planter monitor

I've got an 8 row 36 AC planter, model 600 with #78 row units on it, and the seed monitor only works on about 3 of the 8 rows. Was going to upgrade to a different planter this year, but looks like that won't happen, so I'd better do something to get a working monitor. I think to just go to an aftermarket one would maybe be my best option. I did see an ad one time for a company that made a monitor that was supposed to be compatible with anyones seed sensors, but I now have no idea of what the name of that company is. Anyone have any suggestions for me? I'm thinking that my problems are some in the monitor, some in the wiring harness, and some in the sensors, so starting from scratch may be a good option. Thanks, Darrel

Well,  the first thing I would do, being an electronics guy, is find out where the problem really is.  I would hate for you to send the monitor in, only to find out the problem is in the wiring harness or the seed tubes.  The best troubleshooting I can think of is to remove the seed tube of a good row, and take it to the row that is dead, and then drop a few kernals down the tube.  Most of these should have quick connectors at the row unit, making this a fairly easy step.  I bet you will find your monitor really does work, and you have a few dead tubes, or you will in the above process find a few bad connections as well.  The other quick thing to do is veryfy that your harness doesn't have any nicks, pinched points, or broken insulation anywhere, as this will be a sure sign of internal wire damage.

Use some emory cloth on those connections, check to see that your monitor is connected to the BATTERY, not somewhere else, fixed many of units this way. It you have a 12 pin connector and you do need a consel, i have one i could sell. Good luck, those 12 pin connections need to be shiney clean. Randy

call sensor one they are in KS. 1-800-736=7671. Jim

I got 2 12 row monitors on ebay for $36. The guy must have kept them in his sock drawer to be in that good of shape.
Sensors and wiring harness cause way more problems than console, in my experience.

It isn't too hard to make a planter half of the wiring harness. Each row has a common and a power wire and a signal wire. Main thing is to make sure wires can't catch in anything. No matter how windy it is.


Edited by E7018 - 07 Apr 2011 at 7:57am

Just re-using this thread here...  our planter monitor is no help at all.  It will blink some, but thats it.  So- I have checked it out.  (this is on a 4 row #77 air champ by the way) Ran a jumper wire on the monitor side of the 10pin connector from the power out to a signal port back to monitor and every light lights up when plugged in then removed from its individual plug.  I then made some jumpers to hook from the monitor's 10 pin plug directly to the sensors.  I have 2 that light up but dont' seem to send a signal, and 2 that dont light up and also dont send a signal.  So, I'm thinking its the sensors themselves, as I plugged back up to the harness (as if I were running in the field)  and got the same thing.  I've cleaned the 10 pin plug, both monitor and planter side.  but haven't found a way to clean the 3 sensor plugs.  I'm leaning toward the sensors being bad.  but all 4?? Thanks for any more help/information.   -Wes

Darrel, how did he say to check the monitor..by using a jumper wire like I did?  or some other way?  

You guys need the sensor test box.  I have one, it worked.  Saved a lot of guess work.  I dont want to sell it, but be on the lookout for one.