Hydronix Hydro-Control VI, Operator'S Manual

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Chapter 14 Frequently Asked Questions
Hydro-Control VI Operators Guide HD0456 Rev 1.7.1 77
Q: What is the minimum amount of water that needs to be added to a batch to achieve a good
calibration for CALC Mode?
A: In order to calibrate a recipe then there must be a reasonable change in the sensor readings
before and after the water addition. To achieve this, the Final Water addition should be at least
1/3 of the total water that is added. The difference between the wet and dry readings must
always be greater than 5 unscaled units for the calibration calculation to work. A greater
difference between the Dry Mix and Wet Mix Values will give a better calibration result.
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Q: Which mode is better to use when batching and how do I know for my specific application?
A: There is no rule as to which is better, as it may vary between applications and mixers. See
Chapter 8 for more details.
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Q: Can I switch back and forth from auto to calc mode without problems?
A: If the recipe is already calibrated and the weight of materials in the mixer remains unchanged,
then the two modes can be switched back and forth. This assumes that the Auto mode has
already been optimised to run efficiently.
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Q: What are the basic requirements for the unit to work with my batch controller?
A: For the Hydro-Control to work automatically with the batch control system, the required
input/output signals are water meter (input), start (input), reset (input), fine valve (output) and
mix complete (output). All other inputs/outputs are optional.
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Q: The deviations for the dry and wet mix are stored in the mix log. Are these deviations of
unscaled values or deviations of % moisture?
A: The deviations stored in the mix log can be viewed in moisture or unscaled units. See Chapter
10 for more details.
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Q: How do admixtures affect the moisture sensor?
A: The sensor has the ability to linearly measure water content in a material, therefore if chemicals
are added they will affect the moisture signal to a certain degree. In most cases the effect will
be negligible but there are some instances where the admixture may affect the signal enough
to require the recipe to be calibrated from a batch that has been run using 2-step water addition.
See Chapter 8 for more details.
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Q: My Hydro-Control VI is not working consistently. What information is necessary for Hydronix to
help me diagnose the problems?
A: The mix log is a very useful tool for diagnosing problems with the controller. It is also useful to
know the recipe, system and control parameters. These can be transferred onto a USB Memory
Stick by doing a Backup. The file can be emailed to Hydronix as an aid for diagnostics.
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