Damaged Mechanical Switches Cause Problems in Livestock Feed Lines

In the world of livestock production, efficient and reliable feed delivery systems are crucial. These systems often rely on sensors to regulate and monitor feed flow.

Among the most commonly used are mechanical switches and capacitive sensors. While each has its advantages, there are some distinct problems associated with mechanical switches compared to capacitive sensors.

Mechanical Switches: Prone to Wear and Tear

Mechanical switches function through physical contact, which inherently makes them prone to wear and tear. In a livestock feed line, these switches are subjected to constant movement and abrasive feed materials, leading to a gradual degradation of their components. Over time, this can result in:

Increased Maintenance

Frequent replacements and adjustments become necessary as parts wear out. This means more work and more unwanted disturbances to the livestock.

Inaccuracy

Worn-out switches may fail to accurately detect feed levels, leading to overfilling or underfeeding. Every farm manager knows that this will have a huge effect on the production since it increases the risk of mold formation in the litter, leads to feed spill, and influences the growth of the livestock significantly.

Downtime

Failure of a mechanical switch can halt the feeding process, leading to downtime in operations. As with inaccuracy, downtime will influence the growth of the livestock and in extreme conditions lead to a large production loss.

Capacitive Sensors: A More Robust Solution

Capacitive sensors, on the other hand, use the electrical properties of the feed material to detect its presence. They offer several advantages over mechanical switches:

Non-contact Sensing

This reduces wear and tear, as capacitive sensor is not dependent on physical contact with the feed. Generally speaking, mechanical switches are dependent on the feed in front of the contact being able to create a pressure on the contact, where a capacitive sensor is not dependent on the feed being able to generate a pressure.

Accuracy

Capacitive sensors maintain consistent accuracy over time, ensuring proper feed delivery.

Durability

Being less prone to physical damage, they offer a longer service life.

Some would think that the extra cost of capacitive sensors compared to mechanical switches is an argument for not using capacitive sensors. But the durability, accuracy, and reliability of capacitive sensors can save you much more than you pay for the sensors.