Jenquip EC10 User manual

Made by
Handbook
EC10 Platemeter

Jenquip Pasture Management Soware is supplied with your platemeter on a USB
sck.
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
4. EC10 Front Buon Displays
5. Zero calibraon
6. Start up/self test
6. Selecng the factory default formula
6. Other formulas
7. Seasonal variaons of formulas
8-9 Entering your own formula for displaying available covers
9-11 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 EC10 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
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
4
EC10
Front display buons
The funcons of the EC10 are dened by the four buons
on the front of the unit.
The words in BOLD type (see below) are the primary
funcons. Acvate by pressing the buon briey. Acvate
the secondary funcons (in normal type, see below) by
holding the buon down unl the funcon operates.
Up/Down arrows used to scroll back and forth in some opons
When the Count buon is pressed the number of readings is displayed.
A “C” will show on the le side and count on the right. Hold the buon
down to view menu of further opons.
Height displays the average height of readings in clicks (0.5cm).
Pressing Reset will save the average height to memory and reset all data
ready for the next paddock.
Press Display to show the current paddock number selected (1-100)
Press Enter to show the current paddock number selected (1-100)
Height
Reset
Count
Menu
Disp
Enter
Disp/Enter
Height/Reset
Count/Menu
Up/down arrows

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
Switch the unit on. It will beep and show “EC10” in the display panel. If the baery
needs recharging it will beep 3 mes and “lo” will display on the panel. The
current formula in use will be displayed next with the “+” part of the equaon rst
(default 500) and then the “x” part second (default 140).
The kgDM/ha calculaon will be displayed based on that formula and any other
readings stored in the memory.
To clear the readings, press and hold the Reset buon unl the display shows 0.0
The unit has one default plate equaon (built into the chip and cannot be replaced
or edited) and one custom (user editable) equaon. This equaon is typically used
in New Zealand between April and September.
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 autumn/winter months.
Entering the Factory Default Formula
While the EC10 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.
To enter your own formula refer to page 10 “Entering your own formula”.
Other Formulas
To beer reect the growth stages of pastures these formulas were derived:

7
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
DEXCEL also developed these month based formulas:
Months
(Southern Hemisphere)
Platemeter Equaons
Dairy Pastures
Winter (April/September) Platemeter Reading x 140 + 500
(Factory Default)
October Platemeter Reading x 115 + 850
November Platemeter Reading x 120 + 1000
December Platemeter Reading x 140 + 1200
January Platemeter Reading x 140 + 1200
February Platemeter Reading x 185 + 1200
March Platemeter Reading x 170 + 1100
Months
(Northern Hemisphere)
Platemeter Equaons
Dairy Pastures
Winter (October/March) Platemeter Reading x 140 + 500
(Factory Default)
April Platemeter Reading x 115 + 850
May Platemeter Reading x 120 + 1000
June Platemeter Reading x 140 + 1200
July Platemeter Reading x 140 + 1200
August Platemeter Reading x 185 + 1200
September Platemeter Reading x 170 + 1100
Some equaons may change without noce and are inuenced by
seasonal dierences. If you are unsure of the current equaon contact
your local consultant.

Entering your own formula for displaying available covers: changes
to the EC10
Displays “Available” cover required in some markets.
All the current features of the EC10 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 num-
ber 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 EC10 will funcon straight out of the box exactly as they
do now and this feature will have no eect, unless acvated.
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 plate-
meter 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.
8

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
9

10
Entering Your Own Formula
To enter your own cover equaon or one that may have been recommended by a
third party, such as your consultant or Dexcel or Meat & Wool, do the following:
1. While the EC10 is switched on hold down the “MENU” buon. The display
reads: “F--d”. Press the UP arrow once to change the “d” (default to “c”
(custom). Press “Enter” and the display will show the rst gure of the current
“add” equaon and may look like this: “0_ _ _”. This is the rst of two numbers
you will enter. The rst number is the equaon “add” number and the second the
“mulply” number. e.g. in the equaon above, the number (115) is the “mulply”
number and (850) is the “add” number.
2. The “add” number is 4 digits long and can range from 0 - 9999. This
must be entered rst. Starng with the rst digit, press the “Up” arrow to
change this digit to a value from 0 - 9. Press the “Enter” buon when this is
correct. Repeat the process unl all four digits have been entered. The display
then changes to the “mulply” number, which has only 3 gures.
3. The “mulply” number can range from 0 - 199. The rst digit will appear as 0 or
1. Press the “Up” arrow buon to change this digit to the desired value from 0 - 9.
Press the “Enter” buon when it is correct. (850 for example would be entered as
0850.) The next digit displayed will be whatever gure is part of the old formula.
Use the “Up” arrow to change it, or just press “Enter” if it is correct. Repeat this
process unl all 4 digits have been entered. The display then changes to the
“mulply” number, which has only 3 gures.
4. The “mulply” number can range from 0 - 199. The rst digit will appear as 0
or 1. Press the “Up” arrow buon to change this digit to the desired value of 0 or
1. Press the “Enter” buon when it is correct and the next digit will appear. The
last two digits can have values from 0 - 9. Repeat this process unl all digits are
entered and press the “Enter” buon for the display to return to its normal state.
Your new formula is now acve and saved to memory.
As manufacturers we can only give broad guidelines with regard to the formula to
use.

11
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 EC10 can save recorded average height readings to a specic paddock number
which can be selected on the EC10. These readings can then be downloaded via
the mini USB cable from the EC10 and aligned with your paddocks in “walk order”

12
How to take paddock readings:
Switch the unit on via the on/o switch at the back of the counter.1.
If starng the rst paddock ensure the EC10 does not contain any old data. 2.
Press and hold the “Reset” buon unl display changes to 0. (There will
be two short beeps.) Press and hold the “Menu” buon. Press the arrow
buon twice unl “P CL” appears (paddock clear). Press “Enter”. All recorded
paddock data will be set to 0.
Press and hold the “Enter” buon. You will see “E_ _ 1.” Scroll the numbers 3.
upwards using the arrow buon. If you want to scroll back, hold the “Count”
buon while briey pressing the “Arrow” buon. The screen will go blank.
The arrow (on its own) will scroll the numbers backwards. Press “Enter” at
the paddock number you want to record. The paddock number will now be
set. Check any me by pressing “Disp”.
Walk across the paddock taking readings every few paces. Every me a 4.
reading is stored a beep will sound. The kg/DM/ha is immediately recalculated
and displayed. Depending on the variance exisng in the cover, the number
of samples - or “plonks” - taken should range between 20 and 40 per paddock.
There will be 3 short beeps aer compleon of 29 plonks, and one long beep
at 30 plonks. This is recommended as the minimum number of readings to
be taken. Plonks should be taken on a regular basis - say every ve paces - to
even out any variaons. Avoid stockcamp areas, tracks or uncharacterisc
areas. The greater the variability of your paddocks, the higher number of
plonks you should take.
Switch the unit o whilst negoang obstacles - fences or creeks so that no 5.
readings are taken if the plate moves. (All data recorded so far is saved.) Once
on the other side of the obstacle switch the unit back on and connue taking
readings. UNDO feature: If you make a mistake while taking readings turn
the unit o and hold down the reset buon as you turn it back on. The word
“UNDO” will display in the LCD window and the previous DM/kg reading will
be displayed. The count will also be one less. Carry on taking readings from
this point.
Once the paddock walk is completed hold the “Reset” buon. The Average 6.
height of the paddocks will display rst, which is then saved to memory under
that paddock number. A small triangle icon will appear in the top le hand
corner indicang that paddock now contains data. The EC10 will also be reset
to zero ready for the next paddock.

13
Repeat steps 3 to 6 unl all the paddocks are complete.7.
Saved paddock data and paddock numbers can be viewed at any me by 8.
pressing the arrow key. The display will rst show the paddock number and
the average height that was recorded. Pressing the arrow key again will show
the next paddock with data in it. Once the last recorded paddock is displayed
the EC10 will beep and return to the normal display.
You can escape the paddock display funcon at any me by pressing “Disp”.

How to take paddock readings - step by step instrucons
Height
Reset
Count
Menu
Disp
Enter
Disp
Enter
Count
Menu
Disp
Enter
Height
Reset
Press & hold “reset” buon to clear any old data
Press & hold the “menu” buon
Press the arrow buon twice unl p cl (paddock clear) shows on the
display
Press & hold the “enter” buon. E _ _ 1 will show on the display
Press the arrow buon to scroll upwards
To scroll backwards hold the “count” buon
and briey press the arrow buon
start “plonking”
To save the data hold the “reset” buon. An arrow will show
up on the top le corner indicang that the paddock has data
stored in it
Press “enter” and all data will be deleted
+
To select the paddock press “enter”
14

15
Instrucons for downloading your platemeter soware
Load soware onto computer.
Connect USB cable to computer and to
the EC10. Aach cable to counter.

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