- The material height at the outer end of the augers. The material height input to the ECM is provided by paddle sensors or sonic sensors.
- The material height setpoint. This is set by the operator with the material height dials.
- The conveyor speed as a ratio of auger speed. This is set by the operator with the conveyor ratio dials.
- The status of the mode switches for the auger and conveyor. These switches are set by the operator.
- The paving status. This information is received from the propel ECM over the Cat Data Link.
The controls for the left and right sides of the Conveyor Electronic Control System are completely independent of each other. The left and right side each have three different modes of operation: AUTO, OFF and MANUAL.
During normal operation, the feeder mode switches, the auger mode switches and the conveyor mode switches are all in the AUTO position. During normal operation, the ECM tries to maintain a constant height of asphalt material at the outer end of the auger. The material height is monitored by the paddle sensor or the optional sonic sensor. The operator chooses the desired setpoint for material height with the material height dial. If the actual material height is above the height setpoint, the ECM will turn OFF the auger and the conveyor. If the actual material height is below the height setpoint, the ECM will operate the auger and the conveyor. Auger and conveyor speeds will be proportional to the difference between the setpoint height and the actual material height. The speed of the auger is determined by the conveyor pump flow. That speed is controlled by the pump flow solenoid. The operator uses the conveyor ratio dial in order to set the conveyor speed to a ratio of the auger speed. That ratio may range from 5 percent to 100 percent. Depending on the ratio dial setting, The ECM will vary the pump flow by controlling the current output to the conveyor bypass solenoid, thereby controlling the speed of the conveyor motor.
The auger, the conveyor, or both can be stopped with their respective mode switch. If the conveyor mode switch is turned to the OFF position, then the ECM sends zero current to the conveyor bypass solenoid in order to stop the conveyor. If the auger mode switch is turned to the OFF position, then the ECM turns on the auger bypass solenoid in order to stop the auger. If the conveyor is in AUTO mode when the auger is turned OFF, then the conveyor will also be turned OFF. If the feeder mode switch is turned OFF, then the ECM sends zero current to the pump flow solenoid in order to stop the auger and the conveyor.
When the auger mode switch, the conveyor mode switch or the feeder mode switch is in the MANUAL position or the OVERRIDE position, the auger and/or conveyor will run at full speed regardless of the asphalt height. The ECM sends 1.1 amps of current to the pump flow solenoid in order to operate the auger and the conveyor at full speed.
If the conveyor mode switch is in the MANUAL position, the ECM also sends 1.1 amps of current to the conveyor bypass solenoid in order to ensure full conveyor speed.