Test SmartAg Drill Motor Current

If a SmartAg electric drive drill has had a Power Pod failure and you have replaced the Pod, you should test the motor current for that bin before putting the drill back into work. Diagnose a faulty or overloaded motor by adding a 'test' page to the screen layout for field testing the motor current.

Step 1 of 22

Tap the double gear icon to enter settings

Step 2 of 22

Tap the display tab

Step 3 of 22

Add an extra tab. In this case we are increasing from 3 to 4 tabs.

Step 4 of 22

Tap 'Tab Style'

Step 5 of 22

Choose Tab 4 to change the tab setup

Step 6 of 22

Select '4 Tiles' as the layout setting

Step 7 of 22

Tap OK to accept the new tab settings

Step 8 of 22

You should now see a new screen on the 4th tab with 4 blank screen tiles.

Press and hold the top left-hand blank tile to enter the tile set up screen

Step 9 of 22

In the tab set up screen, choose 'Bin/Tank 1'

Set the Units to 'A' (amps).

For clarity you can give the tile a useful name such as 'Motor 1 current'.

Note if you wish to test the motor on Bin/Tank 2 then choose that display instead.

Tick to save and exit the set up screen

Step 10 of 22

Tap the gear icon

Step 11 of 22

Change 'Decimals' to 1

Change 'Control Enabled' to No

Tick to save and exit

Step 12 of 22

The top left tile should now look like this.

Now press and hold the top right-hand blank tile to enter the set up screen for that tile

Step 13 of 22

Choose 'Bin/Tank 1' again (or Bin/Tank 2 for the other motor)

Choose RPM to display the motor pulses

Rename the tile to something useful like 'Motor 1 RPM'

Tick to save and exit

Step 14 of 22

Tab 4 should now look like this.

Press and hold the bottom right-hand tile to enter the set up screen for that tile

Step 15 of 22

Tap the 'Widget' tab then select 'Run Hold'

Tick to save and exit

Step 16 of 22

Tab 4 should now look like this.

Before you can activate Run/Hold to test the motor current you need to set 'Enable Prime' and disable the depth switch as described in the next steps

Step 17 of 22

Select 'Control Speeds' in the Machine tab in settings

Step 18 of 22

Tick 'Enable Prime' to simulate a ground speed

Choose a low speed such as 3km/h to run the motor at a reasonably low speed for testing

Tick to save and exit

Step 19 of 22

Select 'Depth Sensor' in the Machine tab in settings

Step 20 of 22

Untick the 'Enable' setting to allow the motor to run without the drill being in the ground

Tick and save to exit

Step 21 of 22

You can now go back to tab 4 and put the drill into 'Run'

The motor current will be displayed and the motor pulses if you have added this tile.

If you measure a motor current at more than 30 amps, there is likely a problem. Tap 'Hold' immediately to stop the motor.

Problem scenarios could include

a blocked metering unit. Check and clear if necessary. Test the motor current again.
a short circuit motor. Talk to SmartAg

The high current problem needs to be resolved BEFORE putting the drill back into work. Failing to do this could damage the new Power Pod.

Step 22 of 22

After testing is complete

Go into settings and tick 'Enable' on the Depth Sensor switch setting (reverse of step 18)
Go into settings and untick "Enable Prime' . Set 'Prime Speed' back to 7 km/h (reverse of step 16)
Delete the extra tab in settings (reverse of step 3)