Netafim FROSTIE Manual

GUIDE BOOK
FROSTIE
FROST FIGHTING
CONTROLLER

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction 3
How the Display and Buttons Work 4
The Humidity Menu - monitoring the humidity 5
The Dew Point Menu - monitoring the dew point 6
The Temperature Menu - monitoring the temperature 7
The Log Menu - displaying the Event Log 8
The Hourly Statistics Log 10
The Time Menu - setting the time 11
Error Messages 12
Installing FROSTIE - Placement and Mounting 13
Connecting to FROSTIE 14
Installing Batteries 15
How to install and use FROSTIE 16
Overview 16
Installation for FROSTIE 17
FROSTIE Settings 18
The FROSTIE Alarm Menu - monitor and set-up the alarm 19
FROSTIE Alarm Status Display 20
Testing the FROSTIE installation 21
Routine Maintenance, Care and Cleaning 21
Event Log Table 22
Notes 22
3

INTROduCTION
Every year growers suffer crop damage due to relatively brief extremes of temperature and humidity. Frost damage occurs at low
temperature, when leaf cells freeze and rupture. Heaters or sprinklers may be installed to protect against extremes, but are useless
if not activated in time, and costly and counter-productive if used unnecessarily.
FROSTIE automates the task of monitoring temperature and humidity. When FROSTIE preset thresholds are crossed, FROSTIE
raises an alarm. The alarm may use a solenoid or relay output to activate sprinklers, heaters or other protective equipment. FROSTIE
features:
■High accuracy, high stability temperature sensor
■Integrated humidity sensor shielded from rain and sunlight
■Pulse output to switch 2 or 3 wire DC solenoid or relay
■Configurable alarm temperature settings
■Logging for up to 20 alarm events, with time/date stamps
■Weatherproof enclosure with sealed cable entry
■High contrast display and large buttons
■Long operating life on ordinary alkaline AA batteries
■Hourly log of min & max temperature and humidity for last 24 hours
This manual describes how to install, configure and use FROSTIE. Take time now to familiarise yourself with all its features and
settings. Read the entire manual before installing or using FROSTIE. There is space at the end of the manual to record details of your
installation.
4

HOw THE dISpLAy ANd BuTTONS wORk
FROSTIE’s screens are collected into eight menus, shown below the display: Humidity, Dew point, Temperature, Alarm, Log, Time,
Date and Battery.
NORmALLy yOu wILL BE AT THE TOp OF ONE OF THE mENuS:
Display icon points to bullet to show which menu you are looking at
(flashes other menus if something important is happening) Display shows information relevant to the menu
ENTER enter into the menu to access its screens and settings
EXIT usually does nothing
and take you to the previous or next menu
To previous menu To next menu
Humid Dew Temp Alarm Log Time Date Batt
wHILE INSIdE A mENu:
Display icon is off. (May flash is important things are happening) Display shows a screen of relevant information or a user setting
ENTER takes you to the next screen in the menu
EXIT exits the menu
and changes settings with each press (or hold to auto-repeat)
Display icon
5

THE HumIdITy mENu - mONITORING THE HumIdITy
At any given temperature, air can contain a certain maximum amount of moisture as water vapour, called the saturation content.
Relative humidity is the percentage of moisture in the air compared to the saturation content at the same temperature. When
humidity reaches 100%, moisture condenses and dew or frost forms.
FROSTIE measures humidity once each minute. Running high and low records are maintained, which may be cleared manually at
any time.
The Humidity menu displays the current humidity:
Press ENTER to access the other screens in the Humidity menu:
Lowest Humidity:
Press and at the same time to clear the lowest value (sets it to the current humidity) Press ENTER to move to the next screen.
Highest Humidity:
Press and at the same time to clear the highest value (sets it to the current humidity) Press ENTER or EXIT when finished.
6

THE dEw pOINT mENu - mONITORING THE dEw pOINT
Cooling a body of air reduces the amount of moisture it can contain (saturation content) which in turn increases the relative humidity.
Dew point is the temperature at which the humidity would reach saturation (100%). It is an absolute measure of the moisture content
of the air, and is independent of the air temperature.
A dew point below 0º is referred to as a frost point, because moisture condenses as ice rather than liquid water at that temperature.
This term is not directly related to crop frost damage or to the temperature at which FROSTIE’s alarm is activated.
FROSTIE calculates the Dew point from the temperature and humidity, which are measured once each minute. Running high and low
records are maintained, which may be cleared manually at any time.
The Dew point menu displays the current dew point (frost point):
Current frost point:
Press ENTER to access the other screens in the Dew point menu:
Lowest Dew point:
Press and at the same time to clear the lowest value (sets it to the current dew point) Press ENTER to move to the next
screen.
Highest Dew point:
Press and at the same time to clear the highest value (sets it to the current dew point) Press ENTER or EXIT when finished.
OR
Current dew point:
7

THE TEmpERATuRE mENu - mONITORING THE TEmpERATuRE
Temperature is measured once each minute. Running high and low records are maintained, which may be cleared manually at any
time.
The Temperature menu displays the current temperature:
Press ENTER to access the other screens in the Temperature menu:
Lowest temperature:
Press and at the same time to clear the lowest value (sets to the current temperature.) Press ENTER to move to the next
screen.
Highest temperature:
Press and at the same time to clear the highest value (set to the current temperature.) Press ENTER to move to the next
screen.
Set temperature units:
Press and to switch Celsius / Fahrenheit.
All temperatures will be displayed in this unit Press ENTER or EXIT when finished.
8

THE LOG mENu - dISpLAyING THE EvENT LOG
The event log keeps a list of periods during which the alarm output was turned on automatically. It also stores the temperature and
humidity that were measured at the start of the alarm period.
FROSTIE can be left running unattended for long periods. Every so often, the log should be checked for any alarms that occurred since
the last time it was inspected. Events can be noted in a table like the one on page 23
Start date Start time Duration Temperature Relative
Humidity
31/05/06 5:42 am 4:30 5.37ºC 35 %
Once the events have been noted, the log can be emptied ready to accumulate new events. FROSTIE can hold up to 20 events. If
more than 20 events accumulate, the oldest ones are overwritten first.
TO CLEAR THE LOG:
Go to the Log menu and hold down the EXIT button for 3 seconds to clear all events from the log.
Number of events
Hold EXIT for 3 seconds
9

Number of events:
Press or to show the previous
or next event. The event number is shown
while pressed.
TO REAd THE EvENT LOG:
1. Press EXIT and go to the Log menu.
2. Press ENTER to read the event date, time, duration,
temp, humidity.
3. Press ENTER to select the next event.
4. Repeat from step 2, until all the events have been read.
5. Press EXIT.
10
Press ENTER
Press ENTER
Press ENTER
Press ENTER
Press ENTER
Press ENTER
Start date:
Start time:
Event Duration:
Start temperature:
Event number:
Press ENTER
(next event)
Start humidity:

THE HOuRLy STATISTICS LOG
FROSTIE maintains an Hourly Statistics Log covering the last 24 hours which contains the minimum and maximum values of
temperature and humidity for each hour. To access the Hourly Statistics Log, go to the normal Log menu and hold down the ENTER
button for 3 seconds. The Hourly Statistics Log always starts with the current hour.
Statistics log (24 Hr mode): Statistics log (12 Hr mode):
Lowest temperature for the relevant hour.
(“Lo” flashes if you are at the current hour.) Press ENTER to move to the
next display.
Highest temperature for the relevant hour.
(“Hi” flashes if you are at the current hour.) Press ENTER to move to the
next display.
Lowest humidity for the relevant hour.
(“Lo” flashes if you are at the current hour.) Press ENTER to move to the
next display.
Highest humidity for the relevant hour.
(“Hi” flashes if you are at the current hour.) Press ENTER to move to the
previous hour.
Press or to select the hour that you are
interested in. (“StAt” flashes if you are at the current hour.)
Press ENTER to view the stats.
11
Hourly Statistics
for 3PM.
Minimum Temperature:
Maximum Temperature:
Minimum Humidity:
Maximum Humidity:

THE TImE mENu - SETTING THE TImE
The Time menu displays the current time:
Press ENTER to access the other screens in the Time menu: Time format:
Set time:
The Date Menu - setting the date
The Date menu displays the current date:
Press ENTER to access the other screens in the Date menu: Date format:
Set date:
12
Press or to choose 12 or 24 hour mode.
FROSTIE will use this format whenever it displays a time. Press ENTER to continue.
Use or to change the flashing number.
Press ENTER to move to the next field. Press EXIT when finished.
Press or to change the date format.
FROSTIE will use this format whenever it displays a date. Press ENTER to continue.
Use or to change the flashing number.
Press ENTER to move to the next field. Press EXIT when finished.

ERROR mESSAGES
Press any button to clear an error message from the display.
Low battery warning
The low battery warning message appears when the batteries are dangerously low. They should be replaced as soon as possible.
Solenoid short circuit
The short circuit error message appears when a short circuit across the solenoid wiring terminals is detected during firing. Check the
connections, wiring and insulation. Check the output device setting (Solenoid / Relay / AquaNet) is correct (eg. as shown on page 17).
Once the short circuit is removed, test the operation of the solenoid (eg. as described on page 17).
Solenoid open circuit
The open circuit error message appears when an open circuit across the solenoid wiring terminals is detected during firing. Check the
connections, wiring and insulation. Check the output device setting (Solenoid / Relay / AquaNet) is correct (eg. as shown on page 17).
Once the open circuit is removed, test the operation of the solenoid (eg. as described on page 17).
Charge failure
The charge failure message indicates that FROSTIE was unable to build up enough charge to reliably fire the solenoid. This may occur
as a result of very flat batteries. Replace the batteries and test the operation of the solenoid (eg. as described on page 17).
13

INSTALLING FROSTIE - pLACEmENT ANd mOuNTING
FROSTIE should be installed so that it experiences the same temperature and humidity as the plants. Ideally, mount FROSTIE onto
a pole near or amongst the plants in the field, out in the open with plenty of free air-flow around the unit. FROSTIE can be exposed
to full weather, but would ideally be in a lightly shaded location (or would have a small roof over it) to prevent the temperature and
humidity readings being affected by direct sunshine, rain and frost. Position FROSTIE away from sprinklers and heat sources such as
motors, water pipes, lights, direct or reflected sunlight, etc. Temperature and humidity sensors are on the bottom of the unit,
surrounded by a metal cylinder for extra protection from direct sunlight and rain and damage.
Avoid installing the unit close to the ground as heavy rain could cause mud to be spattered up over the sensors.
FROSTIE is designed to be mounted to a metal plate on a pole using four screws or bolts (M4 or M5, or #8 self-tapping). Do not drill
holes in the FROSTIE case! Drill four suitable holes in the mounting plate with centres at the corners of a rectangle 106.0 mm wide
x 65.5 mm high. Then use a small flathead screwdriver to gently lever off the two cover strips to the left and right of FROSTIE’s front
panel. Loosen all four posidrive screws and then open FROSTIE - there are hinges on the right side. (The mounting holes are in the
back panel, but the hinges cover two of the holes.) Remove the plastic hinges from the back panel by loosening the small screws
using a small Philips screwdriver and then gently pulling up on the hinges. (If the hinges appear stuck, loosen the screws further and
try again.) Mount to the plate using the four holes in the back panel, then put the hinges back in and retighten their screws. You are
now ready to continue with installation.
INSTALLATION CHECkLIST
!Read the entire manual
!Connect the output (eg. solenoid) Page 14
!Install AA batteries and set the date and time Page 15
!Test the output works properly (on and off) Page 17
!Make all relevant settings
!Set the alarm to automatic operation
!Test the system
!Clear the Log Page 8
!Record details of your equipment and your settings
14

CONNECTING TO FROSTIE
Digital inputs Solenoid contacts Relay contacts
Two-wire solenoids use only the Red and Black terminals, and the White (common) is left empty. Three-wire solenoids use all three
terminals. FROSTIE does not use the Digital inputs.
The cable passes through the gland on the side of the case, which is sealed with a cap to protect the circuit board from dust and
moisture.
1. Unscrew and remove the lid of the case.
2. Remove the gland cap and slide it onto the solenoid cable.
3. Feed the solenoid or relay cable through the gland into the case.
4. Locate the relevant screw terminals on the circuit board.
5. Connect the leads as shown above and tighten the screw terminals.
6. Slide the gland cap onto the gland and tighten it.
7. Install batteries (see page 15).
8. Set and test the solenoid / relay output device (see page 17).
9. Replace the lid and tighten the screws to seal the case.
ln1-
ln1+
ln2-
ln2+
COM
CLS
OPN
White (com)
Black (close)
Red (open)
15

INSTALLING BATTERIES
Insert two AA-size long-life alkaline batteries into the battery holder, ensuring that the +/- polarity of each battery matches the markings
inside the holder. FROSTIE will then start up.
When FROSTIE starts it displays “Frostie2” for five seconds, then it starts operating. It then prompts you to set the date format, the
date and the time (see page 11) so that any new log entries will have the correct details.
THE BATTERy mENu - CHECkING THE BATTERIES
To check the battery level, press the or key until the display changes to the battery menu, as illustrated below. Note: it may be
necessary to press EXIT to exit another menu before you can change to the battery menu..
Full batteries: Low batteries: Empty batteries:
If you hold down the EXIT button, FROSTIE will display its version:
uSING AN ExTERNAL pOwER SuppLy
If you are using a FROSTIE expansion board (eg. the ten output sequencer card) then FROSTIE expects to get its power from an
external power supply via the expansion board. FROSTIE monitors the power supply and displays the “A.C. FAIL” error message if
the external power supply is insufficient or not present. The battery display continues to monitor the battery level, but it also displays
“A.C.” when the external supply is working.
Using A.C. supply (and it is working)
It is strongly recommended that you still install batteries in FROSTIE so that data is not lost if the power supply fails: FROSTIE will only
use the battery if the external power fails or when the standard outputs turn on or off.
16

HOw TO INSTALL ANd uSE FROSTIE
OvERvIEw
Frost damage occurs at low temperature, when leaf cells freeze and rupture. Humidity is also a major factor because the rate of
evaporation of moisture from the plants increases as humidity decreases; this evaporation chills the plant below the air temperature
and so the plant suffers frost damage at a higher temperature. FROSTIE compensates for this chill factor.
Heaters or sprinklers may be installed to protect against frost damage. Frost sprinklers protect plants by covering the leaves in sheets
of ice. Once frost sprinklers have been turned on, they should be kept on until the sun has melted all the ice from the plants. If not,
the temperature of the ice and the leaves can quickly drop below the plant cell freezing point, perhaps causing more frost damage
than if no protective sprinkling had been applied.
In automatic alarm mode, the alarm has two configurable timers that set the minimum amount of time for which the alarm output
will stay on and off.
The output will only change after a timer stops running and then only when alarm conditions change - it does not use the timers to
turn on, off, on, etc while the alarm condition prevails. The on timer ensures the plants receive at least a specified amount of heat/
sprinkling. The off timer ensures the plants and the heaters/sprinklers get a minimum rest between activation.
When operating heaters, the alarm On and Off times should be set to some small period, but large enough to prevent the heaters
from being turned on and off too frequently. When operating frost sprinklers, the alarm On time should be set to a long period,
perhaps 12 hours, to prevent interruption to water flow and to ensure the sprinklers do not turn off automatically before the crop has
been inspected. (Once frost sprinklers have been turned on, they should be kept on until the sun has melted all the ice from the
plants.) After the ice has melted, the sprinklers can be turned off manually - set the alarm mode to Off, then set it back to Auto ready
for the next frost event.
The alarm has configurable temperature hysteresis. This puts a gap between the alarm off temperature and the alarm on temperature,
so that the alarm output stays on long enough to have a measurable effect, rather than rapidly turning on and off. The alarm timers are
usually more effective for this purpose, so set hysteresis to zero unless you specifically need hysteresis.
17

INSTALLATION FOR FROSTIE
First you must put FROSTIE into FROSTIE mode:
Go to the Alarm menu and hold down the EXIT button for at least 3 seconds.
FROSTIE will display its current mode and will allow you to change it:
FROSTIE mode: HeatGARD mode: Dual HeatGARD mode
If necessary, Use or buttons to set FROSTIE to FROSTIE mode:
After setting FROSTIE mode, press ENTER to view the current output
device. Use the or buttons to change it. Press ENTER when done.
Note: the Aquanet setting is for solenoids which require more time than usual to activate. This setting will consume more battery
power.
Testing the Alarm Output Device (solenoid or relay)
1. Go to the Alarm menu and press the ENTER button. FROSTIE will display its current alarm mode: Off, Auto, or On.
2. To change alarm modes, hold down the or button for three seconds, until the new alarm mode display stops flashing.
Alarm Output Off: Alarm Auto mode: Alarm Output On:
3. Swap between On mode and Off mode to force the alarm output to turn on or off. (It may take many seconds to build up enough
charge to fire the output on or off, during which time you can press the EXIT button to watch the charge voltage as it reaches 12V.
Then repeat from step 2.)
4. If FROSTIE detects a wiring problem when firing the solenoid, it will display one of the error messages described on page 12. If
so, check all connections or it might be necessary to change the Output Device (as shown above). Repeat testing until satisfied.
18

FROSTIE SETTINGS
To configure the FROSTIE alarm settings:
1. Ensure that the Frost alarm is chosen, as shown on page 17.
2. Make sure you read and understand the Overview on page 16.
3. Go to the Alarm menu and press ENTER to skip the Alarm Status.
4. Press ENTER again to skip the Alarm mode.
5. Choose an alarm Air temperature that is just above the freezing point of your crop.
(eg. if damage occurs at -0.5 C and you desire a 1.0 C
safety margin, set the alarm Air temperature to 0.5 C.) Press or to set the alarm Air temperature. Press ENTER.
6. Choose an alarm Chill factor that matches the greatest temperature difference between the air and the plant cells, which will occur
under dry conditions where evaporation is most rapid. (eg. a crop might become 7.5 C cooler than the air at 0% humidity, so the
Chill factor would be set to 7.5 C. In our example this means that in very dry conditions the alarm will turn on at 8.0 C (0.5 +
7.5)). Press or to set the alarm Chill factor. Press ENTER.
Alarm temperature vs. humidity, for Air = 0.5 C, Chill = 7.5 C:
9.0
8.0
7.0
6.0
5.0
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
0.0
0 20 40 60 80 100
Humidity (%)
7. Set the alarm output On time. Press or to choose from the built-in time periods (in hours and minutes). Note: set to “0.00"
to make the output turn off as soon as the alarm ends. Press ENTER.
8. Similarly, press or to set the alarm Off time. Press ENTER.
9. Press or to set the temperature hysteresis. Press ENTER.
Temperature Celsius degrees
19
8.0
0.5
Alarm off
Frost alarm on

THE FROSTIE ALARm mENu - mONITOR ANd SET-up THE ALARm
The FROSTIE Alarm menu displays the FROSTIE alarm status. See next page for more information on the FROSTIE Alarm Status
display.
Hold EXIT to change alarm mode or to change output device. See page 17.
Press ENTER to access the other screens in the FROSTIE Alarm menu:
Hold or until the flashing stops to change alarm mode.
Press ENTER to move to the next screen.
Use or to set the frost temperature that will trigger an alarm.
Press ENTER to move to the next screen.
Use or to set the worst-case chill factor (the amount the plant temperature
drops below air temp at 0% humidity). Press ENTER to move to the next screen.
Use or to select a suitable alarm On time (in hrs.mins). Guarantees the
output stays on for at least this long. Press ENTER to move to the next screen.
Use or to select a suitable alarm Off time (in hrs.mins). Guarantees the
output stays off for at least this long. Press ENTER to move to the next screen.
Use or to set the temperature hysteresis. Temperature must improve
by this amount before alarm will cancel. Press ENTER to exit the Alarm menu.
20
Alarm Mode:
Frost Air temperature:
Frost Chill factor:
Minimum On time:
Minimum Off time:
Temperature hysteresis: