Jenquip EC09 User manual

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Handbook
EC09 Electronic Platemeter

Jenquip Pasture Management Soware is supplied with your platemeter on a USB
sck. Manual entry of data is required, or users can enter data into 3rd party apps
or the Jenquip App, which may be purchased separately. Use of the Jenquip App
allows users to store paddock data for unlimited number of farms.
inf[email protected]
Contents
1. Introducon/ Important safety note
2. Assembly Instrucons
3. Top handle assembly instrucons /grooved rod extension
4. Operang the platemeter
5. Zero calibraon
6. Start up/self test
7. Selecng the factory default formula
7. Other formulas
8. Entering your own formula for displaying total covers
8-9 Entering your own formula for displaying available covers: Changes to
the EC09 model
10-11 Using your platemeter/taking paddock readings (the pasture walk)
12. Soware
12. Maintenance
13. Replacing the baery
14-16 Fault nding
16. Servicing

1
Introducon
Congratulaons on the purchase of your EC09 Platemeter. This platemeter is a
highly engineered precision device for measuring the average height of pasture
relave to density of the pasture.
This is directly relave to the quanty of dry maer present (kilograms of dry mat-
ter – kg DM/ha).
Your platemeter will become an invaluable tool in your farming operaon for day-
to-day feeding decisions and long term feed budgeng.
Important safety note
Read and understand all the instrucons before using the platemeter. A copy of
this user guide can be downloaded from www.jenquip.co.nz or www.nzagriworks.
co.nz
Your platemeter is designed only for measuring pastures. Use it for no other
purpose (e.g. it is not a walking sck.) This platemeter has been manufactured
using quality materials and techniques, however, if faults do occur, have them
corrected before you use the platemeter.
Be careful around electric fences. Parts of the platemeter will conduct
electricity!
Store the plate correctly. Be careful that the wind does not blow the plate away. It
is not to be thrown.
Water blasng or submerging the unit will void the warranty.
!

Assembly Instrucons
The platemeter is supplied in three parts:
The plate
The plate sits on top of the pasture to establish average height and density. The
area-to-weight rao of the plate has been carefully calibrated.
The rod with meter
The grooved rod allows pasture to be measured in 0.5 cm intervals (clicks). The
rod includes the electronic meter.
The handle
Aach top handle to the rod. Ensure that the rod does not fall through the coun-
ter as this will damage the gear and void warranty.
2

3
Top Handle assembly instrucons
Screw top handle onto the top of the
grooved rod where it comes out of
the counter.
Put 4 drops of thread locker into the
female end.
Screw threaded rod extension into grooved
rod and do up rmly by hand,
wiping o any excess thread locker that may
have leaked out with a dry cloth. Do not use
tools as this will damage the grooved rod.
Refer to the handbook for zero calibraon
before use.
Grooved Rod Extension (for the
400mm model)
Turn upside down and slip o the O ring.

Operang the platemeter
Switching the unit on and o
The platemeter is switched on and o using the
black switch at the back of the unit. O is in the
‘down’ posion. When the unit is o there are
no numbers displayed on the LCD screen.
Rubber Bung
On/o switch
Front display buons
The various funcons of the platemeter are ac-
cessed by the two buons on the front of the unit, labelled ‘Height/Reset’ and
‘Count/Formula’. The words in bold type are the primary funcons.
These are acvated by a short press of the
buon. The secondary funcons ‘Reset’ and
‘Formula’ are acvated by holding the buon
down unl the funcon operates. When the
unit is rst switched on, the display will show
the current formula in use and the calculated kg
DM/ha based on that formula, and any read-
ings in memory. Pressing the ‘Height’ buon will
briey display the average pasture height. This is
oen referred to as “clicks” (measured in 0.5cm)
and will be displayed to one decimal place (i.e.
0.0 or 12.4)
1 click = 0.5 cm
The number of readings is displayed when the
‘Count’ buon is pressed. The display will show
a ‘c’ on the le side and the count on the right. The display will return to normal
aer two seconds.
All readings can be cleared (reset) by holding down the ‘Reset’ buon for approxi-
mately two seconds, then the display will change to “0”.
4

5
Zero Calibraon
To ensure that the platemeter accurately measures the compressed height of the
pasture the platemeter must be calibrated. This requires seng a base level of
zero so that measurements can be benchmarked against this. If the counter does
not return to zero aer each “plonk” it will not record the measurement – hence
the counter will not beep.
If the counter is removed from the grooved rod or receives a severe knock it may
jump a groove on the steel sha which will put the counter out of calibraon.
It will need to be recalibrated.
To do this, work through the following steps:
1. Ensure the plate is fully down (place on a rm at surface) and the unit is
switched o.
2. Hold the “Count” buon while switching the unit on. The display will
change to “CAL” briey and display a colon (:) followed by a number. Let’s
assume you see “.5” when you switch on. Proceed as follows:
3. The colon signies that it is in ne calibraon mode. Remove the
protecve rubber bung by levering it out gently using a at-bladed
screwdriver. Use a at bladed screwdriver and
turn the plasc or steel sha within the cog
an clockwise, unl the display reads “0”.
NB: the cog and steel sha must remain
staonary. DO NOT TURN THE SHAFT BEYOND
THIS POINT OR YOU MAY DAMAGE THE
POTENTIOMETER. Once the counter reads
zero, move the counter up the full length of
the sha. The colon will disappear once it
passes 9 and enter “clicks” mode. At the full height the display should
read approximately “50” which is 50 half cenmetres. The counter has
now been calibrated successfully.
4. Switch o when you have nished, and then back on again without
pressing any buons.
5. Test the zero calibraon by raising and lowering the plate several mes.
A beep should sound and the kgDM/ha displayed as the plate falls. If it
does not, repeat the steps above and retest.
If calibraon fails to hold, then the potenometer, which the cog drives, may
be damaged and will need replacing. This can occur with excessive wear, oen
compounded by dust and dirt entering the dry bearing of the potenometer.

6
Start up/self test
1. Switch on
The platemeter will beep and display the current formula seng.
The formula will be displayed next with the ‘+’ part of the equaon rst
(default 500) and then the ‘x’ part second (default 140.)
2. The display will then show the kg DM/ha calculaon based on that
formula and any readings stored in memory.
3. To clear the readings, press and hold the ‘Reset’ buon unl the display
shows ‘0.0’ There is one default plate equaon and one custom
(user editable) equaon. The former is built into the chip and cannot
be replaced or modied. This equaon is typically used between April
and September in New Zealand.
During start up, if the baery charge is low it will display “lo” and give two beeps.
It will sll work for some me, however it would be a good idea to take a spare
baery with you on the farm walk.
The original formulas developed for use with the platemeter were:
Dairy Pasture (reasonably consistent rainfall areas height reading x 158 + 1000 •
= Cover (kg DM/ha)
Dairy Pasture (moderate rainfall periods height reading x 158 + 200 = Cover •
(kg DM/ha)
Sheep pastures: height reading x 158 = Cover (kg DM/ha)•
The platemeter also provides an opon for selecng your own equaon or those
recommended by consultants. Your platemeter will be set up for the Dairy NZ
recommended equaon for the autumn winter/months.

Selecng the factory default formula
(This is not normally required, as this is set as the default formula)
While the platemeter is switched on, hold down the ‘Formula” buon. The display
shows “F--d” Press the ‘Reset’ buon briey. The display will then show (500) and
then (140). The default formula has now been loaded and saved to memory.
Other formulas:
To beer reect the growth stages of pastures, these formulas were derived:
Seasonal variaons of formulas
1 Winter & early spring - before stem growth x125 + 640
2 Late spring & early summer - during stem growth x130 + 990
3 Mid summer x165 + 1480
4 Early autumn - before autumn rain x159 + 1180
5 Late autumn - aer rain x 157 + 970
The above formulas are industry published. Jenquip does not provide agronomy
advice.
Entering your own formula for displaying total covers
To enter your own cover equaon or one that may have been recommended by a
third party, such as your consultant or industry body, do the following:
While the unit is switched on, hold down the “Formula” buon. “F--d” 1.
will display on the unit window. Press the formula buon again briey,
then change the “d” (default) to “c” (custom). Press “Reset” briey. “0---”
will be displayed. This is the rst of two numbers to be entered. The rst
number is the equaon “add” number and the second the “mulply number.
E.g. in equaon two above, the rst number (115) is the “mulply” number
and the second (850) is the “add” number.
The “add” number is four digits long, and can range from 0 to 9999. Starng 1.
with the rst digit, press the “Formula” buon to change this digit to a value
from 0 to 9. Press the “reset” buon when it is correct. E.g., 850 would be
7
2.

8
entered as (0850). Enter the next digit. Repeat this process unl all four digits
have been entered. The display then changes to the “mulply” number.
The “mulply” number has three digits and can range from 0 to 255. The rst 1.
digit will appear. Press the “Formula” buon to change this digit to a value of
0, 1, or 2. Press the “Reset” buon when it is correct and the next digit will
appear. Repeat this process unl all digits are entered and the display returns
to its normal state.
3.
Entering your own formula for displaying available covers: changes to
the EC09
Displays “Available” cover required in some markets.
All the current features of the EC09 are sll there and funcon in exactly the same
way.
There is now an extra opon in the menu called “A---”
This is to allow the user to input a number that the platemeter will treat as a
negave number.
The procedure for entering a number here is done in the same way you would
enter a custom formula (same buons pressed.)
For example: if the current formula was (h x 140) + 500 and the negave number
entered was 1,000, then the new formula would be: “available cover” in kg = (h x
140) + 500 – 1000”
Where “h” equals the average height recorded by the platemeter.
Each model will leave the factory with the “A---” set at “0000”
This means that the EC09 will funcon straight out of the box exactly as they do
now and this feature will have no eect, unless acvated.

9
When the platemeter is switched on, it will display the default seng of:
140
500
0.0.0.0 (The decimal points will ash 3 mes indicang a negave, of any
number the user has entered and saved.)
Any changes to the formula will be retained and displayed next me the plateme-
ter is switched on.
When the platemeter is used with a negave number acvated and the result in
kg of dry maer is < “0”, then the LCD will display “0000”. The platemeter will sll
beep with each plonk and connue to count. The hyphens will ash on and o
with each beep. An “Actual” negave number cannot be displayed.
A posive number result aer calculaon will sll show as a posive number as
normal.
Examples:
Assume the formula used is (h x 140) + 500 – 1000
If the average “h” (height) = 4.0 then:
(4 x 140) + 500 – 1000 would result in a display of “60” kg
Any negave number entered by the user is saved to memory and ready to use
next me. If, in the menu the “F- - d” opon is selected, then all sengs are reset
to 140, 500, 0000

10
Using your platemeter
Technique
Pracce the technique of an uninterrupted slow walking pace, taking care not to
“roll” the meter. (This is where the plate is not square to the ground and it will
provide a false HIGH reading.
Lowering the platemeter consistently rather than rolling it will provide a more
accurate reading.
Farmwalk
The more regularly you take readings the beer. Astute farmers will take readings
weekly, somemes more oen during crical mes of the year and less frequently
during mes of stac condions.
The more samples taken per paddock the less margin of error. We recommend 20
to 40 samples per paddock but if you have bad condions i.e. pugged paddocks,
more samples should be taken.
Most paddocks will have areas of good growth and areas of poor growth. If
recently grazed, the pasture may be clumpy. Ensure that your walk includes
representave samples of both areas. Avoid tracks, stock camp sites and other
uncharacterisc areas.
Take samples every 3 paces or so, rather than choosing by eye the spot to sample.
This removes operator preference for long or short patches.
Be consistent. Plan the same walk every me, although it can be done in reverse.
This allows each walk to be compared with another.
Taking paddock readings (the pasture walk)
The platemeter displays the rolling average cover and this cannot be stored in the
device. Users need to either manually record or manually enter into the Jenquip
Android App if purchased separately, or other 3rd party mobile apps.
How to take paddock readings
1. Switch the counter on using the toggle switch at the back.
2. Reset by holding the ‘Reset’ buon unl the display changes to ‘0’. This
should be accompanied by two short beeps.

11
3. Walk across the paddock taking readings every few paces. The
counter will beep every me a reading is stored. The average Height
is immediately recalculated and displayed. The number of samples
(plonks) to be taken should range between 20 and 40 per paddock
however this will be determined by the variance exisng in the cover.
The counter will give three short beeps when you have completed
29 plonks and one long beep when you reach 30. This is the
recommended number of readings. Plonks need to be taken on a regular
basis e.g. every three paces to even out any variaons, however avoid
stock camp areas, tracks, or uncharacterisc areas. The greater the
variability the greater the number of plonks you should take.
4. If you need to negoate an obstacle (e.g. fence or creek) switch the
counter o so that no readings are taken if the plate moves. On the other
side of the obstacle, switch the counter back on and connue taking
readings.
5. When you have completed the paddock, record the rolling average
displayed on screen. Read o the height of cover.
6. If you have purchased the Pasture App, enter the height against each
paddock in the App.
7. Repeat instrucons 4 to 8 unl you have completed every paddock.
8. Switch the counter o using the toggle switch at the back when nished
the walk.
Undo Feature: You can “undo” the last plonk or reading by holding down the
“Height” buon as you switch on the counter. The count will now be one less than
what it was and the dry maer reading will also change to the previous reading.
You can connue taking more readings if you wish.

12
Soware
The Jenquip Pasture Management Soware provided can be used, however this
is only suitable for single farms. Jenquip recommends for mulple farm users
the use of the Android App which can be purchased separately. It takes the
informaon from your farm walk and produces ready-to-use reports.
The App can be found by looking up “Pasture App” in the Play Store for a 7 day
free trial.
Jenquip Pasture Management Soware is supplied with your platemeter on a USB
sck, and does not require registraon.
Use the Jenquip Pasture Management soware to further process the platemeter
readings and do your feed wedge.
Total Dry Maer = Kg Dry Maer per Hectare x Paddock Area
Growth Rate of Pasture
= Final Kg DM / Ha - Inial Kg DM/Ha (KgDM/Ha /day)
Number of days between samples
Maintenance
Your meter has been developed over a number of years to be simple, eecve
and reliable. However a lile maintenance will ensure many years of trouble free
use.
Before use
Aer assembling the plate onto the counter move the plate up and down a few
mes to ensure no binding occurs. If its movement is restricted the reason must
be found and reced before the meter is used.
Aer use
Remove the plate and wash it clean. Do NOT waterblast.
Wash / wipe and dry the area around the boom of the meter.
Move the counter so that all dirt and accumulated grass can be
washed away.
This is a precision instrument – look aer it.
Water blasng or submerging the unit will void the warranty.
!

13
Replacing the baery
On start up if you get a “Lo” baery warning then the baery will need replacing
over the next farm walk or two. A triangle icon in the top le hand corner also
indicates a low baery. The electronic counter is powered by a single 9V baery.
The use of an alkaline baery is recommended, though a standard heavy duty
baery will sll work well. An alkaline baery should give 40-50 hours connuous
use. A NiCad rechargeable baery may also be used.
Before you replace the baery ensure the counter is switched o. Remove the
screw on the front of the counter. The baery retainer will slide out towards you.
Do not pull on the baery snap wires as these will become
dislodged from the electronics and will need to be sent in for
repair. This will void the warranty.
Remove the baery and gently remove the baery snap connecons (lever
o with a screwdriver.) Fing the new baery is the reverse of the removal
procedure.
If your baery is near the end of its life it is a good idea to carry a spare.
!

14
Fault nding
There is no visual display
Check
If you have just changed a baery you
may have damaged the baery snap
clip that aaches to the top of the
baery.
The counter connuously beeps and
eventually turns o
Check
This is normally due to a low baery.
The counter requires a given level of
power to operate correctly. If the baery
doesn’t have sucient power it may
connuously beep to warn you.
Remember if you turn the counter o for
a few minutes it may recover slightly but
the problem will not go away.
Resoluon
Replace the baery
Service: Send to your service agent.
Resoluon
Change the baery
Baery may be due for replacement
NOTE: Most problems are due to the counter being out of calibraon (see
following points as to why.) If in doubt it is worth Zero Calibrang just to
make sure it is correct (see page 5)
The counter does not beep when
taking a reading.
Check
Potenometer damaged. The
Potenometer is the sha part
that drives the cog. NB: Under no
circumstances should you apply CRC
or a light oil to the potenometer. It
is a dry bearing and any lubricant will
render the potenometer useless).
Resoluon
Send to your service agent for repair.

15
Check
Check the metal sha is coming right
back into the base of the tube. En-
sure there is no grass or soil build-up
prevenng it from doing so. Also check
the washer at the boom of the sha
is not catching on the boom of the
plate.
Check
This means that the platemeter does
not know where the boom is –
therefore does not record the reading.
Counter readings do not seem accurate
Check
The counter is like a calculator - it does
not give false readings under normal
circumstances.
Platemeter not running freely (low
results)
Check
Metal sha is bent
Grass or soil build-up inside case
Grooves on steel sha have become
lled with grass or soil
Front panel (membrane problems)
Check
Buons not clicking or acvang
Resoluon
Clean the platemeter
Resoluon
Check the equaon being used is cor-
rect and the calibraon has been cor-
rectly set. (Zeroed)
Resoluon
Straighten or request a replacement
part from your service agent
Clean the platemeter
Clean the platemeter
Resoluon
Service - membrane needs replacing.
Send to your service agent.
Refer to page 5 “Zero calibraon”

16
How do I change a formula?
Check
The platemeter is switched on. If
you wish to select the inbuilt default
formula
Resoluon
Hold down the ‘Formula’ buon unl
the display changes to ‘F d’. While
the ‘d’ is displayed, press the ‘Reset’
buon. The following equaon is used:
Cover (kg DM/ha) = 140 x height +500
Returning for service
Remove plate and handle or extra freight charges will result. Leave the counter on
the grooved rod.