Artemis Lite Fault Finding FAQ’s www.rdstec.com

Forward Speed is Incorrect? Q – Is there any forward speed reading or is it 0.0 km/hr? A – If not, check wiring connections: 1. Ensure that there is power across the Brown and Blue wire in the 3 way plug. 2. Short a piece of wire across the Blue and Green/Yellow wire in the 3 way plug and make and break the connection. This simulates pulses from the radar and a speed should be seen on the screen. You may have to do lots of pulses or change the Speed Sensor Factor! Q – Forward speed functions correctly but is incorrect? A – Mark out 100m in the field where conditions allow the drill to be lowered in to the ground. Carry out the 100m Speed Calibration Test as per below: Ensure that the drill is lowered in to work so that the radar sensor is at the correct angle and has no obstructions or is viewing excessive soil disturbance/dust.  

Area is Incorrect? Q – Is the Width Correct? A – Check the programmed width of the drill within the Drill Setup page Q – Is the Area Cut Out switch working correctly? A – When you lift the drill up, is a X shown at the top of the screen? When you lower the drill, is a tick shown? Q – Is the Forward Speed correct? A – Check that the forward speed is correct. Repeat the 100m calibration test from the previous page.  

Application Rate is Incorrect? Q – Incorrect amount of seed has been used for the Ha? A – Ensure that both the width and the forward speed are correct as per the previous tests. Repeat the calibration test to ensure there are no errors with the weight measurement.  

Motor Speed Too High Alarm? Q – Code M.1 is displayed with UP arrows – Motor Speed Too High A – This alarm is shown if the target speed of the motor to reach the programmed application rate is lower than the motor can achieve. This is usually a result of an incorrect calibration routine or if the metering unit slide opening needs to be reduced to provide less seed per revolution. Close the metering unit slide to the relevant position for that crop and recalibrate using the priming switch.

Motor Speed Too Low Alarm? Q – Code M.1 is displayed with DOWN arrows – Motor Speed Too Low A – This alarm is shown if the target speed of the motor to reach the programmed application rate is higher than the motor can achieve. This is usually a result of an incorrect calibration routine or if the metering unit slide opening needs to be increased to provide more seed per revolution. Open the metering unit slide to the relevant position for that crop and recalibrate using the priming switch.

Motor Does not Operate? Q – Is the system ‘Out of Work’? A – Is there a X at the top of the screen to indicate that the drill is lifted? Q – Is the metering unit turned Off on the MAIN page? A – The metering unit icon on the MAIN page can override the cut out switch to turn the motor on or off. Q – Check the Calibration Factor (kg per revolution)? A – Has this been set to 0.00kg/rev? Is it a large number greater than 1.00 meaning the motor is turning very slowly? Recalibrate and check for errors. Q – Does the motor run when you press the Prime switch with the fan Off? A – If the motor still does not run then there may be a motor problem. Connect the motor wires directly to the 12v studs/power cable on the MCM.  

Hopper Level Sensors do not Operate? Q – Ensure that they are not disabled within the software alarm page? A – If not, trace the cable back to the white junction box. Check for 12v supply across the brown and the blue wire for the hopper level sensor. Q – Do the LED’s on the back of the sensor light up if you cover the sensor with your hand?  

Instrument does not Turn On? Q – The instrument does not switch on? A – Check the main red & black power cable from the battery for damage. There is a fuse within the small black box near the battery terminals on the red core, check this is in tact. Q – Is there power at the modules? A – Check for 12v at the MCM Module where the large red and black cable connects. If there is no power here, check at the battery. There could be a poor connection within the connector. Q – Is the black instrument cable in good condition? A – Check the 16 core cable between the drill and the tractor. Has this cable been crushed or been damaged? Is there dust/water in the connectors.  

Module Offline Alarms? Q – Is there a red light on the bottom of each module? A – If there is a solid red light it means that the unit is powered but has no CAN communication. If the headunit is switched ON but there is no solid red light then there may be a problem within the black 16 way main cable between drill and tractor. Q – Is there a flashing red light on the bottom of each module? A – If one module has a flashing red light but the other does not then this should help diagnose the CAN module at fault. If you have a spare CAN module then fit this and see if it then starts to flash. If this does not work then using the engineering drawings of the cables within the Training Pack then you will need to ensure continuity between the CAN HI wires within the loom and also the CAN LO wires.  

The Science behind the Pictures! What are the factors? Forward speed (Km/h) Working width (m) Gearbox ratio Pulses per motor revolution Application rate (Kg/Ha) Product quantity per metering revolution (Kg/Rev)

Using the Motor Speed Calculator Set the values here that the operator provides/requires Look at these values. Make changes to forward speed and cal factor to achieve realistic values

Reminder’s Though motor speed range is theoretically 30rpm to 2800rpm this should cover the lowest rate at the lowest forward speed with the narrowest working width i.e. 1Kg/Ha at 0.5km/h on a 2m drill. The fastest motor speed should also enable the highest rate at the highest forward speed and the widest working width. At 8km/h a land drive Accord metering unit would be doing approximately 45rpm. For correct seed metering the Artemis system should be trying to reproduce this. To do so requires the metering slide to be positioned appropriate to the rate required. A high load on a slow turning motor has the MCM generate more heat than necessary. This could be avoided by closing the metering slide a little to reduce the Kg/Rev and then have the motor turning faster.

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