Sprayer boom turn compensation can now be offered with an ingenious auto nozzle switching system from Altek and Lykketronic, giving you the option to work with a wider range of nozzles. Read on to see what else it does and how it works
Getting a sprayer to deliver an even application is relatively straightforward when travelling in a straight line, but throw corners into the equation and the task becomes significantly more complex. The problem arises because of the differing speeds nozzles along the length of the boom travel when performing a turn. Those at the tip of the outer section can be moving at a considerable lick, while those at the end of the inner boom may be travelling so slowly that they’re actually moving backwards.
When a constant flow is delivered to every nozzle, this results in some significant under and over-dosing every time the driver turns the wheel.
One system that helps solve this problem is Pulse Width Modulation (PWM). It adjusts the duration each nozzle opens relative to its position on the boom and it’s becoming an increasingly popular option among sprayer operators keen to get a high level of accuracy. However, one of the downsides is that the system limits nozzle choice, including some popular drift-reducing air-inclusion options.
Now operators have an alternative, which was put together using technology from Altekand Lykketronic. The Smart C Spray 124 system makes use of auto nozzle select technology – using multiple nozzle bodies – and adds GPS positioning and some clever algorithms to make it work when cornering.
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