Jenquip
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Electronic Platemeter Electronic Platemeter Model EC10 Model Manual EC10 User User Manual

INTRODUCTION Congratulations on the purchase of your Jenquip EC10 Folding plate pasture meter. This meter is a high precision engineered device for measuring the average height of pasture relative to density of the pasture. This is directly relative to the quantity of dry matter present (Kilograms of dry matter.) Learning to operate your Jenquip Folding Plate Pasture Meter won’t take long. You will soon find it to be an invaluable tool in your farming operation for dayto-day feeding decisions and long term feed budgeting. Please retain this instruction book for future reference. You will...

CONDITIONS OF SALE AND GUARANTEE Your JENQUIP product is guaranteed to be free from defects in materials and/ or workmanship under normal use and service for a period of twelve months from date of initial purchase. JENQUIP’S liability and obligation is limited to problems which JENQUIP acknowledges to be defective under the guarantee conditions either to - the free replacement or repair (where practicable) at the JENQUIP premises of any parts returned within the guarantee period - or shipment of replacement parts to the customer, as mutually agreed to. Supply of non standard parts or...

2 Conditions of sale and guarantee 4 How to assemble the JENQUIP Folding Plate Pasture Meter 5 How to dismantle and transport 6 Operating the Electronic Counter 8 Start up/Self Test/Entering the factory default formula 9 Seasonal variations of formulas 10 Entering your own formula 11 Using your platemeter 12-13 Taking paddock readings: "The Farm Walk” 14 How to take paddock readings: Step by step instructions 15 Software 16-19 Instructions for downloading your Pasture Meter Software 20 Maintenance 21-24 Fault finding 25 Addendum - cutting quadrats 27 -...

TO ASSEMBLE How to Assemble the JENQUIP Folding Plate Pasture Meter Your meter is supplied in two parts : THE PLATE: This light-weight circle of anodised aluminium sits on the top of the pasture to establish average height and density. The area of the circle and weight of the plate have been carefully calibrated to researched data. THE FOLDING HANDLE /SHAFT: Also generally referred to as “the meter”. A unique design allows this meter to fold into an easily carried tool. The grooved part allows pasture to be measured in 1/2 centimeter intervals, (clicks). Slide the hinge lock tube over the...

This is the reverse of the assembly process. Hold the counter when fitting or removing the plate. Remove the plate. The pasture meter can be folded in half for easy storage. Pasture Management Software (included) required to download the platemeter. This is a very simple, easy to use programme. It takes the information from your farm walk and produces ready to use reports. Computer requirements : Version 3 Windows 3.1, '95 or XP Version 4 Windows XP or later

Operating the Electronic Counter: Switching the unit on and off: The Electronic Plate Counter is switched on and off using the black switch at the back of the unit. Off is in the ‘down’ position. When the unit is off there are no numbers displayed on the LCD screen. Front display buttons: Disp Enter Avg Count Reset Menu The functions of the EC10 are defined by the four buttons on the front of the unit: Disp/Enter Height/Reset Count/Menu Up/down arrows (The words in BOLD type are the primary functions). Activate by pressing the button briefly. Activate the secondary functions (in...

ZERO CALIBRATION To ensure the Plate Meter accurately measures the compressed height of pasture, the counter must be calibrated. This requires setting a base level of zero so measurements can be benchmarked against this. If the counter does not return to zero after each "plonk" it will not record the measurement - hence the counter will not beep. If for any reason the counter is out of calibration it will need to be recalibrated: To do this, work through the following steps: 1. Hold the meter at the bottom of travel and ensure the unit is switched off. Hold down the “Count” button while...

START UP/SELF TEST Switch the unit on. It will beep and show “EC10” in the display panel. If the battery needs recharging it will beep 3 times and “lo” will display on the panel. The current formula in use will be displayed next with the “+” part of the equation first (default 500) and then the “x” part second (default 140). The kgDM/ha calculation will be displayed based on that formula and any other readings stored in the memory. The unit has one default plate equation (built into the chip and cannot be replaced or edited) and one custom (user editable) equation. This equation is...

Winter & early spring - before stem growth Late spring & early summer - during stem growth Mid summer Early autumn - before autumn rain Late autumn - after rain DEXCEL also developed these month based formulas: Some equations may change without notice and are influenced by seasonal differences. If you are unsure of the current equation contact Dexcel or your local consultant.

To enter your own cover equation or one that may have been recommended by a third party, such as your consultant or Dexcel or Meat & Wool, please do the following: 1. While the EC10 is switched on, hold down the “MENU” button. The display looks like this: “F—d”. Press the UP arrow once to change the “d” (default to “c” (custom). Press “Enter” and the display will show the first figure of the current “add” equation and may look like this: “0___”. This is the first of two numbers you will enter. The first number is the equation “add” number and the second the “multiply” number. e.g. in the...

Still unsure as to which equation to use, suspicious of your findings, or having a disagreement with others? The answer is to cut, dry and weigh a sample. We have heard of disagreements with grazing contracts based around meter readings where each party thinks a different formula should be used. The answer is unbiased—for the most accurate formula, cut, dry and weigh a sample (see “Cutting Quadrats” in the Addendum). This weight is then compared with a meter reading for the same sample, using the various formulas, to see which one most closely matches the weight of the sample. Remember—be...