Yield Monitors

Question 1

Where is the mass flow sensor on a combine normally mounted

Answer 1

They are normally mounted at the top of the clean grain elevator

Question 2

Yield mapping cab monitors are divided into four main parts what are they ?

Answer 2

Set up
Sensor
Calibration
Readout areas

Question 3

Where is the moisture meter located on a combine ?

Answer 3

It is located in the clean grain elevator

Question 4

What characteristic of the grain does the moisture sensor measure to determine moisture content? 
A. Percentage of moisture
B. It's resistance 
C. It's capacitance
D. It's conductance

Answer 4

It’s capacitance

Question 5

What system is normally used for data storage and info transfer with a yield mapping system 
A. A PC Card
B. A Serial cable 
C. A parallel cable
D. A floppy disc

Answer 5

A PC Card

Question 6

What is max clearance on a clean grain elevator chain ?

Answer 6

1/4”

A loose chain can cause grain damage and erratic action

Question 7

The Operator typically sets up the yield monitor by inputting ?
A. The combine HP
B.The net load weight of a load of a load test
C.The field name , header type and grain type
D.The bushels/acres

Answer 7

C.The field name, header type and grain type

Question 8

How can a mass flow sensor be calibrated ?
A. Sampling the grain
B.Selling the grain
C.Drying the grain
D.Doing a load test

Answer 8

D. Doing a load test

Question 9

Yields mapping monitors in the cab are divided into what 4 main categories

Answer 9

Setup
Sensor
Calibration
Readout areas

Question 10

How does a moisture metre sample grain

Answer 10

A capacitance plate

Question 11

A spatial map has what kind of data?

Answer 11

It has raw data

Question 12

What is a half system in reference to a yield monitoring system?

Answer 12

It is a system that does not utilize a GPS system to tie a geographic location to the yield data

Question 13

What is the difference between yield monitoring and yield mapping?

Answer 13

Yield monitoring does not use GPS to tie a geographic location to the yield information while yield mapping does. Yield mapping creates site specific yield maps.

Question 14

What is the function of the mass flow sensor?

Answer 14

It measures the quantity of grain that is flowing into your grain tank based on the amount of force it exerts on a sensor plate.

Question 15

What changes in a mass flow sensor as increased volumes of grain act upon it?

Answer 15

Its resistance changes and is measured by the yield monitor.

Question 16

What is the purpose of a moisture meter in a yieldmonitoring system?

Answer 16

The grain must be assigned a accurate moisture content reading so that the mass flow sensor can give an accurate reading. Moist grain is heavier than dry grain and will therefore impact the mass flow sensor with more force. This also allows you to calculate the dry wieght of the product harvested

Question 17

How does a capacitance moisture sensor work?

Answer 17

It measures the capacitance of the moisture sensor plates and the grain to determine the average moisture content. The more moisture there is in the grain the more the capacitance of the plates changes.

Question 18

Why is it important to take a temperature sample of the grain in the moisture sensor?

Answer 18

Because the temperature of the grain effects its dieelcetric properties and will therefore change the moisture sensors ability to calculate its moisture content accurately.

Question 19

Why must the header width be manually input into the Yield mapping system?

Answer 19

Because the GPS cannot resolve the cutting width well enough to determine this information

Question 20

If less than a full cut is being taken what must be done to account for the difference?

Answer 20

The oporator must enter the temporary cut width into the monitor to allow for the correct yield results to be taken.

Question 21

How is a moisture sensor calibrated?

Answer 21

The moisture it has calculated is compared to a moisture reading in the grain tank and an offset value is determined.

Question 22

how can the accuracy of the mass flow system be increased during calibration?

Answer 22

use a larger test load size.

Question 23

how can updated software be installed onto the yield monitoring system?

Answer 23

Using a PC card, USB, or a Diagnostic data link

Question 24

if you preform a moisture calibration and the moisture is showing 3% high what offset should be entered?

Answer 24

-3%

Question 25

When first viewing a yield map on the computer program what must be adjusted to ensure ease of reading?

Answer 25

The color-yield ratio must be adjusted to ensure the proper colors are being used for different yield ranges.

Question 26

What is a raw data point or spatial map?

Answer 26

It shows you the data exactly as you harvested it with no smoothing or corrections

Question 27

What does smoothing or contouring a yield map do?

Answer 27

It averages the data in the raw data point (spatial map) and provides a completely filled image based on the averages.

Question 28

What are three types of query tools?

Answer 28

point, rectangle, polygon,

Question 29

What is the function of a query tool?

Answer 29

It allows for a specific location to be isolated and for the data within the section to be examined.

Question 30

What is a histogram?

Answer 30

a histogram is a bar graph that indicated the area harvested within each yield range.

Question 31

What does a concentrated histogram tell you about the field that was harvested?

Answer 31

It tells you that the field had a consistent yield throughout the whole of the field.

Question 32

What are four conditions that must be met for the combines yield mapping system to begin recording?

Answer 32

he header must be down, the seperator must be engaged, header must be engaged and the ERPM must be withing the operating range of the threshing speed.

Question 33

What is the normal value chosen for the cut width in the monitor?

Answer 33

about 1 foot shorter than the overall width of the header.

Question 34

What are some reasons why a full cut width would not be taken?

Answer 34

Pulling out when the crop is tough to lighten the load, cutting around sloughs, finishing a field, cutting less to not overfill the grain tank while going to the truck

Question 35

When a thinner cut width will be cut while working in the field what must the operator do to ensure the accuracy of the yield monitoring system Is maintained?

Answer 35

They must enter a reduced cut width so that the system can compensate for the reduced amount of area being harvested.

Question 36

When using a pickup header to harvest a swath what is entered for the header width in the yield moitor?

Answer 36

The width of the header on the swather used to make the swaths.

Question 37

What are some mechanical problems that could effect the accuracy of the mass flow sensor?

Answer 37

It can develop a hole in the pressure plate, material can become jammed behind the pressure plate, residue can build up on the plate, The input angle of the crop can be adjusted incorrectly.

Question 38

What maintenance is required on a moisture sensor?

Answer 38

It should be checked and cleaned of all crop residue using warm water. Also the metering wheel or auger should be checked for wear and proper functionality and should also be cleaned.

Question 39

What is proper clean grain elevator tension?

Answer 39

The chain should not be able to pull away from the sprocket more than 1/4 inch. (normally it is tight enough to not pull away but loose enough to slide side to side on the roller)

Question 40

What will happen if the header hieght switch fails?

Answer 40

There will be a loss of recording by the yield monitoring system as it will see that the header is not lowered to a satisfactory height.

Question 41

What are some warnings that could sound on the yield monitor to alert the operator of problems?

Answer 41

Operating without a PC card. PC card nearing full capacity, network error between the sensors and the processors and problems with harness connections.