Tru-Test EC-09 User manual
Tru-Test recommends the use of Jenquip Pasture Management Software. This software
is required in order to download data from the plate meter. It takes the information
from your farm walk and produces ready-to-use reports. Jenquip Pasture Management
Software is supplied with your plate meter on a USB stick. For all support, phone
0800 AGDATA (0800 243282).
Computer requirements: Windows XP or later.
© 2018 Tru-Test Limited.
All product names and brand names in this document are trademarks or registered trademarks of their
respective holders.
No part of this publication may be photocopied, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in
any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior
written permission of Tru-Test Limited. Product specifications may change without prior notice.
For more information on other quality Tru-Test Group brands and products, visit
www.tru-testgroup.com
Tru-Test Limited
25 Carbine Road
Mt Wellington
Auckland 1060
New Zealand
Postal address:
P O Box 51078
Pakuranga
Manukau 2140
New Zealand
Tru-Test Limited, 2018. All rights reserved.
832992 Issue 1 01/2018
Introduction................................................................................................. 1
Assembly instructions................................................................................... 2
Operating the plate meter............................................................................ 4
Zero calibration ........................................................................................... 6
Start up/self test .......................................................................................... 8
Entering the factory default formula ............................................................. 9
Other formulas: ........................................................................................... 9
Entering your own formula......................................................................... 10
Using your plate meter............................................................................... 11
Taking paddock readings (the pasture walk)............................................... 12
Software.................................................................................................... 14
Maintenance ............................................................................................. 14
Fault finding .............................................................................................. 16
Warranty and servicing .............................................................................. 20
1
Congratulations on the purchase of your Tru-Test EC-09 Plate Meter (plate meter).
This plate 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 –kg DM/ha)
Your plate meter will become an invaluable tool in your farming operation for
day-to-day feeding decisions and long term feed budgeting.
Read and understand all the instructions before using the plate meter. A copy of
this user guide can be downloaded from www.livestock.tru-test.com
Your plate meter is designed only for measuring pastures. Use it for no other
purpose (e.g. it is not a walking stick). We have manufactured the plate meter
using quality materials and manufacturing techniques, however, if faults do occur,
have them corrected before you use the plate meter.
Be careful around electric fences. Parts of the plate meter will
conduct electricity!
Store the plate correctly. Be careful that the wind does not blow the plate away - it
could be dangerous. It is not to be thrown.
Water blasting or submerging the unit will void the warranty.
2
The plate meter is supplied in three parts:
The heavy duty plastic plate sits on top of the pasture to establish average height
and density. The area of the circle and weight of the plate have been carefully
calibrated.
The grooved rod allows pasture to be measured in 0.5 cm intervals (clicks). The
yellow shaft includes the electronic meter.
The black handle can be adjusted to suit the height of the user.
To assemble the plate meter:
1With one hand, hold the yellow shaft
vertically with the counter towards the
ground. The grooved rod will slide
down through the shaft.
3
2With your other hand, screw on the
plate, making sure that the smooth
side of the plate is uppermost (ribbed
side closest to the meter).
3Turn the plate meter the correct way
up (plate down) and place it on the
ground, The grooved rod will protrude
out of the shaft. With one hand hold
the grooved rod and with the other
hand, screw on the black plastic
handle. Be careful not to displace the
small rubber O-ring on the top of the
rod.
4Use the buttons on the handle to adjust the handle so that it is a
comfortable height.
4
The plate meter 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.
The various functions of the plate meter are accessed by the two buttons on the
front of the unit, labelled ‘Height/Reset’ and ‘Count/Formula’. The words in bold
type are the primary functions.
5
These are activated by a short press of the button. The secondary functions ‘Reset’
and ‘Formula’ are activated by holding the button down until the function
operates. When the unit is first switched on, the display will show the current
formula in use and the calculated kg DM/ha based on that formula, and any
readings in memory. Pressing the “Height” button will briefly display the average
pasture height. This is often referred to as “clicks” (measured in 0.5 cm) and will
be displayed to one decimal place (i.e. 0.0 or 12.4).
1 click = 0.5 cm.
The number of readings is displayed when the ‘Count’ button is pressed. The
display will show a ‘c’ on the left side and the count on the right. The display will
return to normal after two seconds.
All readings can be cleared (reset) by holding down the “Reset” button for
approximately two seconds, then the display will change to “0”.
6
To ensure that the plate meter accurately measures the compressed height of
pasture, the plate meter must be calibrated. This requires setting a base level of
zero so measurements can be benchmarked against this. If the plate meter does
not return to zero after each reading, it will not record the measurement - hence
the plate meter will not beep.
If, for any reason, the plate meter is out of calibration, it will need to be
recalibrated.
To calibrate the plate meter:
1Hold the plate meter at the bottom of travel and ensure that the plate meter is
switched off.
2Locate the zero adjustment screw (beside the On/Off switch).
3Remove the protective rubber bung by levering it out gently using a flat-
bladed screwdriver.
4Hold down the “Count” button while switching the unit on. The display will
change to “CAL” briefly and display a colon (:) followed by a number. The
colon (:) signifies that it is in fine calibration mode.
As an example, you might see “:5” when you switch on.
5Using the flat bladed screw
driver, turn the yellow plastic or
steel shaft within the cog,
anticlockwise, until the display
reads “0”.
The cog and steel
shaft must remain
stationary.
Do not turn the shaft
beyond this point or
you may damage the
plate meter and void
the warranty.
Table of contents
Other Tru-Test Measuring Instrument manuals
Tru-Test
Tru-Test S3 User manual
Tru-Test
Tru-Test EC-10 User manual
Tru-Test
Tru-Test 703 User manual
Tru-Test
Tru-Test EziWeigh6 User manual
Tru-Test
Tru-Test Speedrite Fault Finder User manual
Tru-Test
Tru-Test SRS2 User manual
Tru-Test
Tru-Test XHD2 User manual
Tru-Test
Tru-Test XR3000 User manual
Tru-Test
Tru-Test S1 User manual
Tru-Test
Tru-Test EC-20 User manual
