How much are your worn nozzles costing you?
Why Should Spray Tip Nozzles Be Monitored?
Spray tip nozzles can become clogged or worn over time, leading to reduced spray performance, uneven coverage, and inefficient use of chemicals – all of which can lead to poor crop growth or even damage. By regularly inspecting and cleaning the nozzles, you can ensure that the sprayer is functioning correctly and efficiently.
Routine monitoring of your sprayer nozzles is necessary for a successful spraying season. Having the right tools to check your nozzles will make the process quick and simple; SpotOn® tools have been developed to do just that. Read on to learn about the tools seasoned sprayer operators use to monitor their spray tips.
Identifying worn nozzles
The SpotOn® Sprayer Calibrator Model SC-2 (SC-2) is a handheld meter that provides digital readings in about 10 seconds per tip. Use it to identify worn nozzles by measuring the flow rate and droplet size of the spray being emitted from each nozzle. The SC-2 was uniquely designed to quickly and accurately assess the actual nozzle flow rate (GPA/LPH) from agricultural sprayers. This reading is critical for both calibrating sprayer application rate and determining nozzle wear. Moreover, accurately measuring true tip flow rate is now a prerequisite as today’s high-tech sprayers can only be properly calibrated and confirmed with this knowledge.
The SC-2 clearly displays readings on its LED screen, boasts a capacity of 2.25 GPM (8.5 LPM) and is highly accurate (+/-2%). With this information, you can take necessary actions as industry guidelines recommend tip replacement once the flow rate exceeds that of the new tip by 10%.
Checking for nozzle wear is simple with the SC-2:
- Install ONE new nozzle of the same type already on your
- Operate the sprayer with Select a pressure of typical use or use 40 PSI to make easy comparisons to manufacturers’ nozzle flow rates.
- Use the SC-2 to measure the flow rate from the new nozzle and compare with your existing If the flow rate from your existing nozzles is 10% greater than that of the new nozzle, then existing nozzles are considered significantly worn and should be replaced. Worn nozzles exhibit deformed spray patterns and can cause streaking in the field. (Example: new nozzle = 0.40 GPM while existing nozzle = 0.45 GPM, since existing nozzle is greater than 0.44 GPM it must be replaced)
The simultaneous display of percent nozzle wear and application rate along with nozzle flow rate is a convenience that is only available with the SC-2. The automatic calculation and display of application rate (GPA/LPH) is a feature that benefits all sprayer operators, especially smaller farms throughout the world not using full function rate controllers. As spray booms become larger, the SC-2’s ability to accurately measure a single nozzle in about 10 seconds becomes an important time saver over previous manual methods.
Learn more about the SpotOn® Sprayer Calibrator Model SC-2 here.
Checking spray pattern
Measuring distribution and uniformity of your spray applications is quick and easy with SpotOn® Paper (Paper). This water sensitive paper reacts with the spray, changing to blue where it has been exposed to the application. To use, simply place the Paper in the area you plan to spray; it’s recommended to label the Paper with its location for easy identification. Once in place, spray the area, wait until the Paper is dry, then collect and analyze.
You can evaluate the Paper via a visual inspection, by counting the drops or with the use of a smartphone app. Use the Paper to:
- Visualize spray coverage
- Visualize droplet size and uniformity
- Visualize off-target application
Make any necessary sprayer adjustments to improve the distribution based on your evaluation. This may include ensuring that your sprayer is applying chemicals evenly and effectively to reduce the risk of over-or-under-application, waste, and potential harm to crops.
The SpotOn® Paper is an economical alternative to other products on the market and has grown in popularity worldwide. It’s available in multiple sizes (1” x 3”, 2” x 3”, 9.5” x 11.75”) for a variety of uses and can be used to assess several types of spray applications including:
- Boom spraying
- Aerial spraying
- Airblast spraying
- Handheld/backpack spraying
Periodically assess your sprayer’s coverage with this Paper prior to spraying your entire field to spray with confidence and be a step closer to a more successful yield.
Learn more about the SpotOn® Paper here.
More SpotOn® tools to improve your spraying operations
Award-winning quality agriculture tools for optimal sprayer performance from SpotOn®. Perform preventative maintenance service to your sprayer tips and monitor your sprayer’s applications to run efficiently and reduce costs! Explore the SpotOn® Nozzle Cleaner and Tip Tool combo pack, designed specifically for spray tip and nozzle body cleaning and maintenance. Verify your sprayer’s pressure sensor or gauge as well as find blockages in hoses and booms with the SpotOn® Spray Tip Pressure Tester. The SpotOn® Spray Tip Tool Kit with SC-2 has everything you’ll need to test nozzles, clean spray tips, and calibrate sprayers – it comes in a durable carrying case that will keep all your SpotOn® tools organized, secured, and ready for use in the field, classes, or clinics. Be sure to check out all the tools SpotOn® offers that will aid in your sprayer operations.
About Innoquest, Inc.
Since 1993, Innoquest president and licensed engineer Bill Hughes has designed over 75 products for the agriculture and greenhouse sectors; 19 of which have won AE-50 awards from the American Society of Agricultural Biological Engineers for outstanding innovation. The company is located in Woodstock, IL.
All tools are manufactured in the USA and come with a one-year warranty. For more details including where to make a purchase please visit innoquestinc.com or contact Dawn Robles, Sales Manager via email: [email protected] or phone: (W) 815-337-8555, (M) 815-271-2115.