Manual Norac UC3 2004 446BC-MAN2d

7/25/2019 Manual Norac UC3 2004 446BC-MAN2d

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UC3

Sprayer Boom Control

Operators Manual

2004

Canada

NORAC Systems International Inc.CALL TOLL FREE: 1-800-667-3921

(306) 664-6711SHIPPING ADDRESS:

3702 Kinnear PlaceSaskatoon, SK

S7P 0A6

United States

NORAC, Inc.CALL TOLL FREE: 1-866-306-6722

(952) 224-4142SHIPPING ADDRESS:

6667 West Old Shakopee Rd., Suite 111Bloomington, MN

55438

For other service locations please view our website:

www.norac.ca

Improving the Competitiveness of Industry and Agriculture

through Precision Measurement


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Printed in Canada

Copyright 2004 NORAC Systems International Inc.

Reorder P/N: 446BC-MAN2 Revision D

NOTICENORAC Systems International Inc. reserves the right to improve products

and their specifications without notice and without the requirement to update

products sold previously. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy

of the information contained in this manual. The technical information in this

manual was reviewed at the time of approval for publication.


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Table of Contents

1 INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................... 1

2 CHECK YOUR SOFTWARE VERSION ............................................................. 1

3 OPERATOR SAFETY ............................................................................................ 2

4 GENERAL SYSTEM DESCRIPTION .................................................................. 4

4.1 INSTALLATION ....................................................................................... 5

4.2 SENSORS ................................................................................................ 5

4.3 POWER CABLE ....................................................................................... 7

4.4 SENSOR CABLES .................................................................................... 8

4.5 CONTROL PANEL ................................................................................... 8

4.6 REMOTE CONTROLS............................................................................ 105 SYSTEM OPERATION ........................................................................................ 11

5.1 TYPICAL

OPERATION

........................................................................... 115.1.1 Using the Toggle Switches .......................................................... 13

5.1.2 Change to Automatic or Manual Mode....................................... 13

5.1.3 Adjust the Target Height (Setpoint) ............................................ 14

5.1.4 View the Actual Boom Height ..................................................... 14

5.1.5 Change the Sensitivity of the System (SENSI) ............................. 14

5.1.6 Change Between SOIL and CROP mode .................................... 14

5.2 UNDERSTANDING PERFORMANCE ISSUES............................................ 16

5.3 UNDERSTANDING CROP MODE ............................................................ 19

5.4 MENUNAVIGATION............................................................................. 215.4.1 Normal Operating Screen ........................................................... 21

5.4.2 Main Menu Overview .................................................................. 22

5.4.3 Menu Structure Map ................................................................... 236 SYSTEM CONFIGURATION ............................................................................. 24

6.1 INITIAL POWER UP.............................................................................. 24

6.2 INSTALL ............................................................................................... 24

6.3 RETUNE ............................................................................................... 25

6.4 AUTOMATICSYSTEMSETUP ....................................................... 26

6.5 MANUALSYSTEMSETUP ............................................................. 406.5.1 Setting Up Sensors ...................................................................... 40

6.5.2 Setting Up Hydraulic Valves ....................................................... 42

6.5.3 Turning Booms OFF or ON ........................................................ 46

6.5.4 "Other ?" SETUP Options .......................................................... 46

6.5.5 "Other ?" SENSOR Options ........................................................ 477 MAINTENANCE ................................................................................................... 49

8 TROUBLE SHOOTING ....................................................................................... 51

8.1 POWER SUPPLY................................................................................... 52

8.2 SENSOR............................................................................................... 52

8.3 REMOTE SWITCH ................................................................................. 54

8.4 HYDRAULIC ......................................................................................... 54

8.5 CONTROL PANEL ................................................................................. 55

8.6 OTHER................................................................................................. 559 STATEMENT OF LIMITED WARRANTY ....................................................... 56


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1 IntroductionCongratulations on your purchase of the Norac UC3 automated sprayer boom

height control system. The system is manufactured with top quality

components and is engineered using the latest technology to provide

operating features and reliability unmatched for years to come.

When properly used the system can provide protection from sprayer boom

damage, improve sprayer efficiency, and ensure chemicals are applied

correctly.

Please take the time to read this manual completely through before attempting

to use the system. Although the UC3 has been designed for easy set up and

use, a thorough understanding of this manual will ensure that you receive the

maximum benefit from the system. If you have any questions or commentsregarding the operation of the UC3 please contact Norac at any of the

numbers below. If you require service, phone us or visit our web site for the

location of the Norac Service center nearest to you.

Phone (toll free):

1-800-667-3921 in Canada

1-866-306-6722 in the United States

1-306-664-6711 all other regions

E-mail: [email protected]

Web Site: www.norac.ca

2 Check Your Software Version

The information in this manual applies to systems with Version 3N(version 3 revision N) or later UC3 control panel software. When the panel is

turned on, the software version and revision will be displayed for a few

seconds. If your panel does not display a version when it is turned on, your

software is Version 1 (all revisions).

All UC3 panels can have their software upgraded for a nominal fee. It is

recommended that all panels with earlier software be updated to the current

software version. Contact your local dealer or Norac for more information.


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3 Operator Safety

**************** DANGER ****************

1. Always ensure that the UC3 system is powered down orin Manual Mode:

before leaving the operators seat;

while the machine is not moving;

or when transporting the machine;

2. Under no circumstances should any service work beperformed on the machinery while the UC3 system is in

the Automatic Mode.

3. Before working on any part of the booms the followingaction must be taken:

set the UC3 system to Manual Mode using theAUTO/MAN switch;

turn the sprayers engine off.

4. Do not operate this machine before:

reading & understanding the operator's manual;

gaining a thorough understanding of how toconduct machine operations.

5. To show technical details of the machine some figures inthis manual may show safety shields removed. Never

operate this machine with any safety devices removed ordisconnected.

6. The UC3 system will greatly improve your sprayingheight accuracy and protect the boom against damage in

a wide variety of field conditions.

Under some circumstances performance may be limited.

The OPERATOR of the sprayer must remain ALERT atall times and override the automatic control when

necessary. Refer to the warranty statement in Section 9

for more details.

**************** DANGER ****************


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4 General System DescriptionFigure 1 shows the general layout of the UC3 Boom Control system. The

function of each of the major system components is described in this section.

RIGHT SENSOR (RO)LEFT SENSOR (LO)

OPTIONAL

CENTER

SENSOR (ML)

JUNCTION BOX

or BRANCH

CONNECTION

SENSOR BRACKET

OPTIONAL

SENSOR (LI)OPTIONAL

SENSOR (RI)

CONTROL BOX

POWER CABLE

SENSOR CABLE

OPTIONAL

SENSOR (MR)

LEFT SENSOR (LO)

OPTIONAL CENTER

SENSOR (ML)

OPTIONAL

SENSOR (LI)

RIGHT SENSOR (RO)

OPTIONAL

SENSOR (RI)

OPTIONAL ROLL

SENSOR (MR)

Figure 1. System Components and General Location


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4.1 Installation

For proper installation of the UC3 boom control system please refer to the

installation manual for your model of sprayer.

4.2 Sensors

Two sensors are provided with your UC3 boom control kit. The sensors use

ultrasound to measure the distance to the ground, or the top of the crop. A

minimum of two sensors can be used to achieve control of the left and right

booms. These sensors are mounted on the outer sections of each boom with

the mounting brackets provided (see Figure 2).

ULTRASONIC

SENSOR

MOUNTING

BRACKET

Figure 2 UC3 Sensor and Mounting Bracket


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Norac ultrasonic sensors are designed to work best in the brackets provided

(shown above). If you decide to use a different style of sensor mount you

may limit the performance of the sensor and/or void your warranty.

Further, it is important to follow the guidelines in the Installation Manual

provided with your kit for mounting the sensors. The sensors should be at

least 9 inches above and 9 inches in front of the spray nozzles.

The optional center sensor is very useful for setting your initial spray height

when you begin a field. It is true that the center height will not change

much, in consistent soil conditions, since both ends of the main boom

follow the height of the power unit. However, it is extremely difficult to

accurately judge the booms actual height from the cab. It is also normally

quite difficult for the operator to see the center section nozzles. It is

common for operators to be in error from 8 to 12 inches or more. How

often does your operator check nozzle height with a tape measure? The

UC3 panel will give you an actual height reading in the cab, and allow

active control to the desired height.

Another good reason for the main boom sensor is that soil conditions

change along with the weight of the machine. As the level of fluid in the

tank of the sprayer changes throughout the day and soil conditions vary, the

height of the center boom will change because of the amount the tires sink

into the soil. To ensure proper chemical application, a center sensor maybe mounted as in Figure 3 to control the main boom (center mast) height.

OPTIONAL CENTER SENSOR

Figure 3 Soft Conditions Center Sensor Required

For large boom or severe terrain applications, an additional sensor may be

mounted near the midpoint of each boom to obtain an average height reading.

The average height reading will provide improved height control over the

length of the boom, and protect the boom in severe terrain conditions (see

Figure 4).


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POSSIBLE CRASH

WITHOUT ADDITIONAL SENSORS

CRASH AVOIDED

WITH ADDITIONAL SENSORS

Figure 4 Severe Terrain Additional Sensors Required

On sprayer models with center frame roll capability, an optional sensor can be

added to automatically adjust the amount of roll of the entire boom. Addition

of this sensor to the UC3 system can greatly improve the speed and stability

of the control action. Contact Norac for more information on the availabilityof roll control for your sprayer model.

Figure 5 Roll Control of the Center Frame

4.3 Power Cable

The power cable supplies 12 volt D.C. negative ground power to the

control panel and the sensors. The system will function properly with a

supply between 11 and 28 volts and may draw up to 10 amperes duringnormal operation.

The control panel contains intelligent valve drive circuitry that helps to

protect the system against short circuits and other wiring problems.

However, it is still recommended to connect the UC3 power cable to a

fused supply, that turns on and off with the ignition key of the

sprayer/tractor.


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4.4 Sensor Cables

The ultrasound sensors are connected to the control panel via sensor cables.

A "trunk" cable runs from the panel to the sprayer boom. There, a standard

"branch" cable allows for connection of the two standard boom sensors and

an optional center sensor (refer to Figure 6). Another optional branch cableis required to connect additional sensors.

WING SENSOR

(LO OR RO)

OPTIONAL CENTER

SENSOR (ML)

WING SENSOR

(LO OR RO)

CONNECTS TO

SENSOR TRUNK CABLE

Figure 6 Branch Cable

4.5 Control Panel

The control panel is the main component of the UC3 system because itregulates the operation of the entire system. The panel uses the readings

from the ultrasonic sensors to control solenoid operated valves (usually

hydraulic), that in turn adjust the boom height. The control panel will:

(1) indicate when the system is in automatic or manual mode,(2) indicate any hydraulic action which is underway, and(3) accept input to adjust all control system settings.

The front face of the control panel is shown in Figure 7. This section gives

a general description of each item shown on the control panel.


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CONTROL

SETUP

SENSORDISPLAY

BOOM

MANUAL

+ AUTO

UC3LCD SCREEN

+/- SWITCH

AUTO/MANUAL

SWITCH

SENSOR DISPLAY

/SETUP SWITCH

POWER SWITCH

(YES)

(NO)

Figure 7 UC3 Control Panel

4.5.1 LCD Screen

During normal operation, the LCD screen will show the status of the

system and allow you to examine or change settings. All settings for the

UC3 system are stored in cyclic menus. This type of menu allows the userto access each menu entry by progressively toggling the appropriate switch.

For example, each toggle of the SETUP switch will advance the user to the

next item in the SETUP menu.

4.5.2 SENSOR DISPLAY/SETUP Switch (NO)

Pressing UP on the SENSOR DISPLAY / SETUP switch will access the

SENSOR DISPLAY menu. This menu provides information about the

sensors. Pressing DOWN on the SENSOR DISPLAY / SETUP switch willaccess the SETUP menu. This menu provides options and settings

regarding the UC3 system parameters.

Toggling this switch in the SETUP direction also provides the alternate

function "NO". In some instances the control panel may prompt the

operator with a question that requires a yes or no response. To answer no

in these situations toggle the switch toward the word "NO".

For a more detailed description of the SENSOR DISPLAY / SETUP

menus, see Section 5.4 - Menu Navigation.

4.5.3 The +/- switch

Use the +/- switch to change various settings in each of the SETUP and

SENSOR DISPLAY menus. For a numeric entry, each click of the switch

towards the + direction will increase the setting while each click towards


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the direction will decrease the setting. If the switch is held, the number

will continue to automatically increase or decrease. The rate of change will

increase with the time you are holding the switch.

If the selections for the menu item are to be picked from a list, this switch

will present the next selection in the list. When in AUTO mode use thisswitch to modify the control height set point.

Not all menus allow the user to change the setting with the +/- toggle

switch. Some screens are only for informational purposes. In a menu

where a setting cannot be changed, the +/- toggle switch is ignored.

4.5.4 AUTO/MANUAL switch (YES)

The UC3 boom control system has two operational modes automatic and

manual. This switch changes the operational mode of the system. Inautomatic mode (AUTO), the control panel will regulate the height of each

boom to a predetermined set point. In manual mode (MANUAL), the

sprayer functions as if no automatic control system is present.

When the system is in AUTO the operator can override automatic control

by operating the manual switches on the sprayer's boom controls (usually a

joystick or multifunction handgrip). If the operator activates the left boom

switch (either up or down) the system will put the left boom into manual

mode.

The AUTO switch also provides the alternate function "YES". In some

instances the control panel may prompt the operator with a question that

requires a yes or no response. To answer yes in these situations toggle the

switch toward the word "YES".

4.5.5 POWER switch

This switch is located on the left side of the panel and is used to turn the

power to the system on or off. For safety reasons, the system always

powers up in manual mode. Consequently it is important to make sure that

the power switch cannot be accidentally bumped during field operation.

4.6 Remote Controls

Remote control of several functions on the UC3 panel is possible. Remote

AUTO and remote MANUAL switches can be wired to the control panel.

This feature allows the operator to control the mode of the UC3 systemfrom an external switch or controller.

A motion inhibit wire is also available that will stop automatic control

actions unless the sprayer indicates that it is in motion. See Section 6.5.4.1

for more information on remote control settings.


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5 System OperationThis section outlines the systems features and controls during basic field

operation. Before you can operate your UC3 system in automatic, it needs

to be configured either automatically or manually. If your panel will allow

automatic mode as shown below, it has been configured. If your panel will

not allow automatic mode, it will attempt to begin or resume automatic

setup. Refer to Section 6 for configuration instructions.

5.1 Typical Operation

The operating screen provides information pertaining to the height and

mode of both booms. Figure 8 shows a typical operating screen.

LEFT BOOM

TARGET HEIGHT

LEFT BOOM VALVE

COMMAND (DOWN)

LEFT BOOM CONTROLMODE (AUTOMATIC)

RIGHT BOOM CONTROL

MODE (MANUAL)

RIGHT BOOM

ACTUAL HEIGHT

Figure 8 Normal Operating Screen

When a boom is in automatic mode, indicated by an "A" in the control

mode portion of the screen, the UC3 panel shows the target boom height.

In manual mode, indicted by an "M" in the control mode portion of the

screen, the UC3 panel shows the current boom height reading.

In both automatic and manual modes the screen will also show arrows to

indicate that the boom is being commanded to move. Table 1 explains

some examples of typical operating screens.


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Table 1 Example Operating Screens

Screen Meaning

36 A 3

Both sides in automatic control, the target boom height

is 36 inches.

36 3

As above, but now the left side is taking correctiveaction, upwards.

36 A

As above, but now the right side is taking corrective

action, downwards.

36 3

As above, but now the main lift (center) is taking

corrective action, downwards. Control mode temporarily

disappears while center is active.

34 M 3

Left boom is in manual control, current actual boom

height is 34 inches. Right boom is in automatic control,the target boom height is 36 inches.

34 M

Left boom is in manual control, the current actual height

is 34 inches. The operator is manually lowering the right

boom, the current actual height is 36 inches.

Table 2 - Special Screens

Minimum

Override

This screen indicates that an attempt has been made to adjust the target

height below the minimum height allowed. Refer to Section 6.5.5.1 for

more information.

SafteyOn

This screen means that the system is inhibiting automatic mode because the

sprayer indicates that it is not ready (not in motion or operator seat switch is

invalid etc). Your system must be wired properly and the sprayer must

have the proper sensors to take advantage of this feature see Section

6.5.4.1 for more information.

>>>>>>>>

>>>>

The control panel is busy with a task that may take a few seconds. Wait for

the arrows to disappear before activating any UC3 toggle switches.


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5.1.1 Using the Toggle Switches

All functions on the UC3 panel are activated using its three toggle switches.

To access either the SENSOR DISPLAY or SETUP menus, make sure you

are at the Normal Operating Screen. Toggle toward the word describing

the menu you wish to access. To adjust the setting of individual menuitems use the +/- switch while the item is displayed.

DISPLAYSENSOR

SETUP MANUAL

+DISPLAYSENSOR

AUTO

UC3BOOM

CONTROL

CONTROL

+

SETUPSETUP

SENSORDISPLAY

MANUAL

AUTO

BOOM

UC3

Menu items will time out and return to the Normal Operating Screen after

30 seconds. If you wish to return to the operating screen sooner, press and

hold the SETUP switch for two seconds. Any new settings will take affect

once the Normal Operating Screen is displayed.

If you wish to lock the sensor height readings on the screen indefinitely,

press the + switch once while viewing the desired sensors. This will

override the timeout feature.

5.1.2 Change to Automatic or Manual Mode

Change the mode from manual to automatic with the AUTO/MANUAL

toggle switch on the UC3 control panel. Make sure you are at the Normal

Operating Screen.

When the system is in manual mode the boom may be controlled as usual

with the boom control switches on the sprayers multifunction handgrip. In

automatic mode, the control system automatically adjusts the height of the

booms to maintain a constant working height.

Further, when the system is in automatic mode, operating the sprayer's left

or right boom control switches will immediately cause that boom to revert

to manual mode. That is, the by using the switches on the sprayersmultifunction hand grip the operator overrides automatic boom height

control on either the left or right side. The AUTO switch must be activated

to return that boom to automatic mode.

The sprayer's main lift switches provide a target height adjustment feature

(see Section 5.1.3). If you press and hold the main up or main down


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switches for more than two seconds, your panel will switch ALL booms

(left, right, main, and roll) to manual mode. This feature provides a

convenient method of switching to manual mode when folding the sprayer

for transport.

5.1.3 Adjust the Target Height (Setpoint)Adjust the target height setting with the +/- switch while in AUTOMATIC

MODE. The smallest target height setting allowed is called the minimum

height override. By default the minimum height settings are 25 inches in

soil mode, and 25 inches in crop mode. See Section 6.5.5.1 to adjust these

settings.

You can also adjust your target height by pressing the sprayer's main lift

control switches. Each press of the up switch will increase the target heightby one inch. Each press of the down switch will decrease the target height

by one inch.

5.1.4 View the Actual Boom Height

Toggle SENSOR DISPLAY to view the actual boom heights. This screen

will show you the left, main (center), and right boom heights. Toggle

SENSOR DISPLAY again to view additional sensors if they are installed.

You can view the height screens in both automatic and manual modes. SeeSection 5.4.2 for more information on the sensor height screens.

5.1.5 Change the Sensitivity of the System (SENSI)

The SENSI setting can be adjusted in both manual and automatic modes.

Toggle SETUP to view the current SENSI setting. While viewing this

screen toggle the +/- switch to adjust the value.

A lower number will reduce the system sensitivity and improve stability.

Increasing the number will speed up the response.

Five is the normal setting. At the start of operation, before the sprayer is

warmed up, a lower SENSI setting may be required for stable control. As

the sprayer warms up, increase the SENSI up until the performance reaches

an optimum level.

Changes in terrain that include driving through ditches and over terraces are

special performance cases. This type of terrain can cause the sprayer to

pitch and roll significantly. See Section 5.2 for a discussion of performance

issues.

5.1.6 Change Between SOIL and CROP mode

The SOIL or CROP setting can be adjusted in both manual and automatic

modes. Toggle the SETUP twice to view the current setting. While viewing

this screen use the +/- switch to change between SOIL and CROP mode.


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5.2 Understanding Performance Issues

Your UC3 height control system will work well in most situations. However,

as with any equipment, it is important that the operator remains alert at all

times. There may be some field and terrain situations where performance isdiminished. In these situations the operator must resume height control of the

booms manually. A discussion of performance issues is given below to help

clarify these situations.

Sensitivity Setting

Your system is configured to work well in most conditions, with warm

hydraulic oil, at a sensitivity of five. When you first begin operation at the

start of a day, it may be necessary to operate at a lower sensitivity until the

oil has reached normal temperature. Keep increasing the SENSI settinguntil the performance is optimized.

Different types of terrain may require different SENSI settings. The SENSI

setting controls more than just response time. It also determines how

accurately the system will try to correct for height errors. The higher the

sensitivity the higher the accuracy. At low sensitivity a few inches of error

will be tolerated. At high sensitivity, virtually no error will be tolerated.

Therefore, the system will be much more active at high sensitivity than at

low sensitivity.

Field conditions and operator preference determine the appropriate SENSI

setting. On some sprayer models, it may be difficult to reach an optimum

level of sensitivity while maintaining good boom stability. This could be an

indication that the boom is mechanically under-damped for control

purposes. Additional shock absorbers/dampers can dramatically improve

automatic control performance. Some UC3 sprayer kits come complete

with additional damper kits. Other sprayer models have damper kits

available from the sprayer manufacturer or from Norac as optionalequipment. Contact Norac or your sprayer dealer for more assistance.

Boom Reaction Time

There are two key factors that determine how quickly your boom can react

to changes in terrain. The first factor is the available hydraulic speed. The

maximum hydraulic speed of your boom was designed by the sprayer

manufacturer and is not improved or diminished with the addition of the

UC3 height controller.

The second factor is the mechanical design of the sprayer. The SENSI

setting does affect the reaction time of your boom - the higher the number

the quicker the response. However, how high you can run the SENSI

setting is determined to large extent by mechanical issues related to the

boom and sprayer.


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Important design issues include the style of main boom mount (for example,

center pivot or nonparallel links), the amount of mechanical damping and

spring centering on the main boom mount, and whether a main boom roll

system is available on the sprayer. All of these factors together determine

the maximum sensitivity setting you can run on your UC3 system. This in

turn will set the reaction time of the boom in a given situation.

The UC3 electronics are rarely the limiting factor in determining overall

automatic height control performance.

Sensor Reading Over Ditches, Waterways and Outside Rounds

Many situations exist where one sensor may be reading over terrain that

does not accurately reflect the situation for the rest of the boom. For

example, if you are spraying along a waterway, it may be necessary to run

the outer boom sensor out into the waterway itself. This situation is similarto the one picture in Figure 4. In this example the outer sensor will bring

the boom lower than desired and may put the mid-point of the boom at risk.

Outside rounds adjacent to very weedy areas or tall thick grass are examples

of the opposite situation. In this situation the outer sensor may bring the

boom higher than desired (if the sensor cannot read through the thick grass).

In these situations the operator must remain alert and override automatic

control when necessary. Addition of the optional severe terrain sensors will

greatly improve performance in these situations.

Driving Through Ditches and Over Terraces

Changes in terrain that include driving over terraces or through ditching are

special performance cases. This type of terrain can cause the sprayer or

spray cart to pitch and roll significantly. For most boom designs, these

changes are instantaneous at the boom tip. No wing cylinder or hydraulic

system will be fast enough to correct for the error induced.

There are two solutions to this problem. The first solution is for theoperator to recognize these situations before they occur and manually raise

the boom section(s) to a safe height. Overriding automatic control is made

intentionally easy. As soon as the sprayers boom switch is operated the

system will switch that boom to manual control. To return to automatic, use

the AUTO/MANUAL switch. This solution is no different than what would

occur with no control system present.

The second solution is to add a roll control system to your sprayer (if one is

available). This type of system will compensate for the sprayer roll in thissituation and also add stability to your boom in normal operating

conditions.

Sensing Further Ahead of the Boom

Moving the sensor farther ahead of the boom is not an acceptable solution

to any performance issues. The reason is that as the sensor is moved further


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ahead, there will be an increasing height error at the nozzles. In other

words, the sensor and nozzle are at two different points in space thus

introducing an error for all but most level terrain. One of the biggest

paybacks of a UC3 height control system is maintaining the desired height

at the nozzles. Height accuracy should not be sacrificed to maintain a

particular spraying speed. Slow down and spray at the proper height.Interestingly enough, moving the sensor farther ahead will likely not solve

the problem anyway and may make the situation worse. In severe terrain,

this height error can bring the nozzles close to the ground as the sensor

reads over the crest of a hill, or down into a ditch.

Sensor Capabilities

In order for the UC3 system to work at its maximum level of performance,

your sensors must be returning accurate height readings at the designed

frequency. Under typical conditions, Noracs ultrasonic sensors can

provide accurate height readings from 9 inches to over 120 inches, and

return many height readings in one second. The SOIL target can be

identified through stubble, young crops, row crops, and normal trash. The

CROP target can be identified over cereal grains, specialty crops, and row

crops. See the next section for more information on CROP mode guidelines

There are two main steps to ensure sensor performance. The first step is

proper mounting. See Section 4.2 for more information on sensor

mounting. The second step is to ensure that the protective foam covers on

the sensors are kept clean, and that the ultrasonic transducer behind the

foam does not become corroded or excessively dirty. Extra foams are

shipped with your kit. The transducer is a maintenance item and can be

replaced at Norac Service locations. Transducers can last from three to ten

years, depending on conditions. Refer to Section 8.2 for more maintenance

information.

If the mouth of the sensor becomes wet, it is normal for the sensor to return

error messages until the transducer has dried off. This could include rain or

excessive overspray. Material can build up on the transducer if the sensor is

mounted too close to the spray nozzles. This is the reason the sensor must

be mounted at least 9 inches in front of the nozzles. It keeps the sensor

housing out of the normal region of overspray.

In the sprayer boom application, Noracs ultrasonic sensors ignore any

target that is closer than 9 inches from the bottom of the sensor housing.

This region is called the blanking range. Operating the sensor at heights

near the blanking range is dangerous and will affect performance becauseheight readings can be very intermittent. This is the reason that each sensor

must be mounted at least 9 inches above the spray nozzles. The total height

to the target is then guaranteed to be 9 inches plus the minimum height

setting (15 or 22 inches by default). No control action can take place when

sensor heights are invalid or not available to the UC3 panel.


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5.3 Understanding Crop Mode

A unique feature of Noracs ultrasonic sensors are their ability to operate in

CROP mode. In this mode the sensor will track the first available sonic

target. That is, when positioned over standing crop, the sensor will return

the average height of the heads in a circular area below the sensor. In thesame situation in SOIL mode, the sensor will track the last available sonic

target. That is, signals from the heads, leaves, and trash will be ignored in

favor of the ground.

It is important to note that the targets must be available and of sufficient

strength for the sensor to "see" them. There may be some crop and terrain

situations that do not work well for CROP mode or SOIL mode. In these

situations the operator must resume height control of the booms manually.

Areas of "No Crop" in Crop Mode

If, while operating in crop mode, the sensor encounters an area where there

is no crop the system will behave as follows. The sensor will track the soil

because only one target is available. The boom will lower as shown below.

Areas like this may include missed areas during seeding, alkaline areas and

so on. When the problem area ends, it may not be possible for the sensor to

see the crop again unless the operator raises the boom manually. The

sensor may be closer than required nine inches from heads of the crop, thus

blanking out the desired target.

"No Crop

Area"

Boom Stability in Crop

In general the top of the crop is a more inherently variable target than soil.

Put simply, given identical control settings, your height control would bemore active when operating in crop than in soil. To allow for this, many

settings are customized automatically when you change modes on the UC3

panel. This is designed to provide a more stable response in crop mode.

The tradeoff is that the system will also be slightly slower to respond in

crop mode than in soil mode.


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Thin Crop

Ultrasonic sensors operate by bouncing sound waves off of the desired

target. A minimum signal level is required from the crop in order to use it

for control purposes. This is no different than the fact that your radio must

be at a certain minimum volume level before you can physically hear it.Different types of crop, and crops at different stages of development return

varying levels of sound. The following are some general guidelines.

Crops in growing stages are relatively good sonic targets.

Bearded crops are relatively poor sonic targets.

In row crops the sensor must be positioned over the row to use thecrop signal or between the rows to use the ground signal.

The desired target must cover roughly 60 percent of the area to betracked consistently. That is, when looking at the ground, the

heads should cover about 60 percent of the ground. Otherwise,

you can use SOIL mode.

If the sensor runs too close to the heads, they may not returnenough signal to be seen, or they may be blanked out. The nozzles

must be at least 22 inches from the crop. Slightly higher target

height settings will work better in thin crop


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5.4 Menu Navigation

5.4.1 Normal Operating Screen

When the control panel is turned on the screen will flash the current setuptype, followed by the panel software version. The Normal Operating

Screen will then be displayed, pictured below. The operating screen

provides information pertaining to the height and mode of the booms. A

more detailed description of operating screens is given in Section 5.1

Typical Operation. The operating screen is the starting point, and ending

point for navigation through the menu structure.

Figure 9 Normal Operating Screen

The following pages describe the screens that are shown as you proceed

through the SENSOR DISPLAY and SETUP menus. To navigate through

these menus, use the SENSOR DISPLAY/SETUP switch. The table in the

following section shows the structure of the main menu. The start of the

main menu is the operating screen, shown in bold at the center of the table.

DISPLAYSENSOR

SETUP MANUAL

+DISPLAYSENSOR

AUTO

UC3BOOM

CONTROL

CONTROL

+

SETUP SETUP

SENSORDISPLAY

MANUAL

AUTO

BOOM

UC3

The menu is organized in a cyclic fashion, where the SENSOR

DISPLAY/SETUP switch advances you through the menu. Pressing up on

the switch toward SENSOR DISPLAY will change the screen to the next

higher row shown in the table. Pressing down on the switch toward

SETUPwill change the screen to the next lower row shown in the table. If

at any time, you wish to return to the operating screen, hold the SETUP

switch down for two seconds. Also, if you remain in a menu item for 30

seconds, the menu item will time out and return to the Normal OperatingScreen.

30 MM 35


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5.4.2 Main Menu Overview

Navigating past the end of the menu will return the panel to the operating screen

More ?

Press YES (Auto) to edit or view more sensor settings.To locate more information on this menu item, refer to Section 5.4.3

Roll 0.5

Displays reading of the main roll sensor.Depending on sprayer type this menu item may not be displayed.

25 29

Displays readings from optional boom sensors (left inner and

right inner). This menu item may not be displayed.

31 31 32

Displays the current boom heights, in inches, from left toright. The heights are adjusted for the offset between the

sensor and nozzles. If any sensor errors are detected the type oferror will be displayed here.

30 MM 35

Sensor Display

Menu

SENSOR DISPLAY/

SETUPSwitch

Setup

Menu

The operating screen is normally displayed.

While at other menu items, if no switch has

been pressed for 30 seconds the panel will

revert to this screen. Also, from any screen, if

you press and hold the Setup switch for two

seconds the panel will return to this screen.

To navigate to the other screens in this table

push the SENSOR DISPLAY/SETUPswitch

in the indicated direction

Sensi 5

Displays the current control sensitivity setting. A higher

number means a higher sensitivity resulting in more controlactions and quicker response. A lower number will tend

stabilize the boom and make it less active. Range is from 1 to

10.

Soil ON

Or

Crop ON

Use the +/- switch to set the sensor target to Soil or Crop.

ReTune?

Use the Auto (YES) switch to initiate the automatic hydraulic

evaluation of your system. The system will optimize your

system for the best performance possible. The evaluation will

take from one to three minutes.For a description of the ReTune menu item refer to Section 6.3

Install?

Use the Auto (YES) switch to initiate the complete installation

process. The System Configuration Assistant will lead youthrough the setup of your multifunction hand grip, sensors and

hydraulic valves.For a description of the Install menu item refer to Section 6.2

More ?

Press YES (Auto) to edit or view more control settingsTo locate more information on this menu item, refer to Section 5.4.3 .

Navigating past the end of the menu will return the panel to the operating screen


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5.4.3 Menu Structure Map

Section 5.1.4

Section 5.1

Section 5.1.6

Section 5.1.5

Section 6.3

Section 6.2

Roll 0.5

ore

ens

ore

o n

e une

Install?

g

e

Main ?

o

e

g

Main ?

o

LIht 28

ROht 32ML 3567

-

-KP 49

-

DZ 10

-

-

-

Section 6.5.5

Section 6.5.1.3

Section 6.5.1

Section 6.5.1

Section 6.5.1

Section 6.5.2

-

-

er

vg

er

31 MM 29

o

Main On

g n

e n

SENSORDISPLAY

SETUP

YES

em DZ 4

KP 175

Section 6.5.2

Section 6.5.2

Section 6.5.2

Section 6.5.4

YES

YES

YES


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6 System ConfigurationBefore the UC3 boom control system will function properly some

information about the sprayer and connected sensors is necessary. When

the panel is turned on for the first time, the UC3 panel guides the userthrough the Automatic System Setup. This procedure is described in

Section 6.4.

Normally the system will automatically configure and calibrate itself to the

sprayer. If this process does not produce the desired results, refer to

Section 6.5 for details on Manual Setup.

6.1 Initial Power Up

The first time the system is powered up it will guide you through the

Automatic System Setup. If you wish to restart this procedure after an

initial setup has been completed, navigate to the "Install?" item in the Setup

menu and confirm the action with the YES (Auto) switch.

At any point during the setup procedure you can exit by pressing the NO

(Setup) switch. However, if you exit without completing the configuration

you may not be able to use your system in automatic mode. The entire

"Install" procedure on the UC3 control panel should take approximatelytwo to seven minutes.

6.2 Install

You can rerun the automatic system configuration after the panel has gone

through its initial power up procedure. This is useful if a previously

configured UC3 system is being moved to a different sprayer. To do this,navigate to the "Install ?" item in the setup menu and confirm with the

AUTO (YES) switch.

The procedure described in Section 6.4 will begin. If you confirm this

menu item by accident, you can exit by pressing NO (Setup) before

confirming a sprayer type. No settings will be lost. As soon as you confirm

a sprayer type and see the "Dfalting" message at step 8 in Section 6.4, all

previous system settings will be lost.


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6.3 ReTune

From time to time it may be necessary to recalibrate the UC3 electronics to

your sprayers hydraulics. Examples of such times are: when a hydraulicsolenoid valve is changed; when the hydraulic pump is changed or adjusted;

and when the normal working temperature of the hydraulic oil has shifted

significantly from when the system was previously calibrated.

If you are running a pull type sprayer and use different tractors to operate

the sprayer, you should run the Retune procedure each time the tractor is

changed. To do this, navigate to the "Retune ?" item in the setup menu and

confirm with the YES (Auto) switch. The procedure described in Section

6.4, starting at Step 13 will begin.

Follow the guidelines listed in Section 6.4 Steps 1 to 7 before proceeding at

Step 13 (check weather caps, level booms, working RPM etc.).


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6.4 AUTOMATIC SYSTEM SETUP

Step 1 Make sure the UC3 equipment has been installed on yoursprayer as per the installation manual for your UC3

system.

Step 2 Find a location for the sprayer that is relatively level, andhas fairly clean targets for the sensors. For example,

position the sensors over bare soil or gravel. Do not conduct

the following procedure over standing crop or tall

weeds/grass.

Step 3 Have the sprayer in the field position with all booms at a

normal working height. The main (center) boom should bebetween 30 and 50 inches in height. The wing tips should be

between 30 and 70 inches in height.

Step 4 Remove the sensor weather caps on all sensors.

Step 5 If you have main boom roll control, the roll frame shouldbe level and the main boom and wing tips should be high

enough such that the boom can be rolled about 2 degrees

in either direction. It is useful at this point to note whichdirection on your manual roll control switch will move the

boom clockwise, and which switch direction will move the

boom counter-clockwise. Clockwise is defined as the left

boom moving up when viewed from behind the sprayer.

Step 6 Power up the UC3 Control Panel. Make sure the panel isin SOIL mode.

Step 7 Start the solution pump and run the sprayers engine at anormal working rpm for the entire test. For best results, the

hydraulic oil must be at a normal working temperature. This

may require you to actually operate the sprayer for 5 to 20

minutes to warm up the oil (longer warm up times are required

in cold weather).

WARNING - AT POINTS DURING THE SYSTEM

CONFIGURATION THE BOOMS MAY NEED TOMOVE AUTOMATICALLY AND/OR MANUALLY.

Make sure that all personnel and equipment are clear of

the left, right, and main booms.


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Step 8Select

Sprayer

Type

+/-

Use the +/- switch to toggle through a list of available types.Confirm selection with the YES switch (AUTO). Types are listed on

page35

Dfalting

Controlpanel is loading all the settings for your sprayer.

Step 9Scanning

Control panel is reading serial numbers of all connected sensors.

3 Sensrs

Number of sensors found is displayed. Do not continue if number isincorrect.

The number of sensors reported here should match the actual

number of sensors on your system. If it does not, ensure that all

sensors are plugged in and operating. Power down and power up

the control panel to restart the procedure.


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Of the following two prompts, only the ones that apply to

your sprayer type will be displayed.

Step 10Auto

Main

Control?

Answer YES (AUTO) to turn on main boom (center) control.Answer NO (SETUP) to turn off main boom control.

Step 11Auto

Roll

Control?

Answer YES (AUTO) to turn on roll control. Answer NO (SETUP)to turn off roll control.


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Step 12Manually

Move

Left Up

Use the sprayer's manual controls to move the left boom up. Do notcontinue if the wrong boom moves.

Use the multifunction hand-grip or joystick to move the boom up at

least two feet in one continuous motion. If the wrong boom moves,

or no boom is moving, exit the configuration by powering down the

control panel. Consult the installation manual for your system to

check the hydraulic plumbing and electrical wiring of your system.

When you power up the panel again the automatic configurationwill resume.

Left XX

Control panel confirms the proper wiring.

Left 52

Height reading is inserted when sensors are detected.

If a problem is detected an appropriate error message will appear. For a

list of error messages see Table 4.


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All other relevant boom directions are prompted in the

order below. Manually move the appropriate boom as

indicated.

Manually Move Left Dn

Move Left Boom Down

Manually

Move

Rght Up

Move Right Boom Up

Manually Move Rght Dn

Move Right Boom Down

Manually Move Main Up

Move Main Boom Up

Manually

Move

Main Dn

Move Main Boom Down

Manually

Move

Roll CW

Move Roll Clockwise

Manually Move Roll CCW

Move Roll Counter-

Clockwise


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If a different prompt than below appears, refer to

information on page 39.

Step 13Manually

Level Booms at

Working

Height Proceed?

Reset the position of the booms, if necessary, before proceeding.

Toggle YES to continue.The main (center) boom should be between 30 and 50 inches in height. The

wing tips should be between 30 and 70 inches in height. If you have roll

control, the roll frame should be level.

Step 14Hold

Auto Until

Done

Hold the AUTO Switch to begin the valve tuning sequence.

During the hydraulic tuning procedure you must hold the AUTO switch. If

AUTO is released before "Done" is displayed, refer to page 36 for more

information.

DZ STP1

Panel indicates the tuning stage as it progresses.

This is an example of one of the progress messages. They are displayedfor informational and troubleshooting purposes only.

If your sprayer is a John Deere 4710 you may need to step on thebrake pedal when the main lift is being tuned to provide enough

pressure for the main lift to raise.


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Step 15Done

Release the AUTO switch, the tuning is complete.

55 MM 47

Normal Operating Display is shown.

Step 1630 AA 30

Toggle AUTO to start automatic mode. Observe the behavior of thebooms while correcting to the 30 inch target height.

The boom actions should be relatively smooth and stable. Boom corrections

should stop after a few seconds, under normal conditions (excessive wind

may cause small corrections to continue).

If the boom corrections are not done in an optimum manner put the system

into manual immediately. Retry the entire installation process by navigating

to the "Install ?" menu item and pressing AUTO (YES) to confirm. If after

three attempts the system is not working acceptably, proceed to Section 6.5,

Manual Configuration.

Step 1735 AA 35

Increase the target height to 35 inches with the +/- switch. Observethe behavior of the booms.


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Step 1834 MM 37

Press the MANUAL switch to return to manual mode.AUTOMATIC SETUP PROCEDURE COMPLETE.

If your boom does not appear to be level at the desired height readon. Otherwise your system is ready to use.

In manual mode, the control panel shows the nozzle heights of your sprayer,

for each boom section. The actual displayed heights may not be exactly the

same as your target height. The sensitivity setting determines the degree ofacceptable error between the two. See the description of SENSI in Section

5.4.2 for more information.

When you selected a particular type of sprayer during the configuration

process, typical mounting positions for the sensors were assumed. If your

boom is not level at the proper height, confirm sensor height readings by

following the procedure in Section 6.5.1.2.


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Table 3: Sprayer Types

TYPE Sprayer Models

AN1 Generic sprayer boom

AN2 Generic sprayer boomAND Andros Eng. on/off sprayer

AP1 Apache 852

AS2 Ag-Shield pull type

BT1 Brandt pull type 3 sensor

BT2 Brandt pull type year>2002

CS1 Case 4260

CS2 Case 3150, 3185, 3200FC1 Flexi-Coil 67 series pull type

FT1 Fast 7400 pull type

FT2 Fast OEM version

GM1 Gregson Maverick

HG1 Hagie STS12

JD4 JD 4700/4710 SN 6000NH1 New Holland 550

NT1 Nitro

OM1 Original Equipment Manufacturer wing control only

OM2 Original Equipment Manufacturer wing and main lift control

OM3 Original Equipment Manufacturer wing, main, c/w severe terrain

PT1 (Case) Tyler Patriot

RG1 Rogator 854 year1996

RG4 Rogator 864/1064

SM1 Summers pull type

WR1 Wilmar 8100

WR2 Wilmar 8400

The sprayer type setting tells the panel some basic setup information about

your sprayer. When you purchased your system the three-letter suffix on

the part number indicates the type of your system. For example, if you

purchased a UC3-BC-JD4, you should select the "JD4 " type.


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Table 4: Automatic System Setup Error Messages

In the event of an error condition, the system will immediately halt any valve action

and wait for operator acknowledgement. If you are at the point in the tuningprocedure where you are asked to hold the AUTO switch, you will be required to

release the switch to continue. Once this is done one of the following prompts will

appear. At this point you can attempt to resume by pressing the YES (AUTO) switch,or exit the procedure by pressing the NO (SETUP) switch

TimeOut Retry ?

Explanation Possible Causes Required Action

The auto valve test hastaken too long to

complete.

a. There is not enoughhydraulic pressure tomove the boom.

b. The booms are moving

too slowly.

c. A hydraulic cylinder hasreached the end of its

stroke but the system is

still trying to move in that

direction.

a. Make sure the solution pump isrunning, and that all UC3wiring is connected as per the

install manual. On some

sprayers in may be necessary to

manually stroke the hydraulic

pump to complete the test. For

example, on the John Deere

4710 you can do this by

pressing on the brake pedal.

b. Make sure the hydraulic oil isat working temperature.

c. Manually reposition the boomsinto the middle of the cylinder

stroke and resume the test with

the YES (AUTO) switch. For

left and right booms that do not

adjust below the level of the

main boom, you must make

sure that the main boom is

below 50 inches before running

the auto valve test.

SNR 2521

Retry ?


A test cannot proceed

because the appropriatesensor is not returning

a valid height reading.

a. Make sure the sensor is

positioned over a goodsoil target without too

much trash.

b. Faulty sensor.

a. Resume the test with the YES

(AUTO) switch.

b. Replace sensor


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Table 4Continued

TooHigh Retry ?


The boom is positioned

higher than 70 "

a. The automatic valve testwas started with the

boom positioned too high

a. Manually reposition the boomsinto the middle of the cylinder


the YES (AUTO) switch. For

left and right booms that do not

adjust below the level of the

main boom, you must make

sure that the main boom is

below 50 inches before running

the auto valve test (RETUNE

OR INSTALL).

b. Resume the test with the YES(AUTO) switch.

TooLow Retry ?


The boom is positioned

lower than 30 "

a. The automatic valve testwas started with the

boom positioned too low

a. Manually reposition the boomsinto the middle of the cylinder


the YES (AUTO) switch.

b. Resume the test with the YES(AUTO) switch.

Too Many Retry ?


The system has

detected that too many

sensors are connected.

a. Too many sensors havebeen connected to the

system.

a. Remove sensors, or setup thesystem manually.


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Table 4Continued

SN=0 det

Retry ?


At least one sensor has

been detected with

improper programming

a. The sensor(s) was not setup properly at the factory

a. replace sensor(s)

Wiring

Retry ?


The system has

detected voltage on the

wrong wire.

a. The operator pressed thewrong switch when

prompted.

b. The system has beenmiswired.

a. Verify all wiring as per theinstallation manual

b. Resume the test with the YES(AUTO) switch..

Bakwards

Retry ?


The boom moved in

the wrong direction.

a. Wiring or hydraulicplumbing problem.

b. Extremely under-dampedboom.

a. Verify wiring and hydraulicplumbing as per the install

manual.

b. Add mechanical damping tothe boom and/or consult Norac.


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Table 5: Auto Detect of Sensors IncompleteIf during the automatic setup procedure, the system has not been able to

conclusively identify all your sensors and locations, the following prompts

will appear.

Left

Outer Auto to

Confirm

+/- to Change

Use the +/- switch to view a list of available sensors. You cannot confirm

with the YES (AUTO) switch until a serial number is displayed on screen

(see next prompt).

253134.5

This screen indicates that serial number 2531 is connected and reading a

current height of 34.5 inches. To select this as the left outer sensor

confirm with the YES (AUTO) switch. To view the next available serial

number toggle the + switch. To turn this sensor location off toggle the -

switch.

Once the entry is confirmed, you will be required to manually enter the

sensor serial numbers for each of the remaining boom location in the

following order: Right Outer, Main Lift, Left Inner, Right Inner, and Roll.

Set the locations that you are not using to OFF by toggling the switch. .

You will only be prompted to enter location and serial number information

until all the available sensors are used up.


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6.5 MANUAL SYSTEM SETUP

The UC3 panel will not permit automatic mode unless the system has been

completely configured. In other words, Section 6.1 must be completed

successfully. In the event that you cannot complete Section 6.1, it ispossible to setup the system manually.

It is also possible to change some options that are set to typical values for

your sprayer. For example, the minimum allowed target height is set to 25

inches by default. You can change these settings as described in "Other ?"

menu items as described in the following sections.

6.5.1 Setting Up Sensors

Sensors can be entered manually in the SENSOR DISPLAY menu. Youneed to know the serial number of the sensor you wish to enter manually.

The serial number is stamped on the sensor housing opposite the cable.

You will also need to know the physical location of the sensor. See Figure

1 for the possible locations of sensors and Section 5.4.3 to find that sensor

in the UC3 menu structure.

The left channel prompts are described below. For the other channels the

basic structure and behavior of the items is the same.

Navigating past the end of the menu will return the panel to the SensorMore Menu

Left

Inner

LI off

Informs you that no left inside (LI) sensor is installed; or else shows

the information as described for LO. Depending on sprayer typethis menu item may not be displayed.

LOht 25

Informs you that the current height reading of the LO sensor is 25

inches. This reading is not averaged.

Left

Outer

LO 1240

Informs you that serial number 1240 is installed as the left outer(LO) sensor.

Navigating past the end of the menu will return the panel to the SensorMore Menu


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6.5.1.1 Enter Sensor Serial Numbers

To enter a sensor in a one of the boom locations do the following.

1. Make sure you are in manual mode, at the operating screen.

2. Navigate to the "More ?" item in the Sensor Screen menu. PressAUTO (YES).

3. Navigate to the boom section you put the sensor on, for example"Right ?" if the sensor is mounted on the right hand boom.

Press AUTO (YES).

4. Navigate to the boom location you mounted the sensor on, forexample RO for the right outer sensor. This screen will show

the previously installed sensor serial number (if any) as shown

in the table above. Use the " + " switch to toggle through a list

of available sensor serial numbers. If you wish to turn this

sensor off press " ".

5. When the desired serial number is shown, press AUTO (YES) toconfirm.

6. Proceed to ROht menu item to check/calibrate the sensorsheight reading (see next section). If you wish to return to theoperating screen, press and hold SETUP for two seconds.

6.5.1.2 Calibrate the Sensors Height Reading (Zero Height)

The Main Roll sensors "Sht" and "Cht" readings are exceptions to the

procedure described below. For more information on these readings refer to

the next section.

1. Make sure the sprayer boom is unfolded and the sensors arelocated over bare soil or gravel. Position the boom at a normalworking height. Do not conduct this procedure over standing

crop or tall grass/weedy areas.

2. Using a tape measure, measure the distance from the bottom ofthe spray nozzle closest to the sensor to the ground. Round this

measurement to the nearest half-inch.

3. Navigate to the ROht menu item as described in the previoussection.

4. If the currently displayed height reading is not correct, adjust itusing the +/- switch. The + switch will increase the reading, the

switch will decrease the reading.


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5. To return to the operating screen, press and hold SETUP for twoseconds.

6.5.1.3 Special Features of the Main Roll (MR) Sensor

The main roll sensor provides the two height readings necessary for controlof the main roll boom section. The two readings necessary are the spring

height "Sht", and the cylinder height "Cht". Normally all height readings

shown on the UC3 panel are displayed in inches, however, these two

readings are displayed in millimeter resolution. You can see these height

readings in their appropriate submenus (see Section 5.4.3).

The spring and cylinder are displayed as a change in height from booms

centered position. In other words, with the boom level and centered the

spring and cylinder should read zero. You can calibrate these readings inthe same manner as described in the previous section. However, it is

imperative that the boom is centered and level when calibrating.

In addition to providing these two readings, it may also be possible for the

main roll sensor to provide the height reading necessary for controlling the

main up/down boom section. This will be configured for you automatically

during the "Install ?" or "Initial Power Up" sequences. If this is the case,

the MAIN booms sensor serial number will be labeled as "PROXY". This

indicates that the MR sensor is providing all three height readings.

6.5.2 Setting Up Hydraulic Valves

There are two key settings for each valve direction (for example, the left up

direction). These settings are valve deadzone - abbreviated DZ, and valve

gain - abbreviated KP. The deadzone setting represents the size of electrical

signal required at the solenoid valve to cause a boom speed of one inch per

second. The gain setting is inversely related to the maximum speed of the

boom. That is, the faster the boom the lower the gain setting.The left channel is described below. For the other channels the basic

structure and behavior is the same..

Navigating past the end of the menu will return the panel to the SetupMore Menu

Left On

Informs you that the left valve channel is ON. To change the status

to OFF use the +/- switch.

DZ- 100

Informs you that the left up deadzone setting is 100. To adjust the

reading use the +/- switch.

KP- 53

Informs you that the left up gain setting is 53. To adjust thereading use the +/- switch.

DZ- 100

Informs you that the left down deadzone setting is 100. To adjust

the reading use the +/- switch.

KP- 42

Informs you that the left down gain setting is 42. To adjust the

reading use the +/- switch.

Navigating past the end of the menu will return the panel to the SetupMore Menu


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These settings will be determined for you automatically during the "Retune

?", "Install ?" and "Initial Power Up" sequences. However, it is possible to

manually check and adjust these settings as described below.

6.5.2.1 Valve DeadZone Test

1. Follow the guidelines listed in Section 6.1 steps 1 to 7 beforeproceeding (check weather caps, level booms, working RPM

etc.).


3. Navigate to the "More ?" item in the Setup menu. Press AUTO(YES).

4. Navigate to the boom section you wish to setup, for example"Right ?" to adjust the right up and/or the right down settings.

Press AUTO (YES).

5. Press the SETUP switch to access the next menu item, in thiscase the right up deadzone (DZ).

6. While viewing the deadzone, two tests are available. To run theautomatic deadzone test, press and hold AUTO. When the

"Done" message is displayed release the auto switch to view thenew setting.

Note You do not need to run both the automatic and manual

tests. The tests are entirely independent.

7. The other test available at this screen is the manual deadzonetest. To run, press and hold MANUAL. The valve will fire at

the indicated setting for exactly one-second. The screen will

show the actual change in height.

8. The change in height reading is live as long as you hold theMANUAL switch. Wait until the height reading has settled to a

stable value and record this reading.

9. Repeat steps 7-9 three times.

10.Average your three readings. The acceptable average change inheight should be from 0.5 to 1.5 inches (ideal would be 1 inch

exactly). If your average is less, increase the DZ setting withthe + switch and repeat steps 6-9. If your average is more,

decrease the DZ setting with the switch and repeat steps 6-9.


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6.5.2.2 Valve Gain Test

1. Follow the guidelines listed in Section 6.1 steps 1 to 7 beforeproceeding (check weather caps, level booms, working RPM

etc.).


3. Navigate to the "More ?" item in the Setup menu. Press AUTO(YES).

4. Navigate to the boom section you wish to setup, for example"Right ?" to adjust the right up and/or the right down settings.

Press AUTO (YES).

5. Press the SETUP switch twice to access the right up gain (KP).

6. While viewing the gain, two tests are available. To run theautomatic gain test, press and hold AUTO. When the "Done"

message is displayed release the auto switch to view the new

setting.

Note You do not need to run both the automatic and manual

tests. The tests are entirely independent.

7. The other test available at this screen is the manual gain test.

BEFORE CONTINUING MAKE SURE THE BOOM HAS

ROOM TO MOVE IN THE INDICATED DIRECTION AT

FULL SPEED FOR ONE SECOND. BE PARTICULARLY

CAREFUL IF YOU ARE WORKING WITH THE ROLL

CONTROL SECTION.

To run, press and hold MANUAL. The valve will fire at 100

percent speed for exactly one-second, and the screen will showthe actual change in height.

8. The change in height reading is live as long as you hold theMANUAL switch. Wait until the height reading has settled to a

stable value and record this reading. This is your boom speed in

inches per second (in/s). Typical values are between 15 and 50

in/s.

9. Repeat steps 7-9 three times, repositioning the boom asnecessary.

10.Average your three readings. Set the gain value using the +/-switch using the tables below as a guideline. Gain values

depend on many more factors than just speed, and therefore are

best set automatically or by an experienced operator.


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If the booms are not reacting quickly enough a higher gain

setting will make the boom respond faster. Test the response at

a sensitivity of five, because the SENSI setting will scale the

gain settings. If the booms are too jerky or unstable you must

lower the gain setting or improve the booms mechanical

damping. Right and left gain settings are polarized fordirection as shown in the table below.

Right, Left Booms

Boom Speed

(in/s)

Up Gain Setting

(KP)

Down Gain Setting

(KP)

Less than 5 Too Slow Too Slow

5-15 225-175 100-70

15-25 175-150 70-50

25-40 150-100 50-30

40-70 100-50 30-15

Greater than 70 Too Fast Too Fast

Main (Center) Boom

Boom Speed

(in/s)

Gain Setting

(KP)

1-5 100-75

5-10 75-50

10-15 50-30

15-20 30-15

Roll Section

Boom Speed

(in/s)

Gain Setting

(KP)

20 150-100


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6.5.3 Turning Booms OFF or ON

You can turn automatic height control off for each individual boom section.

In automatic mode, boom sections that are turned off will not automatically

adjust, and are indicated with a "D" in the operating screen, as shown

below.

36 D A 3 4 Left boom is turned OFF (D = disabled) control, the

current actual boom height = 36" Right boom is in

automatic control, the current target height = 34"

Sections can be turned off or on in the SETUP menu. Refer to the menu

structure shown to the table at the beginning of this section locate the menu

items named below.


2. Navigate to the "More ?" item in the SETUP menu. PressAUTO (YES).

3. Navigate to the boom section you want to turn off or on, forexample "Right ?". Press AUTO (YES).

4. At the "Right On" prompt toggle the +/- switch to change thestatus.

5. Press and hold SETUP for two seconds to return to theoperational screen.

6.5.4 "Other ?" SETUP Options

Several more options are available under the "Other ?" item of the SETUP

menu.

Navigating past the end of the menu will return the panel to the Setup/More Sub Menu

RemS Off

Informs you that the optional remote switches are currently disabled (auto,

manual, and motion). To toggle the setting On/Off use the +/- switch

Navigating past the end of the menu will return the panel to the Setup/More Sub Menu

6.5.4.1 Remote Switches

Remote control of several functions on the UC3 panel is possible. Remote

AUTO and remote MANUAL switches can be wired to the control panel.This feature allows the operator to control the mode of the UC3 system

from an external switch or controller. A motion inhibit wire is also

available that will stop automatic control actions unless the sprayer

indicates that it is in motion. Refer to the appropriate installation manual

for wiring information.


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All wires are active with a 12 Volt DC signal, and inactive with a 0 V DC

signal (ground). Once the switch(es) is wired you will need to enable it by

navigating to the "RemS" screen in the Setup menu and toggling the setting

to On.

6.5.5 "Other ?" SENSOR OptionsSeveral more options are available under the "Other ?" item of the SENSOR

DISPLAY menu.

Navigating past the end of the menu will return the panel to the Sensor/More Sub Menu

Avg 2

Informs you that the displayed sensor readings are averaged with

a weighting constant of 2..

MHS 18

Informs you that the minimum height override setting for the soil

mode is 18".

MHC 25

Informs you that the minimum height override setting for the

crop mode is 25".

Navigating past the end of the menu will return the panel to the Sensor/More Sub Menu

6.5.5.1 Minimum Height Override

Each sensor has a preset minimum height. The sensor is not allowed to

operate at a target height below the minimum setting. The purpose of this

setting is two-fold. First, it prevents the sensor from operating in a situationwhere it cannot view an acceptable sample of the ground or crop. The size

of area the sensor will "see" decreases with its height. This is particularly

important when spraying in crop. Second, in severe terrain situations, it

prevents the average reading from two sensors on the same boom from

bringing either individual sensor too close to the ground or crop.

Refer to the menu structure shown in Section 5.4.3 to locate the menu items

named below. To enter change the boom locations do the following.


2. Navigate to the "More ?" item in the Sensor Display menu.Press AUTO (YES).

3. Navigate to the "Other ?" menu item and press AUTO (YES).

4. At the "MHC" screen, use the +/- switch to edit the setting to thedesired value. This is the minimum height setting for CROP

mode. For performance reasons, you cannot lower the settingpast 22 inches.

5. Press SETUP to access the "MHS" setting. Use the +/- switchto edit the setting to the desired vale. This is the minimum

height setting for SOIL mode. For performance reasons, you

cannot lower this setting past 15 inches.


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6. Press and hold setup for two seconds to return to the operatingscreen.

6.5.5.2 Sensor Display Averaging

The UC3 system returns many height readings from each sensor eachsecond. To help make the sensor height display screens easier to read, these

readings are averaged.

Refer to the menu structure shown in Section 5.4.3 to locate the menu items

named below. To enter change the boom locations do the following.


2. Navigate to the "More ?" item in the Sensor Display menu.Press AUTO (YES).

3. Navigate to the "Other ?" menu item and press AUTO (YES).

4. Navigate to the "Avg X" screen where "X" is the current amountof averaging (default value is 2).

5. Use the +/- switch to edit this value. Increasing the number willmake the display more stable but less responsive. Decreasing

the number will make the display more responsive but lessstable.

6. Press and hold setup for two seconds to return to the operatingscreen.

Note changing this reading has no affect on performance of the height

control system. It is simply a display convenience.


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7 MaintenanceThe UC3 Sprayer Boom Height Control System requires very little

maintenance. Some regular maintenance will ensure that your system

operates properly.

Before each day of operation:Ensure the sensor caps are removed from each sensor. Clear any

obstructions between the sensor and the ground. Any object within a 6"

diameter circle directly below the sensor could cause improper height

readings. Check to ensure hydraulic hoses, sensor cables, or debris is clear

of the sensor.

Inspect the foam insert in each sensor. Fitted into the bottom of the sensor is

a foam shield that can become clogged with dust and dirt. Remove thefoam from the sensor, blow it out with an air compressor if available, and

reinsert. Replace the foam inserts as necessary.

****************************IMPORTANT*********************

Figure 10 Protective Foam Shield

At the End of a season:Remove the sensors and store inside.

Do not blow out the foam shield while it is still installed in the sensor.

Sensor damage may result. Always remove the foam shield for cleaning.


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When to Use Sensor Weather CapsThe sensors are precision instruments that require adequate care and

maintenance. To ensure that deposits do not form on the transducer when

not in use, friction fit weather caps are provided. The weather caps are

intended to prevent the bottom of the sensor from coming in direct contact

with water.

Weather caps are provided for use during transport and storage conditions

where the potential for contact with water is possible. Examples of such

situations are as follows:

(1) during transport or overnight storage when the sensor isNOT oriented in the regular operating position (i.e. NOT

pointing downward),

(2) during long-term storage (Ensure the sensor is dry and thefoam removed before installing the weather cap for long-

term storage).

Operators are expected to use their discretion when deciding upon the

appropriate times to use the weather caps. The UC3 sensors are very

robust, however, using the weather caps appropriately will help obtain

years of trouble-free use.

Figure 11 Sensor Weather Caps


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8 Trouble Shooting The following section will provide a guideline when troubleshooting

problems. While this guide should help determine the majority of

problems, it is not a complete check. If you can not determine the cause of

your problem, contact your dealer or Norac for assistance.

NOTE:

Some of the procedures described in this section will require the use of

a multimeter. If you do not own one your local machinery dealership

should be able to lend you one.

Table 6 can be used to single out which part of the controller is

malfunctioning given certain symptoms.

Table 6 - Typical Trouble Shooting Start-Points

Symptom See

Section

Page

Instrument panel does not light up 8.1

8.5

52

55

System randomly puts itself into manual mode 8.1

8.5

52

55System resets itself when the valve is turned on 8.1

8.5

52

55

System wont go into automatic mode 8.3

8.5

54

55

Sensor appears not to work. Displaying

"==" "EE" "**""??" "##"

8.2 52

Boom keeps lifting or lowering in manual mode 8.3

8.4

54

54

Boom wont raise or lower 8.4 54

Boom is very unstable 8.6 55

Boom is erratic in trash 8.2

8.6

52

55


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8.1 Power Supply

To check that an adequate power supply is present take the following steps.

While performing these checks, always wiggle the wires around to detect

any temporary interruptions, as this will cause the panel to reset itself intomanual mode.

1. Make sure the RED wire from the power cable is connected to +12 voltsand the BLACK wire is connected to ground.

2. Check all connections to see that they are tight and free of corrosion.

3. Check the condition of the power cable and the connector at the bottomof the control panel.

4. Determine if the source voltage is high enough. While running mostequipment operates between 13 and 14 volts. If your system is operating

near or below 12 volts this may cause a problem. Measure the voltage

when the valve is being used, since the valve action may cause a drop in

voltage. If you have a low voltage problem it could be due to the

Sprayers electrical system (faulty alternator, battery or poor ground).

8.2 Sensor

A possible sensor problem is indicated on the screen by the presence of the

symbols ??, EE,**, ##,or = = in the corresponding location of the

sensor display. Each message is described below. To further troubleshoot a

problem use the sensor swapping procedure.

Swapping Sensors

A procedure useful for determining is an error is related to cabling or the

sensor itself is swapping sensors. Remove the sensor reporting an error

and one that is reporting correctly, and swap their locations. Also,reenter the serial numbers into the control panel.

Example: Serial number 1001 is on the right, and serial number 1002 is

on the left. The right sensor is reporting ??, and the left sensor is

working properly. Swap their locations on the booms, and change the

serial numbers in the control panel to correspond (right is now 1002, left

is now 1001).

If the same location still reports an error, the problem is with the cablingon that side.

If the new location is reporting the error, the problem is with the sensor.


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## Reading too large to display

The sensor is reporting a reading that has too many digits to show on thecurrent screen. This is not an operational problem, since all automatic

functions will continue to work. When the boom returns to normal

heights the reading should reappear on screen.?? Communication Error

Check that the serial numbers on the sensors match the serial numbersentered into the panel

Check all sensor cabling. Check the connectors for loose connections ordamaged wires. Check cables for damage, paying close attention to any

flex points on the boom. Swap sensors to determine if an error is cable

related or sensor related (see above).EE Internal Sensor Error

Check all sensor cabling, as there may be an intermittent cable problem.See the procedure for swapping sensors above.

Check for an obstruction between the sensor and the ground. Any objectwithin a 6" diameter circle and within 5" of the bottom of the sensor can

cau

Documents

Manual Norac UC3 2004 446BC-MAN2d