System Components

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Planter Main 2 (PM2) Controller

Planter Main 2 (PM2) Controller

This control unit:

• Collects data from sensor node controllers.
• Communicates row unit ride dynamic and down force information to Planter Main (PM1) controller.
• Controls and monitors pneumatic down force system.

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Sensor Node Controller

Sensor Node Controller

This control unit:

• Collects down force loads from gauge wheel down force sensors.
• Senses row unit ride dynamics.
• Communicates row unit dynamic and gauge wheel down force information to Planter Main 2 (PM2) controller.

Depending on planter model, there are between 3 and 7 sensor nodes on the planter, with one sensor node per frame section. In most cases, extra wiring harness length is provided to allow the sensor node to be moved one row to either side of the factory location.

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Gauge Wheel Down Force Sensor

Gauge Wheel Down Force Sensor

This component senses the amount of load that the row unit gauge wheels are carrying. The gauge wheel load signal is processed with the sensor node controller and communicated to the Planter Main 2 (PM2) controller. Depending on planter model, there are between 3 and 7 gauge wheel down force sensors on the planter, with one sensor per frame section.

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Seed Sensor

Seed Sensor

The seed sensor is used to monitor seed activity at each row unit. Seed information is processed with the Planter Main (PM1) controller and displayed on the GreenStar™ display. SeedStar™ XP monitoring systems use seed sensor data to calculate and display seed singulation and seed spacing information, in addition to seed population.

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Pneumatic Down Force Air Compressor, Air Tank, and Solenoid Control Valve - Drawn Planters With CCS (Dual Set-Point and Active Down Force)

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Pneumatic Down Force Air Compressor, Air Tank, and Solenoid Control Valve - Drawn Planters Without CCS (Active Down Force)

A hydraulic powered air compressor supplies pressurized air to the air storage tank on planters equipped with the optional Active Down Force system. Once a down force target margin (the amount of extra down force applied to the row unit, over and above what is required for the opener disks to penetrate the soil and achieve full planting depth) is set, the system uses the readings from the gauge wheel down force sensors to automatically makes pressure changes to the air spring system to maintain the target margin. As field conditions change the system automatically makes the necessary pressure adjustments to maintain the target margin.

When going through waterway or other field conditions where changes in down force can be ignored, the system can be paused so no unnecessary changes to the active pneumatic down force (PDF) system occur. For example in waterway, if pause is not activated the active PDF system reacts to the margin dropping due to hard soil and increase PDF force in the air springs. Then when exiting the waterway, it senses that the margin is now too high and have to reduce PDF down force to achieve the target margin. This overshoot, undershoot situation can be avoided by pausing the active system before entering a waterway.

The solenoid control valves located on top of the main tank are controlled and monitored with the Planter Main 2 (PM2) controller.

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Pneumatic Down Force Pressure Sensors (Active Down Force) (Dual Set-Point Valve Shown)

Pneumatic Down Force Pressure Sensors (Dual Set-Point and Active Down Force)

The Pneumatic Down Force Pressure Sensors sense the amount of air pressure in the air spring circuit for single-rank and split-row (dual rank) planters. The Planter Main 2 (PM2) controller uses the pressure sensor signal to adjust the pressure in the air spring circuit to achieve the down force setting entered by the operator.