Don't Let Winter Put Your Equipment on Ice

As winter is approaching here are some steps you can take to protect your equipment & machines and ensure your farm runs smoothly during these cooler months.

Lely Astronaut: central unit and robot units

·       Inspect and replace worn cup cords (ropes)

·       Make sure chemicals are in a frost-free environment

·       Turn on your water line heat tape if thermostat is not present

·       Place space heaters where required

·       Milk line B’s washed and taken out of operation in colder environments

·       Turn off Walkway/Hoofcount foot baths routing

·       Shutoff water and drain water from Walkway/Hoofcounts

Atlas Copco Air Compressor

·       Ensure room is well ventilated while maintaining a temperature above freezing

·       Make sure that ED12 drain is clear and free

·       Open air dump valve while farm is out of operation to remove water from tank

Lely Discovery/Collector

·       Turn off water supply to overhead reservoir and drain

·       Run water pump in test menu till system is empty

·       Turn off water in day planning for all routes

·       Adjust day planning if some routes are not applicable during freezing

·       If K2 tires are installed potentially swap to EWR tires for better traction

Lely Vector

·       Install winter tires if required (P/N: 9.1175.0080.0) 

·       Verify all MFR driving paths are free of obstacles

·       Confirm outdoor paths have adequate lighting for nighttime operation

·       Inspect routes for areas where water may flow across paths and freeze

·       Ensure snow removal equipment and procedures are ready before winter weather arrives

·       Keep all robot travel paths clear of snow and ice

·       Make sure Kitchen area is above 0 degrees Celsius

·       Increase path monitoring during snowstorms, as the system operates 24/7

·       Watch for ice buildup during freeze/thaw cycles

·       Remove ice promptly from travel routes

·       Improve drainage around robot pathways to minimize ice formation

·       Always maintain reliable outdoor lighting

Lely Calm 

·       Turn on your water/milk line heat tape if thermostat is not present

·       Keep the feeder station room above freezing using space heaters

·       Turn off water supply to hygiene box

·       Clean hygiene box more frequently

·       Inspect powder hopper for bridging more frequently

·       Inspect drain/hoses for freezing. All hoses should be slightly above a sewer drain

360 RAIN

·       Run the machine on its longest path with clean water or pressure maintained in the hose 

·       Drain all water from the machine and plumbing system 

·       Open drain points and allow air into the system 

·       Open machine valves and leave them partially open 

·       Cycle valves multiple times and blow out with air if available 

·       Send machine home to drain water from the hose 

·       Blow remaining water from hose using an air compressor (recommended) 

·       Release pressure from row shut-off hoses 

·       Chock wheels if parked on a slope 

·       Run engine for at least 1 hour to fully charge batteries 

·       Turn off all machine power switches 

·       Disconnect battery terminals 

·       12V: Disconnect positive and negative 

·       56V: Batteries may remain connected together 

·       Store 12V battery indoors on a maintainer (recommended) 

·       Cover all open hose ends with caps or mesh screens 

·       Protect machine wiring and hoses from rodents 

360 RAIN Skid

·       Flush fresh water through the entire system 

·       Backflush manure lines if applicable 

·       Disconnect hoses and allow plumbing to drain 

·       Remove drain plugs and fully drain pump housings 

·       Disconnect and store fertilizer pumps indoors 

·       Leave all valves partially open 

·       Disconnect and drain all check valves 

·       Inspect and clean valves before storage 

·       Inspect wiring and electrical panel for damage 

·       Turn off skid power disconnect 

·       Apply rodent protection around the skid and wiring 

·       Remove and store pumps from ponds, lagoons, or exposed locations 

·       Drain all remaining piping and infrastructure 

·       Rebuild swivel joints while machine is out of service 

·       Use RV antifreeze where appropriate 

·       Load test batteries before spring startup 

·        Store skids indoors whenever possible

Lely Juno

·       Turn off outside routes in day planning

·       Keep alley free of water and ice

·       Place poison for rodents in applicable places inside Juno

·       Keep charger area flat and clear of built-up debris

·       If a Juno gets to cold it will wait to run again until a suitable temperature is reached, consider closing all doors or opening near charger.

Taking a few extra steps now can help prevent frozen lines, equipment downtime, and unexpected repairs when temperatures drop. A little preparation goes a long way in keeping your equipment running smoothly throughout the winter. If you have any questions or need assistance getting your equipment winter-ready, don't hesitate to reach out to the West Coast Robotics team.