Alarmed spout | Openings allow grain overflow to give operator time to shut down once alarm sounds
BRANDON — As grain bins continue to grow higher, so too does the average age of prairie farmers.
This combination compounds a situation already fraught with danger.
The simple solution is to stay off the bins, and Angelika Gehrer thinks she has the answer.
“A full bin alarm can pay for itself quickly by preventing those plugged augers, sheared pins and grain on the ground,” says the co-owner of Never Spill Spout inc.
There’s also the safety aspect to consider.
“If a full bin alarm means you don’t need to climb that ladder, if it prevents just one accident in your lifetime or the lifetime of your farm, then it’s paid for itself a thousand times over.”
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The Never Spill Spout system quickly straps to the top of a 10 inch, 13 inch or 16 inch auger. It’s weather proof, so there’s no need to take it in for the winter.
A mechanical micro switch at the bottom of the spout triggers the alarm as soon as the grain level in the bin reaches the sensor. The alarm is louder than the tractor and auger, giving the operator plenty of time to shut down.
Between the time of the first alarm and shutdown, grain flows out to the top of the pile through vertical slots cut into the sides of the bottom spout. This prevents overflow and auger plugging.
“The sensor is strictly mechanical,” she said.
“We have no electronics or computers to complicate the system. It’s all 12-volt electrical coming off the tractors system. That also means no batteries to go dead or need replacement. We kept it all as simple as possible.
“For working at night, there’s a 12-volt halogen light. Switching that on serves a dual purpose. It lets you know for sure you’ve got power to the system.”
Gehrer said her husband, John, does most of the work by himself on their farm near Niverville, Man. Like all one-man operations, safety is a constant concern.
They saw their first full bin alarm system 10 years ago, and were convinced it was a valuable idea. However, they also thought it was too complicated and expensive.
“There was too much gadgetry. John knew he could come up with something simpler for our farm,” said Gehrer.
A couple of prototypes later, he had a full bin alarm system that was simple and worked the way he wanted. Neighbours saw it and asked John to build alarms for them.
“It just took off from there. Now, eight years later, we have over 2,500 alarms on farms in Canada, the States and New Zealand. I believe it’s still the simplest system on the market.”
She said her system is more cost-effective than individual bin monitors that require a new unit for every bin.
“You only need one Never Spill Spout for each auger. If you only use one auger, then you only need one system.
“We have several auger dealers across Canada now installing our Never Spill Spout as standard equipment on every auger they sell.”
Gehrer said she, John and their daughter do most of the assembly work in their shop. The kits generally arrive within three days of the order being placed.
Each kit comes complete with sensor, loud alarm, halogen light, wiring harness, mounting strap and the appropriate seven-prong plug. For older tractors, there is an optional seven-prong upgrade kit.
The 10 inch spout sells for $515 plus $45 shipping.
The 13 inch spout sells for $540 plus $60 shipping.
The 16 inch spout sells for $560 plus $85 shipping.
For more information, contact Angelika Gehrer at 866-860-6086 or visit www.neverspillspout.com.
