Sprayer calibration has always been a nuisance.
Farmers would rather be in the field spraying instead of running around with a stopwatch and graduated cups, turning booms on and off.
“It’s an arduous task. Guys just hate it. And that’s why it sometimes doesn’t get done,” said Bob Wyma of Saskatoon’s Wilger Industries.
“With chemicals running $20 an acre and more, sprayer calibration has become a big issue. You want all your nozzles delivering the correct volume of product.”
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Wyma said his company’s Quick Calibrator is the fastest method available to check nozzles. Introduced four years ago, it eliminates the stopwatch and graduated containers and is simple to use.
“The grower switches it on and sets his expected miles per hour ground speed. Then he sets the pressure on the sprayer where he wants it. On the Quick Calibrator, he selects the volume he wants in gallons per acre or litres per acre.
“Now, you simply hold the jug under the nozzle body. There’s no need to time it. The Calibrator takes care of that.
“As you hold it there, the Calibrator will show “checking” on its screen. When it stops showing that, it shows you a reading of what volume you are actually putting through that one nozzle.”
As the operator dumps the water and moves on to the next nozzle, the device automatically records each nozzle reading in its memory bank and gives the operator an average of all nozzles across the boom. The Quick Calibrator performs all calculations.
Wyma said some operators check all nozzles, especially now that the process is easier. Others randomly check a few nozzles or the ones closest to the pump that wear the quickest.
“If a nozzle is within 10 percent, it’s considered to be adequate. I personally think 10 percent is too much, but that’s the number the industry has come to accept.”
Wilger also has a Quick Control Spray Boom Remote that lets the operator turn as many as seven boom sections on and off without climbing in and out of the cab. The handheld remote has a range of 100 yards.
The control module installs by unplugging the boom valve control connectors and then plugging in the Quick Control module. The module is designed to manage three-wire electric ball valves and is powered by the valve power wires.
The Quick Calibrator sells for $499. The Quick Control sells for $859.
For more information, contact Bob Wyma at 306-242-4122 or visit www.wilger.net.
