. Scroll to JOB using the 5or6 keys.
3: Hold 5or6 to select the job for adjusting.
4: Scroll to NAME in the JOB SE UP screen Using 5or6. At NAME hold
5or6 to name the job.
5: At the NAME job screen 5 will change letter, 6 will goto the next letter
space. A maximum of 11 letters can be entered.
6: Quick press “ON” to exit.
View a JOB:
1: In Main Menu scroll to JOB.
2: Quick Press “ON” to enter JOB. Scroll to JOB using the 5or6 keys.
3: Hold 5or6 to select the job for adjusting.
4: Scroll to VIEW in the JOB SE UP screen Using 5or6. At VIEW hold
5or6 to select the job. Report screen will be displayed.
5 : Use 5or6to scroll through the job report.
6: Quick press “ON” to exit. Viewing job does not unset the selected job.
7: When exiting to the Main Menu, the Job Report is set back to the Current Selected Job Number.

Area Menu:
Distance Menu:
Speed Menu:
Page 17
1: In Main Menu scroll to AREA .
2: Quick Press “ON” to enter AREA Mode.
3: Use the 5 to display the following information types:
- AREA. Area amount for the current job.
- AREA SUB. Sub area total that can be reset any time.
- AREA otal. Area of all jobs done by the meter.
4: Use the 6 the key if the"Run Hold Mode" is Keys to switch the Field Mate into and out of Hold.
5: Quick press "ON to Exit to Main Menu.
1: In Main Menu scroll to DIS ANCE .
2: Quick Press “ON” to enter DIS ANCE Mode.
3: Use the 5 to display the following information types:
- DIS ANCE. Distance travelled in RUN mode for the current job.
- DIS ANCE SUB. Distance travelled in HOLD mode for the current job.
- DIS ANCE O AL. otal distance travelled in HOLD and RUN mode for the current job.
4: Use the 6 key if the"Run Hold Mode" is "Keys", to switch the Field Mate
into and out of Hold.
5: Quick press "ON to Exit to Main Menu.
1: In Main Menu scroll to SPEED .
2: Quick Press “ON” to enter SPEED Mode.
3: Use the 5 key to display the following information types:
- RA E , Hect/Hr.
- ime in Run mode.
- ime in Hold mode.
- otal job time.
- Max speed.
- Average Speed.
- Oil emp.
- ime.
- Date.
- Area of current job.
- Distance or current job.
- Working machine width.
- Large speed number displayed
4: Delete the displayed total by holding down5or6 keys for 6 seconds.
5: Use the 6 key if the"Run Hold Mode" is "Keys", to switch the Field Mate
into and out of Hold.
6: Quick press "ON to Exit to Main Menu.

Setup Menu:
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1: In Main Menu scroll to SE UP .
2: Quick Press “ON” to enter SE UP Mode.
3: Use the 5or6 keys to toggle scroll through the various setup options.
4: When at the required Setup option, to enter the Option hold down 5or6
key to enter the Setup mode for the Option.
5: When in the Option use the 5or6 keys to adjust the options settings. EG:
Screen 1:
- CON RAS . Allows display clarity to be set up.
- DEBOUNCE. Allows meter to monitor extremly slow coulter shaft typically set to 20% .
- RUN / HOLD. he meter will go into HOLD mode as define be the setting here. For a Spreader
there are 2 options, Single and twin floor. he operator will manually switch between
run and hold using the run/hold switches. When in run mode and moving the
computer will record are spread etc and control the chain motors accordingly.
Other RUN/ HOLD modes:
- ONE FLOOR. For single floor spreader.
- WIN FLOOR. For twin floor spreader.
- DIS PULSE. Is the distance travelled by the spreader each time the speed sensor is triggered.
- WID H. Is the spreading width of the spreader. his number is used to work out area spread.
Screen 2:
- DA E. Set date here.
- SUPPOR . Enter a HELP DESK Phone number here of who to ring for Area Meter support.
- UNI ID. Allows the unit to be named. Allows easy identification of a Meter.
- IME Set time here
- CHAIN UPDA E. Sets the update rate for the PWM for the chain motor/s. ypically set to 2.
Screen 3:
- SPIN UPDA E. Sets the update rate for the PWM for the spinner motor. ypically set to 2. Only
with the Single floor is the spinner computer controlled
- JOB SPIN RPM. Speed of the spinner for the current job
- MAX CHAIN RPM. Max RPM for the chain motor
- MAX SPIN RPM. Max RPM for the spinner motor
- DOOR OPENING. Door open setting for the current job
Screen 4:
- SPREADER RA E. Spreader rate for the current job
- PRODUC . Name of product for the current job
- SPINNER PULSE. Number of Spinner pulses for 1 rev of the Spinner motor
- CHAIN PULSE. Number of Chain pulses for 1 rev of the Chain motor
- CHAIN 2 PULSE Number of Chain pulses for 1 rev of the Chain motor (Note**)
Screen 5:
- FLOOR WID H. Width of the chain floor
- DENSI Y. Density of the Material being spread
- BOX RA IO. Ration betwen the chain motor and the floor out put shaft
- SPEED PULSE. Number of speed pulses to count before the DIS PULSE distance is travelled
- DUMP SPIN In dump mode and Single floor this is the RPM of the Spinner
Screen 6:
- RA E FAC OR. If Over or under spreading compare to the set rate then this number with make the
spreader eeith incres the spreading amount or decrease the spreading amount.
If set to 1.000 no change to the set rate. If set to 1.0500 then the rate will be reduced
by 5%. If set to 0.950 then the rate is increased by 5%.
- AU O SAVE. ime interval for the meter auto saving date when machine is not moving.
- SPIN S OPPED. PWM setting that has the spinner almost moving, this helps for soft stoping and
starting the spinner.
- CHAIN S OPPED. PWM setting that has the chain almost moving, helps for starting the chain/s.
- IMP NAME. Name for implement, as reported on the report
Screen 7:
- FLOOR FAC OR. Used to get the spreader outputing the correct weight in dump mode.
- LEARN SPIN. In single floor mode, this date is the last time the spinner motor was learn, this
learning process makes quick start for the spinner motor possible.
- LEARN CHAIN. his date is the last time the chain motor was learnt, this learning process makes
quick start for the chain motor possible.
- RPM CONS AN . Number used to case calc the RPM for the motor. ypically 906.
- OIL ALARM. emperature when the oil temp alarm will alert the user that the oil temp has reached
this level.
Screen 8:
- SLO OFFSE . Used to offset the material door setting area. Due to the chain taking up part of the
output slot. ypically set to 2260

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Setup Continued:
Info Menu:
1: In Main Menu scroll to INFO .
2: Quick Press “ON” to enter INFO Mode.
3: Use the 5or6 keys to toggle scroll through the various information screens.
4: Display a varity of information that may be useful to the user, or in some cases a valuable tool in
working out if the area meter doing that job you want it to do. here are also low level information
here that give insight into the correct operation of the computer system that makes this area meter
what it is. Information may prove to be a useful tool used during installation.
Screen 1: - Meter logo graphic
Screen 2: - Help desk info
Screen 3: - Distance travelled pulse detection timing and detection info screen.
Screen 4: - Meter model infomation.
- Firmware release info
- Hours that the meter has been running, powered up and calculating area.
- LCD contrast setting and backlight voltage on/off control state.
Screen 5: - emperature of oil.
- Voltage level applied to the meter.
- Serial number.
- RUN HOLD voltage level. Reflects run hold state in twin floor confiuration.
Screen 6: - Software error detection. Should be all 0.
- PWR is the number of power ups that the meter has had.
- BOD may get counts, this is a low power detection.
Screen 7: - Auto save count down timer.
- Average speed.
- ime and distance calculator numbers.
Screen 8: - Real ime Clock/Calendar timer information
- Run Hold state number.
- Area calculator numbers.
- ime number.
Screen 9: - Real rate verse filtered rate.
- Area calculator numbers
Screen 10: - All motors rpm monitor screen
Screen 11: - States that options are on
Screen 12: - Calcs to work out rpm of chain motor
Screen 13: - Spinner rpm with target rpm and pwm settings
Screen 14: - Chain Left with target rpm and pwm settings
Screen 15: - Chain Right with target rpm and pwm settings
Screen 16: - Weight calcs
Screen 17: - Spinner rpm calcs.
Screen 18: - Chain Left rpm calcs.
Screen 19: - Chain Right rpm calcs.
Screen 20: - Variable used to calc the volume of the output slot of the spreader
Screen 21: - Extended variables to calc the weight out of the spreader and computed weight output by the
spreader for t rev of the chain motor
Screen 22: - Rate and how it is effected by the rate correction number

Report Menu:
Clearing the Meter.
*Hold the Reset key down for 5 seconds to delete the current job information.
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Reset all obs:
1: urn FIELD MA E tm Off.
2: Hold down the 6 key, "RESE ALL JOBS" is displayed and a scroll bar
counts across at the bottom of the screen.
3: Repeat step 2, 3 times to reset all the job totals.
4: he reset is complete when "RESE ALL JOBS DONE" is displayed.
1: In Main Menu scroll to REPOR .
2: Quick Press “ON” to enter REPOR Mode.
3: Use the 5or6 keys to toggle scroll through the various Report screens eg:
Screen 1: - Displays job number + name.
Screen 2: - Area worked in RUN mode.
Screen 3: - Distance travelled in RUN mode.
- Distance travelled in HOLD mode.
Screen 4: - Weight output.
Screen 5: - ime moving in RUN mode.
- ime stopped in RUN mode.
Screen 6: - ime moving in HOLD mode.
- ime stopped in HOLD mode.
Screen 7: - otal time spent on this job.
Screen 8: - Wheel turns in RUN mode.
- Wheel turns in HOLD mode.
Screen 8: - Measurements used for this job. Wheel size and width.
Screen 9: - JOB start time and date.
Screen 10: - Details of the material spread
4: While at the first report screen hold down the 6 key to view the report of the next job. (PRO meters only)
5: While at the first report screen hold down the 5 key to view the report of ALL jobs total. (PRO meters only)
6: Quick press "ON to Exit to Main Menu.