Near Intersection of I-35 & I-90 Southern Mn. | The polarity at the point where the harness connects to the clutches is important with SOME clutch systems. From the previous reply, it sounds as if the polarity is NOT important with the clutches that you will be using. With some clutches such as Ag Leaders Sure Stops the polarity is important. This is of no concern if using Ag Leader cables but can get confusing when trying to use other cables. If any frame grounds are involved with the clutches, there could be an issue in that respect.
As the other reply mentions a single Clutch Control Module will handle 12 sections. I have a 24 row planter and use only one Clutch Control Module since I have it arranged as 12-2 row sections. I use all 12 outputs from the Clutch Control Module. The output to potentially STOP Section one is split and connects to Row Clutch 1 and Row Clutch 2. The output for Section two is split and connects to Row Clutch 3 and Row Clutch 4. This process is repeated across the planter. You may need to do some testing to determine how best to use the existing harness.
Some may wonder how a 10 section switch box could work with a 12 section planter. The 10 boom switch box would not allow the operator to manually stop each two row section individually. The switch assignments default to Section 1 for the left half of the planter and Section 2 for the right half. So only two switches would be used for manual override. These switch assignments can be changed and more switches could be added but I've never seen it necessary since auto swath is a big part of the picture and does have the ability to cycle each section ON/OFF independently.
With my particular planter, I spray also. The spray portion is split into 4-6 row sections with an ON/OFF valve for each section. I changed my switch assignments so my Section 1 switch works with spray valve 1 and also clutch sections 1-3. Section 2 switch works with spray valve 2 and also clutch sections 4-6. This process is repeated. This means that I can manually shut off the planter in quarter sections of 6 rows each. I don't recall actually ever doing this though. Auto swath correctly cycles off a spray section when that entire area has been sprayed, it shuts off the row clutches for seed in the two row groups. This may sound confusing but works very well.
One more comment on the clutch polarity. Ag Leader wires their systems with a common constant "hot" to each branch which leads to a clutch When the system decides to cycle a clutch to stop planting, it completes ground to the other wire. This is the reverse of what one might expect. My first thought would have been to switch the hot wire but have every clutch connected to a common ground. Some other systems are wired that way.
I believe Ag Leader decided on their approach so the system can do some troubleshooting. When the system is first powered On, it consults the setup configuration. If a clutch control module is involved, it notes the number of sections that should be connected. It then observes whether there is 12V present on the potential ground wire for a section. If it doesn't detect 12V then that means that the clutch is not present or there is a problem with the wiring. The system can then present a warning message. The idea is to warn of problems such as a mismatch between the wiring and the setup or damage to the wiring.
Edited by tedbear 1/9/2018 06:54
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