Ingenuity has always been a job requirement in the roller coaster world of farming. Countless breakthroughs in safety, productivity, storage and distribution have occurred because a problem needed solving.
Now, as established seasonal patterns defy expectations, being prepared to deal with change can mean the difference between success and failure.
If your customers are equipment manufacturers, agribusiness suppliers or family farmers, assessing, anticipating and preparing for variations is bigger than ever.

So…can climate change generate profits? Let’s say Yes.

No matter the conditions, people still gotta eat. Unless we plan to settle on a diet of bug protein and seaweed pellets, farm-based food production must adapt and thrive. Understanding what your customers are facing, and how Pelco products can help, makes you a valuable partner. Whether they’re producing steak or salad, apples, butter or almond milk, new tools and systems require the right components, timers and controls from an informed, trusted supplier.

Hydroponic farming

This post includes a “problems solved” section with examples of delay on make timers, percentage timers and 24/7 timing controls at work.

Have you or your customers solved a problem with a Pelco component? Let us know.
Quick Contact or call 855 227 3526

There’s also useful reference and links presenting topics and trends of concern to farming businesses at all levels.

Seeing these changes as opportunities to help solve new problems promotes development of new tools and systems. For farmers, engineers, manufacturers and suppliers, being informed, prepared and flexible is more important than ever to put food on the table and money in the bank.

High tunnel raspberries. Climate-controlled hoop house farming protects crops from heat, frost, drought and pests.

Problems solved, continuing developments, home-grown ingenuity

PERCENTAGE TIMERS Select cycle length and set adjustable “On” time as a percentage of the total cycle from 1% to 99%
Download PDFs
Airotronics TH3Q
Airiotronics TGQB

CLEAR CHAFF To prevent overheating in high-volume, high-efficiency combines and harvesting machines, recycle timer controls fans to blow out chaff, 10 seconds per minute. Also clear residues, dust and debris during tilling, seeding, planting, weeding.

FLUID CONDITIONS    For irrigation and fertilization systems, indoors or outdoors. Percentage timers deliver required amount of nutrients as percentage of water or time. Adjust percentage as growing conditions or growth stages change.

Growing cannabis in climate-controlled facility.

DAILY/WEEKLY Programmable and resettable timer for 24/7 operations
Download PDF Peltec 619

CLIMATE CONTROLLER Manage various functions in climate-controlled, indoor greenhouses and animal facilities. Set 24-hour lighting cycles, HVAC, water pumps, drainage systems. Reset as needed.

Keeping chickens comfortable and safe with multiple functions running.

DELAY ON MAKE TIMERS Manage sequencing of multiple loads to prevent overdraw, overheating and electrical failure.
Download PDFs
Airotronics TGCD
Airotronics THCU

PROTECT SYSTEMS To prevent electrical overload in large buildings or complex systems, DOM timers stagger sequencing of pumps, compressors, fans, motors, lights, and more.

FIGURING IT OUT? RESETTABLE MULTIFUNCTION TIMERS offer multiple options for experimentation, functional assessment and system trials.
Download PDF Airotronics MC453

Check out Farmshow for lots of DIY and “made it myself” solutions!

Thanks for the shout-out! North Carolina’s Living Web Farms is another great source for trending topics and hands-on learning. This post includes a few applications using the “extremely versatile” Peltec 102 Repeat Cycle Timer at work in various trials, as well as in an overheating alarm system. The author also mentions a digital programmable weekly timer we offer as the Peltec 619. They’re using these in their biochar facility to manage heat and control ventilation.

Know your customers and what are they dealing with: See these links for farming and agribusiness planning affected by climate

Washington wheat: big harvest, big business.

Timers control food dispensing in fish farm

Airotronics and Peltec are two divisions of Pelco Component Technologies, a trusted manufacturer and distributor of electrical and electronic components. Across the US and around the world, OEMs, engineers and product designers choose components from Pelco to control electricity and make things happen at the right time. We call it Putting Power to Work.

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The post Using timers and controls in agricultural operations to evaluate conditions, assess options and develop solutions. appeared first on Pelco Pulse.

Pelco Component Technologies is proud to be part of this important international event! Hannover Messe 2018 includes extensive keynotes and events, and 500 application examples over 5 days.

With seven brand lines of electronic components and manufacturing services, Pelco’s highly configurable offerings meet the needs of emerging, established and experimental technologies worldwide.

Airotronics Timers and Controls feature relay and solid state timers, sensors and controls, complex microprocessors and custom designs, for installations, systems, appliances and transportation. Airotronics is the definition of Product Integrity, with agency approvals, RoHS compatibility, operational testing, and five decades of customer satisfaction.

Find us at the show!

See us in the USA Energy Pavilion, Hall 13, at booth B37/5      Click to site    Click for map image
Across the US and around the world, components from Pelco control electricity to make things happen at the right time. We call it Putting Power to Work. Phone Pelco 855 227 3526

Visit Pelco site    Contact Pelco  

The post Pelco Component Technologies debuts at Hannover Messe in April 2018 appeared first on Pelco Pulse.

Your toolkit’s not complete without a versatile multifunction timer.

MC363 Series multifunction timer with five timing modes, dipswitch adjustments, relay output and LED indicator
Download Datasheet
MC453 Series multifunction timer with five timing modes, dipswitch adjustments, relay output and 25Amp output current
Download Datasheet
MC360 Series multifunction timer with eleven timing modes, dipswitch settings for timing modes, adjustable pots for time delay, relay output and LED indicator
Download Datasheet

Get the most out of new ideas with thorough testing during prototyping

Created for OEMs and designers seeking significant flexibility at the prototype stage, MC360 series are extremely versatile. With nine single‑setting timing modes and two dual-setting timing modes available in a single unit, and time delays from 1 to 100 seconds or 1 to 100 minutes, the MC360 series is a cost-effective solution for fine-tuning timing functions in myriad applications.
Offering five timing modes in a single unit and time delay settings from 0.1 second to 1023 minutes, the MC363 series and MC453 series are cost-effective solutions for timed sequencing of functions such as liquid dispensing, moisture purging, stirring, controlled lighting, feed distribution, water and air circulation, and many more.

Airotronics is a division of Pelco Component Technologies, a trusted manufacturer and distributor of electrical and electronic components. Across the US and around the world, OEMs, engineers and product designers choose components from Pelco to control electricity and make things happen at the right time.
We call it Putting Power to Work.
Call 800 321 9539
Contact Pelco
Visit Pelco Component Technologies

The post Multifunction Timer: perfect choice for testing, development and prototyping appeared first on Pelco Pulse.

SchleicherUSA Relay Technology

Choose Schleicher safety, timing and measurement components for machinery and systems.  Get sophisticated solutions in convenient and compact DIN rail type housings.

Additional advantages:

• Committed after-sales service
• Active life-cycle management
• Adjustments, expansions and alterations at any time
• Guaranteed service life of more than 25 years

Download Products Overview

Safety Relays

To ensure maximum protection for operators and machines, safety relays must be easy to use and very reliable. High quality SchleicherUSA safety relays meet DIN ISO 13849 and DIN EN 61062 standards. In addition they fulfill the technical requirements for relay technology with positive driven contacts in accordance with EN 50205.

Applications include:

• Emergency stop
• Safety gate
• Safety mats, strips, edges, bumpers
• Light grids, inductive sensors
• Controlled shutdown
• Access delay
• Type III C two-handed monitoring
• Contact output extension

Show me Safety Relays

Timer Relays and Switching Devices

Timer relays and switching devices are intermediaries between the intelligent logic level of the computer or other control devices and the machines or systems doing the work. Relays and switches provide high-performance isolation between the low-voltage range of the intelligent logic, and the high power consumption of the machine operation.
SchleicherUSA supplies a wide range of timer and switching relays with various features and functions, ensuring precise component selection to meet the requirements of your application.

Features include:

• Multifunction, Single function, Multi-range, Single-range and Fixed time
• On-delay, Off-delay, On-delay and Off-delay, wiper controls

Relay functions include:

• Impulse generator
• Blinker relay
• Relay for a star-delta/wye-delta switch
• Pulse counter
• Coupling relays
• Latching relays

Show me Timer Relays

Measurement Relays and Monitoring Devices

Rapid-response measuring and monitoring devices continuously review and evaluate all electrical and physical states. These components facilitate quick and accurate response in the event of an error. Proactive switch-off of the affected part of the system prevents damage to other unit components.
SchleicherUSA offers measurement and monitoring relays for all potential configurations.

Current and voltage monitor functions:

• Detection of low or excess voltages
• Detection of low or excess currents

Phase Monitor functions:

• Phase sequence and phase failure monitoring
• Detection of incorrect phase sequence
• Detection of dangerous phase voltage imbalance
• Detection of voltage feedback

Safety and Protective Monitor functions:

• Protection of people and machines
• Immediate interruption of the energy supply
• Monitoring of two-hand applications
• Monitoring of safety guards

Show me Monitor Relays

SchleicherUSA website    Contact Schleicher   Call 800-321-9539

SchleicherUSA Automation

Welcome to advanced open system machine automation! Schleicher provides powerful modular control systems for all requirements of modern machine manufacturing.
Open systems allow individual functions to be realized for high-performance machines, with faster and simpler connections between networks or various components. SchleicherUSA automation incorporates the latest CNC and PLC technologies and uses EtherCAT®, Sercos® and the newest Windows variants, among others.
Schleicher systems are maintenance-free, robust and flexible. Installations are tailored to individual customers and programmed for long life and simple operation.

Download Products Overview

Controls

Schleicher XCx automation systems and components provide a modular structure for application-adapted design. From an entry-level rack-based control system, expansion modules and racks, and additional controls can handle up to 128 modules on a maximum of 8 racks with full system extension over 4000 I/O points.

Show me Controllers

I/O Systems

With increases in plant complexity, peripheral connection via fieldbus has become standard in most automated infrastructures. The “RIO” I/O system from SchleicherUSA is equipped with comprehensive modules that pick up, route and output the necessary process-specific signal mix..

Show me I/O Systems

Human Machine Interface

The ProNumeric OP50 is an optimized HMI device employing the Sercos III and EtherCat realtime field bus systems, combined in a single hand-held control. At last a single unit connects to the controls of different manufacturers.
For more details see Whitepaper Simplified GUI and Precision Controls for Complex CNC Manufacturing

Show me HMI and Software

Software

SIM:ONE SIMULATION SOFTWARE Users can test and analyze CNC programs and machine movement sequences on their own PC with Sim:one software. Potential risks can be detected and eliminated at an early stage, and productivity of the machine can be maximized.
SCHLEICHER GRED Schleicher GRED is a compaction software for production or logistics systems that process large quantities of real-time data. GRED reduces the size of the retained data and therefore needs less physical memory capacity; NV-RAM, hard disk and RAM share storage and access while GRED runs in the background without impairing the application.

Read about Schleicher’s automated CNC control system for MIKKROMAT

SchleicherUSA website    Contact Schleicher   Call 800-321-9539

A division of Pelco Component Technologies

Across the US and around the world, OEMs, engineers and product designers choose components from Pelco Component Technologies to control electricity and make things happen at the right time. We call it Putting Power to Work.

Sign up for PelcoPulse Email
Call 855-227-3526
Contact Pelco    Send us an email    Pelco Website   Pelco Blog

The post Safety relays, monitors, switches and automation controls appeared first on Pelco Pulse.

Airotronics TG series Electromechanical Relay Output Timers

Electromechanical relays have existed in simplest form since the invention of the telegraph. In nearly two centuries, their design and function have been massively expanded. The addition of time delay controls significantly refined the capabilities of these workhorse components. Also called Relay Output Timer, in this category the load is transferred by physical action of moving parts, including contacts that open and close. Airotronics TG series relay timers are readily available in a variety of capabilities, and are built to spec for hundreds of manufacturers across North America.

Show me some Airotronics Relay Timers

ELECTROMECHANICAL RELAYS Pros Include

• Typically lower cost than Solid State for an equal capability
• Mechanical contacts offer a wide compatibility with different loads and voltages
• Very low contact resistance with no heat buildup or voltage drop
• Many different contact arrangements including closed without power
• No leakage current in “Off” state
• Typically fails in the open state
• High heat environment causes little or no deration of specs
• Capable of low output capacitance achieving good high frequency performance

ELECTROMECHANICAL RELAYS Cons include

• Limited life cycle (compared to Solid State) dependent upon load
• Contact Bounce
• Generates Electromagnetic Interference
• Line to load isolation is limited to 1,500 to 2,000 Volts RMS range
• Operation is affected by physical shock, vibration, and altitude
• Relatively large signals required to close contacts

Airotronics TH series Solid State Relay Timers

While Solid State Relays have only been around since the 1970s, their performance has improved dramatically in recent years. Also known as Solid State Timers, in this category the load is transferred via semiconductor materials. Essentially a circuit, without moving parts, Airotronics TH series Solid State Relays offer the varied control functions of relay timers with effectively infinite operational life. An example of critical development includes equivalent “On” resistance, which lowers both the value of voltage drop across the device and the size of the heat sink required for a given load.

Show me some Airotronics Solid State Timers

SOLID STATE RELAYS Pros include

• Unlimited service life
• No contact bounce or arcing
• No EMI generated during switch cycling
• High Load to Line isolation of 5,000 Volts RMS or higher with Optical isolation
• No moving parts; not affected by physical shock, vibration, or altitude
• Faster switching speeds
• Can synchronize the switching process with a zero crossing of voltage
• Low level control signals
• Silent operation

SOLID STATE RELAYS  Cons include

• Never completely open or “Off”; there is always a leakage current flowing
• Voltage drop in the “On” State
• Generally cost more for the same load capability
• Generally larger for a similar load capability due to the heat sink required
• Generally fail in the shorted condition
• Specifications must be derated in hot environments
• In some cases, minimum load required

The engineering staff at Airotronics Timers and Controls will help you decide which timer makes sense for your application.

If absolute On or Off is required, if surges or spikes are likely, choose from TG series Relay Timers with relay outputs from 2 through 40 Amps. Need silent operation, wide range of input voltages, relatively low power? Choose from TH series Solid State Timers with 1 Amp continuous and 10 Amp Inrush current capability.
This article includes just a few of the determining factors. Contact us for knowledgeable engineering assistance guided by your application. You’ll be Putting Power to Work with reliable relay controls from Airotronics.
Ask about our new series Airotronics TH3X solid state relays with 10 Amp continuous, 60 Amp inrush for high power applications.

The post Specifying Solid State Timers and Relay Output Timers: How to choose appeared first on Pelco Pulse.

Tom will provide broad technical support to the Engineering department, working with Senior Project Engineers and other team members in the design and development of analog and digital timers and controls.

A recent graduate of Syracuse University College of Engineering, Tom was previously an inventory specialist with L. & J.G. Stickley in Manlius, New York.

One of Tom’s notable projects at SU’s Smith College of Engineering was designing and building an autonomous following robotic vehicle which used stepper motors driven to follow a lead object and infrared sensors for distance measurement.

In addition to his software and hardware training, Tom is also fluent in Thai. In his free time, he enjoys working out at the gym and spending time with family. Welcome, Tom.

Across the US and around the world, OEMs, engineers and product designers choose components from Pelco to control electricity and make things happen at the right time. We call it Putting Power to Work.

The post Pelco welcomes new Associate Engineer appeared first on Pelco Pulse.

President Peter Kip and staff also highlighted Pelmax, Pelco’s manufacturing facility in Mexicali. Founded in 2010, Pelmax specializes in assembly and finishing of printed circuit boards and wiring harnesses. Rigorous engineering analysis, meticulous manufacturing practices and continuous improvement quality management are the rule at Pelmax, just as at Pelco’s home base in Cazenovia, NY.

Pelmax staff greet visitors at Mexicali Supply Expo

The Mexicali Supply Expo was a great opportunity to reach OEMs looking for high or low volume production of standard or custom components. And Baja California was a welcome sunny break from frigid February conditions across the US.
From automobiles to automation, mining to medical devices, products from Pelco control electricity to make things happen at the right time. We call it Putting Power to Work.

See the Pelmax capabilities video

Find out more about Pelmax

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Airotronics Timers and Controls

Peltec Timers and Controls

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